TFC2 2017 Discussion

[Dub Narcotic]

The plan is clear, the execution has not been particularly good. At least they are not getting blown out this year.

[to70]

On 5/14/2017 at 2:05 AM, Rocket Robin said:

FC had three Canadian starters and three on the bench getting
two of them into the game.

I counted 4 Canadians in the starting line-up; Cavalluzzo,Uccello,Fraser and Morgan

[Bison44]

Hmmm, they finished 12 of 14 in the east last year, this year they are dead last at 15 of 15.  If bringing in all the older foreign guys was supposed to win games, it doesnt appear to be working.  2 goals in 8 games, the only thing keeping them from getting blown out is Cavalluzzo.  

Hundal, Fraiser and Johnson seemed to be 3 youngsters with good chances on moving up (not counting edwards), and so far they have 4,3 and 2 starts so far this year.  I know they missed some time with a tournie but come on.  I'm with shamrock on this, they are losing more and not giving the prospects more chances.  

[deschamp86]

Is Bent the right guy going forward?

[shermanator]

I've long held the view that the standings should not matter to development sides. Winning does not mean a thing if you are not developing talent that can move into the first team and handle themselves at the higher level of play. The new concept of TFC II "building a winning mentality" doesn't mean a thing if you cannot develop talent that can play at the MLS level. Unless they happen to cherish plastic trophies...

If TFC II are going to lose, and look atrocious doing it, I would prefer that they did so with local academy products in the lineup. At the very least, players like Fraser, Uccello, Hundal, Johnson, Hamilton are getting more minutes at the pro level, and hopefully improving, that way. Losing with mediocre NCAA prospects is the worst of both worlds.

[Bison44]

I dont know.  I doubt that he has any say on who they bring in.  He might not even have say over starting 11.  Vanney will give him orders on who is getting called up or demoted and who he wants to get into game shape for TFC etc. Its a thankless job, you have to support the big club by helping fringe mls players, bring along young prospects from the academy and win games.  

I am glad a CDN guy is getting some sort of a chance though.  It would be a shame if the losing record is interpreted as being a negative reflection on his skills.  It would be nice if he progressed and moved up a level eventually.    

[Big_M]

He doesn't make tactical adjustments in game when needed and doesn't give enough playing time to players who were proven last year and should be playing for their development such as Hundal. Time to move him aside for someone who has done something as head coach at a good level such as Pozniak. Whoever brought in these TT players and mediocre americans to take away time from Hundal and others made a mistake.

 

[shermanator]

Luca Uccello has TFC II's first goal in 520 minutes.

 

[Bison44]

Beauty of a pass from Camgaro.  

 

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Friday May 19, 2017 USL game between
Toronto FC II and Tampa Bay Rowdies played at the Ontario Soccer
Centre in Vaughan at 5:00pm.

9 min...TFC Luca Uccello GOAL...TFC Sergio Camargo sends high
chipped pass from 60 yards down middle which finds Uccello all
alone at 30 yards and he dribbles forward and shoots low 18 yarder
to left corner of net with goalie Matt Pickens sprawling at 14 yards.

67 min...Rowdies Joe Cole GOAL...Rowdies Darwin Jones eludes
TFC Ryan Telfer to get away low cross from 22 yards along right
end line through two defenders and one Rowdies forward
in the 6 yard box and Cole shoot 6 yarder up middle into center
of net under diving goalie Angelo Cavalluzzo who'd been
guarding right post.

79 min...Rowdies Martin Paterson GOAL...Rowdies Michael
Nanchoff takes 33 yard freekick down middle which has
Rowdies Neill Collins head ball at 12 yards on right across
box for Paterson at 6 yards in middle to head ball into right
side of net.

81 min...Rowdies Darwin Jones GOAL...Rowdies Joe Cole
recovers TFC Brandon Aubrey's high popped up header
at 25 yards in middle and he one-touch rolls pass to right
for Jones who steps forward on right and blasts 20 yarder
into top right corner beyond flying goalie. The ball tipped
off TFC Liam Fraser stepping forward at 17 yards.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC II......1......Tampa Bay Rowdies......3....

