April 17, 2016 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds (from uslsoccer.com)
Host TFC II, Hounds Draw in Front of Sellout Crowd 04/17/2016, 7:15pm EDT By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com Branson’s stoppage-time equalizer helps Pittsburgh earn road point in Canada VAUGHAN, Ontario – Toronto FC II had everything on its side with a late lead in front of a sellout crowd Sunday at the Ontario Soccer Centre. However, TFC II’s home opener took a hit in stoppage time as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Conor Branson scored a late equalizer and the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw. Raheem Edwards led Toronto with a penalty kick and an assist on a Nick Hagglund score. Pittsburgh’s other goal came from Romeo Parkes. Toronto stays unbeaten at 1-0-2 (5 points) and Pittsburgh moved to 0-1-1 (1 point) and had to play Sunday’s road match without the services of midfielder Kevin Kerr. In the 12th minute, Toronto struck first with a corner kick from the left. Edwards drove the ball in and Hagglund aggressively fought off the Pittsburgh defense with a pinpoint header past Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, and into the left of the frame for a 1-0 lead for the Reds. Edwards pressured the net in the 40th minute with a shot from the left that was deflected by Pittsburgh’s defense just wide right of the frame for a corner kick. Shortly after in the 41st minute, the Riverhounds worked the ball up the other way as Parkes dribbled up from midfield. The speedy Jamaican carved through Toronto’s defense, then dished to his right to Hertzog. Parkes continued his run, received the ball back from Corey Hertzog and slotted his shot into the left of the goal, tied the score at 1-1 and tumbled in celebration to briefly quiet the jubilant crowd at the Ontario Soccer Centre. In the 55th minute, Edwards drew a penalty kick against Pittsburgh’s Mike Green. One minute later, Edwards took the PK and his left-footed shot toward the right post snuck past Gilstrap who anticipated correctly on the shot but could not get a glove on it. It was Edwards’ third goal of the season as Toronto held on to a 2-1 lead. It stayed that way until stoppage time, and Pittsburgh earned a free kick chance just above the 18-yard box. With three Riverhounds players positioned over the free kick and Toronto setting up a four-man wall, it was the right-footed Branson who ended up taking. TFC II goalkeeper Alex Bono cheated a bit with a step to his left, and Branson drove to the inside of the left post for the equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. Both teams had one more chance in a chaotic final two minutes of stoppage, but they each ultimately settled for a point apiece. Upcoming Games: •April 22: Orlando City B at Pittsburgh Riverhounds; Highmark Stadium, 7 p.m. ET •April 24: FC Cincinnati at Toronto FC II; Ontario Soccer Centre, 4 p.m. ET USLSoccer.com Man of the Match Raheem Edwards, Toronto FC II - Edwards continues to showcase the most attacking impact for TFC II, playing a role in both of his team's goals on Sunday to give Toronto the lead and a chance for more than the point the club eventually settled for.
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