Attendance was announced as 551 which probably started
at barely 100 when the game started. I thought when I saw
the schedule at the beginning of the season that the starting
time was a glitch but it took me until last week to realize
it was to let the fans get home to see the MLS team play
New York Red Bulls in New Jersey at 7:30pm. It did take
less time to get home than here as the rush hour was
over but the TFC game had already started. Giveaway
at the gate tonight was a TFC II fridge magnet but they
were probably left over because of the small crowd
in their season opener against Rochester.

Referee Carol Ann Chenard led an all female officiating
crew. She only gave out six Yellow cards that I counted
(three to each team) and waved off at least one Penalty
kick call to each team when TFC Luca Uccello
at 35 minutes and Rowdies Georgi Hristov at 41 minutes
fell over too easily in the box. She also called each team
for an offensive handball in the other team's box.

TFC's early goal stopped their scoreless drought
at 519 minutes. It was only their third goal of the
season in nine games. Scoring has obviously been
the team's major problem. Defensively they've been
respectable with only nine goals allowed until today.
Four of those were against Tampa Bay in the second
game of the season when TFC was also shut out.

TFC had six Canadian starters in their lineup—Angelo
Cavalluzzo in goal, Sergio Camargo, Ashtone Morgan,
Luca Uccello, Liam Fraser in the midfield, and Shaan
Hundal up front. Ryan Telfer came on at 60 minutes
to replace Ashtone Morgan. TFC made the same switch
last weekend at their game at BMO Field but that was
Telfer for Morgan at halftime. Morgan has been
recovering from injury stretching back into last year.
If he does come back it will be likely as a winger. His years
with TFC Academy and time in the MLS were as a defender.
Last weekend I said there were three Canadian starters
but it was four.

I keep looking for forward Jordan Hamilton to make
an appearance as he hasn't seen a minute of MLS action
so far this season but he's not with TFC II. [Oops. Just saw
him get into the TFC game at the very end].

T&T defender Jelani Peters was transferred to TFC II earlier
today. He had been on loan from W-Connection until now.
He played the second half and made one key clearance
while they still held the lead.

Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell looked like a genius
as he brought in Martin Paterson during the stoppage in
play on the 79 minute freekick.  Paterson took his place
then scored right after the kick was taken.

TFC II remains in fifteenth (last place) in the East with
a record of 1 win, 5 losses, 3 ties for 6 points.

The win moves the Rowdies into first place in the East
for now as it's the first game of the weekend. This is a
team that is putting a big effort into getting one of the
expansion franchises the MLS is offering over the next
few years. The Tampa Bay local government has just
approved a completely privately funded soccer specific
stadium which is a huge favourable point for the MLS
expansion committee.

Tampa's roster right now is a mix of MLS vets and
international pick ups. I could see them putting an
effort into going far in the US Open Cup to gather
more publicity. Captain Joe Cole is their most famous
player playing much of his career in England including
many internationals until 2010 and at the club level
until 2016 most recently with Coventry. Goalie Matt
Pickens played for MLS Colorado Rapids from 2009
to 2014.

TFC II's next home game starts at Noon
on Wednesday May 24 against Richmond Kickers
with what I expect will be a crowd of school kids.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01
 

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Wednesday May 24, 2017 USL game between
Toronto FC II and Richmond Kickers played at the Ontario Soccer
Centre in Vaughan at 12:00pm.

59 min...TFC II RED card...Anthony Osorio earns a direct ejection at RK 40 yard
line from referee Sylviu Petrescu. TFC Robert Boskovic makes a sliding tackle
which upends RK Oliver and rolls ball forward to Osorio who'd already fallen
on previous play. Osario pulls RK Alex Lee over him so he's out of way and
Boskovic can make run down line. The play carries on but Lee uses his hands
on ground to boost himself and puts foot on the back of Osorio. Osorio swings
like he was going to elbow Lee but misses as Lee is only on his knees but
Osorio also uses his foot to stamp on Lee's calf. The referee had turned
around to see this.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC II.......0......Richmond Kickers......0....

Attendance was announced as 1074 which was the largest crowd of the season
at Ontario Soccer Centre. The crowd was made up of school kids mostly
at the Grade 7 and 8 age group. They were given thunder-sticks to bang
together but mostly only screamed "TFC, TFC" when some game crew staff
member stood on the sideline to threw t-shirts.

Something deja-vu about this game. I double checked after I got home and
found it was the Kickers who were the matinee game opponent last May.
Since-released Sal Bernal scored the TFC 1-0 winner late in that game.
They didn't have the Freestylers doing ball tricks who stole the show
last year and earned cheers louder than the players. They did have
a motivational speaker and ex TFC defender/now broadcaster Steven Caldwell
doing a pregame talk about exercise and nutrition with unseen to them
behind the stands a 100 kids were lined up for the ice cream truck and
barbecue tent. There was a respectful moment of silence for the victims
of Monday's Manchester bombing. The kids here today would have been among
the age of the fan base for Ariana Grande.

Anthony Osorio was subbed on at 58 minutes, had enough time to sprint
to the opposite side of the field to wait for play to restart then take
the Red card all within a minute. TFC II had struggled with getting
scoring chances with eleven men and they only got worse. Kickers now could
be a little more relaxed at the back and look to tee up chances in the
scoring zone.

Mark Pais earned the shutout for TFC II and had to make only a few saves.
He had been squeezed for playing time as he got the call-up to the MLS
team to fill in for the injured Clint Irwin but didn't see any action.
By the time he came back Angelo Cavalluzzo had taken his spot and was
irremovable with 'save of the week' and 'stop of the month' adding
to his resume. The TFC PA department has glossed this game over
as 'another shutout to earn a point at home'.

Matt Turner earned the shutout for Richmond with not much work to do.
Kickers defender Mallan Roberts has played every minute of the season. 
He is a Canadian from age 9 and played for FC Edmonton from 2012 to 2016
and was on loan to Ottawa Fury for some of 2016.  He'd be the caliber
of player that the new CanPL league will be looking for.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC II player) was named as defender
Brandon Aubrey who commanded the backline. Things got tougher for him
as not only were they a man down the last half hour, soon after the
sending off, defender Robert Boskovic was replaced by forward Malik Johnson
to try to give TFC a little more bite up front.

Referee Sylviu Petrescu gave out three Yellow cards (two to TFC II) and
the Red in a game that wasn't rough except for that one moment. He must
have found time in his schedule for today as he's one of the regular
MLS referees.

Best scoring chances were at 27 minutes when RK Raul Gonzalez took
a 45 yard freekick from the right that had RK Mikey Minutillo head
the ball on a jump at 18 yards and the goalie dove to block near the line.
29 minutes had TFC Luca Uccello take a 35 yard freekick from the left
that had the goalie punch away at 10 yards in a crowd of players. 40 minutes
had RK Christopher Durkin get a shot through a crowd of players and the
goalie and pushed wide left of the post. 52 minutes had TFC Uccello
backheel a pass on the edge of the box and TFC Shaan Hundal blasted
a shot well over the net. 77 minutes had Hundal rush on the right and
he was tripped up but tapped a pass to Uccello who flubbed a shot
from 12 yards and the ball was cleared. Kickers had more shots on net
but they were often from 25 yards or more out which meant easy catches
for the goalie if they were even on target or a defender didn't clear away.

Toronto FC II had a makeshift lineup today as they supplied players
to their MLS team to play in the Canadian Championship semi-final
in Ottawa last night. They had some starters in that
game...defender/captain Mitchell Taintor, midfielders Tsubasa Endoh,
Jay Chapman, and Raheem Edwards played the whole ninety (Edwards was
ejected in injury time), and forward Jordan Hamilton. Subs included
defender Ashtone Morgan and Jason Hernandez. Even bench players who
didn't see the field were defender Oyvind Alseth, and midfielders
Ben Spencer and Sergio Camargo couldn't play today because some team
officials were saying the MLS team didn't get back to Toronto until
4:00am. (yes I realize Chapman, Edwards, Hernandez and Morgan have
really transitioned to the MLS team). Also Hamilton hadn't played
for neither TFC or TFC II until this last weekend.

To fill the roster, they brought some players up from their
League 1 Ontario team. Robert Boskovic was a starter on defence and
looked good. Midfielder Malik Johnson came into the game at 63 minutes.
Matthew Srbely was not used today. The reason I mention them
is Toronto FC III has a first round League 1 Ontario Cup game
at 8:00pm tonight against rival Sigma FC. It's one game, straight
to Penalty kicks if a tie to decide who moves on to the quarter finals.
With almost a month between which dates teams picked to play their
Cup game, and them 'hosting' the game in Downsview (not the KIA Centre
because their turf field has no stadium lights) at an indoor
stadium I wonder why they chose tonight to play.

This was not a game of league powerhouses. Richmond have now
scored only 5 goals in 10 games and TFC II have scored 3 goals
in 10 games. These are the two worst goals for records in the
Eastern Conference. I think the game could have gone on another
hour without any goals.

Kickers with that one point now have a record of 2 wins, 4 losses,
and 4 ties for 10 points and actually move up to ninth place for
now but have played more games than the teams behind them.

TFC II with their point move to a record of 1 win, 4 ties, 5 losses
for 7 points and stay in fifteenth (last) place.

TFC II now go on the road for two games and will not be back
until Saturday June 10 at 7:30pm against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter RocketRobin01
 

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Saturday June 10, 2017 USL game between Toronto FC II
and Pittsburgh Riverhounds played at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 7:30pm.

58 min...TFC Tsubasa Endoh GOAL...TFC Oyvind Alseth rushes down right and sends
low cross and has Endoh on right while even with right post shoots 10 yarder
to top right corner of net beyond reach of goalie Trey Mitchell.

86 min...PR Romeo Parkes GOAL...PR Kenroy Howell approaching freekick
at 22 yards in middle from right steps over ball. PR Corey Hertzog approaching
from left steps over ball. Parkes down middle bends low freekick around the
left side of TFC player wall and goalie Angelo Cavalluzzo dives to left post
and gets hand to but only pushes it higher into net.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC II........1.......Pittsburgh Riverhounds.....1....

Attendance was announced as 761 on this hot evening with the sun still out
in the west and a wind from the west.  MLSE worked hard to sell this game. 
The theme was 'Young Reds Day'.  For an hour before game time MLS goalie
Alex Bono was signing autographs (he started last year for TFC II).  Kids got
a TFC wristband which the boys in my row started hitting each other with. 
After the game kids age 14 and under (had to sign a waiver first) got a chance
to take Penalty kicks on a TFC II goalie.  I could see it wasn't
Angelo Cavalluzzo nor Mark Pais and third stringer Brogan Engbers was away
with TFC III as the backup goalie in a League 1 Ontario game against
Windsor TFC.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC II player) was announced as goalie
Angelo Cavalluzzo who was the obvious choice for all the spectacular
saves he made through the game. With TFC outfield players only scoring
four goals all season so far, he should be stockpiling the espresso
machines they give to the MOTM winner and can re-gift them at Christmas time.

Referee Alexis Vaughan gave out five cards that I counted (three to TFC)
in a game that was more wide open than rough. She didn't award
PR Corey Hertzog a Penalty kick at 90 minutes when he was rolled a ball
up the middle by Romeo Parkes but had a sliding TFC defender poke the ball
away in the box. Two minutes later when she was calling in the trainer
to help a seriously injured PR Stephen Okai injured way back in the PR end,
when Hertzog kept yapping about it she gave him a Yellow card so he'd
back off. Mike Green had to sub in for Okai.

With their MLS team with the week off, this was a game that TFC II would
have the best chance of winning for only the second time all season.
Their roster was stocked with their fringe players from the big club.
Ashtone Morgan, Tsubasa Endoh, Jay Chapman, Ben Spencer,
with Jordan Hamilton coming off the bench at 59 minutes. Their timing
just seemed to be off along with a good Riverhounds defence mostly
clearing the dangers into the box.  This team was strength-wise not
that much weaker than the Canadian Championship first leg game
in Ottawa which the Fury won 2-1. Hmm Fury will be here in less than
a month to play TFC II in USL action!

TFC II season can be summarized with the last play of injury time chance
where Tsubasa Endoh took a 35 yard freekick down the middle over
to Brandon Aubrey at 15 yards on the right and he headed the ball
across the box and Jay Chapman headed an 8 yarder down the middle that
went off the bar and the defenders cleared. Well a tie was a fair result.

Biggest surprise of the night was seeing Romeo Parkes in the Riverhounds
lineup. Last year he scored a goal in their match against TFC II but
within a matter of weeks he had his contract terminated by the
league and the team owner when he kicked (at the time) New York
Red Bulls II Canadian international Karl Ouimette in the back after
receiving a Red card and it made headlines around the world.  I thought
Parkes would return to Jamaica and we'd never hear from him again
or eventually play but never in Pittsburgh but he was tonight back
at being their star. Both TFC II asssistant coach Chris Pozniak and
play by play commentator Terry Dunfield said they had heard of the
situation before I mentioned it. "Sometimes soccer can be very
forgiving" is what Pozniak said to me.

Rivershounds before tonight were in a five way tie for fifth place
so although now they are 4 wins, 5 losses, 4 ties for 16 points,
not knowing how the other results went earlier in the day, they
may have lost ground.

TFC II improve their record to 1 win, 7 losses, 5 ties for 8 points
and are fifteenth (last) in the Eastern Conference. The site
sportsclubstats.com has the MLS Toronto FC with a 98.5% chance
of making the playoffs. Their USL calculations have TFC II with a less
than 1% chance of finishing in the top eight in the East
for playoff qualification.

TFC II's next game is this Wednesday at 12:00pm (Noon) in another
school day game. The opponents will be Orlando City 'B'.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01

[Ruffian]

7 Canadians starting today

 

[Ruffian]

Hamilton with an early goal.

 

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Wednesday June 14, 2017 USL game between
Toronto FC II and Orlando City B played at Ontario Soccer Centre
at 12:00pm.

8 min...TFC Jordan Hamilton GOAL...TFC Liam Fraser sends low pass
from right near center line over to TFC Tsubasa Endoh at 35 yards
in middle and he rolls ball forward and left for charging
TFC Ryan Telfer who crosses from 22 yards on left edge of box.
The ball is over the head of jumping OCB Conor Donovan in middle
of box and Hamilton chests it down at 6 yards even with right
post and gets shot between Donovan and retreating OCB Scott Thomsen
and under sliding goalie Jake Fenlason.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC II......1......Orlando City B......0.....

Attendance was announced as 1295 for this school day matinee.
That was more than their previous school day game by more than 200.
These are by far their biggest crowds of the season for any game
held HERE as opposed to coasting off the TFC MLS fans who haven't
already headed for the exits at BMO Field and would watch
a USL game.

Referee Pierre-Luc Lauzere called only one Yellow card that I heard
announced and that was to an OCB player at 55 minutes.

It also looked like he called a water break at 31 minutes but
otherwise had not much to do.

Angelo Cavalluzzo earned the shutout for TFC II. Last week he was
named to the USL Team of the Week as a bench player for a game in
which he let in one game but where he practically had to stand on his
head to tie Pittsburgh. Today he had not much to do and so will probably
not win but I'm sure team officials like it this way as it shows that
the defence of captain Mitchell Taintor, Brandon Aubrey,
and Robert Boskovic kept most of the OCB shots when there were
any at a comfortable distance.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC II player) was named
as Liam Fraser). He was in the midfield and started some rushes.
I don't remember him winning the espresso machine as the prize
so far this year.

Only fringe TFC MLS players in the lineup were Jordan Hamilton
and Tsubasa Endoh. I will expect they will get a call up soon
as TFC has weekend games and two midweek games for the finals
of the Canadian Championships against Montreal this month. Hamilton
will be extremely important to make up the required Canadian content
for those CC games.

Sergio Camargo got a start today and he looked good especially
at the beginning of his 67 minute game. At 11 minutes he rushed
in from the left and had the goalie dive and grab the ball
off his feet at 12 yards. 22 minutes and he had a 7 yard shot
blocked but won a cornerkick on the deflection. A similar play
at 56 minutes but this time it was from 15 yards.

OCB really only looked good in the first 20 minutes of the
second half. I was expecting more for a team on the margins
of the playoffs. Their game started off badly as defender
Seb Hines was injured at the 20 second mark when he appeared
to do the splits getting his foot caught in the turf as he was
trying to change direction and needed to be subbed off.
Assuming their 'low uniform number' guy players are on their
MLS roster this will be a big blow for both rosters if this
is serious. It's also possible that Conor Donovan coming
in cold at 2 minutes wasn't warmed up for his first calling
on that goal at 8 minutes.

OCB has on their roster Canadians Richie Laryea (not here
today), Micheal Cox a big forward who had a few chances
(similar to big, bashing OC MLS teammate Cyle Larin)
and Zachary Ellis-Hayden who was a winger and sent
in some crosses to varying success. Cox had a three minute
burst starting at 50 minutes when a cornerkick came in from
the right and he headed a shot that Cavalluso punched away
but straight to an OCB player who took a shot but it was
saved by a diving header by defender Brandon Aubrey.
Next minute Cox was on a run down the left but he pushed
the ball over the end line as he was trying to round
a defender. Next minute he got a low shot from 25 yards
down the middle between the defenders and the goalie dove
to the right side of the net to catch.

After the game, players came over to sign autographs. I got
Jordan Hamilton to fill me in on who passed him the ball
on his goal. Signing with a red marker on some kid's red
baseball cap didn't show up too well and even on some kids
arm who hadn't brought anything to sign. Down the line
Tsubasa Endoh was signing autographs and some adult asked
him to sign right on his TFC jersey—well he had a black marker.
Too good to resist as the fan's back was turned I said
'sign in Japanese' which made the fan flinch. Even some
Orlando players were signing. From my notes I'd marked that
Zachary Ellis-Hayden was a Canadian but I blacked out
on what city. 'Kitchener' he said—then it came back to me
that he'd played for K-W United when they used to come
to town and beat the TFC PDL team when they had one until
this year. So he played with Sergio Camargo? Yep he remembered
that time well. When I got home someone had tweeted a photo
of five K-W United guys from those days in a group shot today.
Ellis-Hayden, Camargo, TFC II assistant coach Chris Pozniak
(then on the KW coaching staff), and non-Canadians
Oyvind Alseth of TFC and Ben Polk of OCB. That team won
the PDL championship.

They didn't give the school kids Thundersticks to clap
today but they were more annoying to me. About the same age
as the last game, grades 5 and 6. I always sit in the back row
of the aluminum stands so I can stand up and take pictures
but today there were about two rows of kids staring my way
for most of the game so they could look at the ice cream truck.
The only time they turned around is when they were cued to scream
for a t-shirt toss. The teacher finally bought them something
but then with coke in hand the boys kept staring to beg for
a hot dog. OK by 70 minutes they were gone as their class left
for the school bus. When they get older they will make fine
fans for Section 108 at BMO Field (my section) as that's about
the time when the rows around me start heading for the exits.

The win moves TFC II's record in 14 games to 2 wins, 7 losses,
5 ties for 11 points and moves them off last (15th) place into
thirteenth of the time although they've played more games
than the other teams. TFC ends a 12 game winless streak
dating back to March 24 when they won their opening game
on the road at Phoenix (before Drogba joined the team).
They scored only their fifth goal of the season today--that's
obviously what's been their problem. After the win the audio
guy got to play the Depeche Mode song "Just Can't Get Enough"
(just like their MLS counterparts) for just the first time
this season. Their last 'home' win was their home season
finale last year on September 11 against—Orlando City B.

OCB actually drop a position from eighth to ninth with
the loss. Their record now in 13 games is 4 wins, 5 losses,
4 ties for 16 points which is technically a five way tie
for sixth however with the tie breaker as wins, number
of games played, and plus/minus goal differential, they drop
out of the final playoff spot to Cincinnati with an equal
record but OCB now has a '-1' goals against
to Cincinnati's '0'.

TFC II now goes on the road to play first place
Charleston Battery on Saturday June 24 and the next
Saturday July 1, play at home at 5:00pm against
Harrisburg City Islanders who TFC II pushed down
to fourteenth. Hmm, they could win that!

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Saturday July 1, 2007 USL game between
Toronto FC II and Harrisburg City Islanders played at the Ontario
Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 5:00pm.

22 min...HCI Pedro Ribeiro GOAL...Ribeiro bends freekick
from 20 yards on right around player wall and flying goalie
Mark Pais gets hands to but pushes ball into top left corner of net.

27 min...TFC Mitch Taintor GOAL...TFC Luca Uccello takes 30 yard
freekick from right that has ball land on left and charging Taintor
boots in 8 yarder into top left just under bar.

30 min...HCI Jake Bond GOAL...HCI Abass Mohammed boots chip
from 75 yards downfield on left near sideline. HCI Pedro Ribeiro
receives it at TFC 25 yard line on left then he cuts around
TFC Brandon Aubrey to get to end line and sends low cross
from 20 yards bouncing along 6 yard box where Bond waiting all
alone at 6 yards one-touches ball booting shot into short side
of net beyond diving goalie.

34 min...TFC Luca Uccello GOAL...TFC Adan Daniels at 40 yards
passes forward up middle to Uccello in middle at 25 yards who
touches ball left to TFC Aikim Andrews who eludes HCI Travis Brent's
sliding tackle on edge of box but that pops ball up.
Andrews turns around for it and chips short pass from 12 yards
on left to Uccello at 7 yards with goalie Brandon Miller caught
on left, Uccello kicks in 6 yarder to middle of net with
retreating HCI Jake Bond too late to keep it out.

47 min...HCI (TFC own goal) GOAL...HCI James Thomas makes low
centering pass from 22 yard line on left that finds HCI Jake Bond
who runs up to 10 yards even with right post and shoots low that
sprawling goalie on right post gets hand to rolling
it along 3 yard line and retreating TFC Brandon Aubrey kicks
into own net off his shin one step ahead of charging Thomas.

57 min...HCI Paul Wilson GOAL...HCI Shawn McLaws is given pass
and he runs down right wing to 25 yard line where he sends low
centering cross where HCI James Thomas on edge of box but he's
marked by defender so he taps ball to HCI Pedro Ribeiro running
across from right. He controls and passes from 18 yards between
two defenders for Thomas who now is alone and takes 8 yard shot
up middle that goalie dives forward to make point blank save
at 7 yards and ball pops over to right where Wilson beats
retreating TFC Ryan Telfer to shoot tough angle 10 yarder from
right into left side of open net.

73 min...TFC Aikem Andrews GOAL...TFC Liam Fraser intercepts
pass at HCI 50 yard line and passes forward for TFC Ricardo John
at 35 yard line who dribbles down middle and steps
by HCI Tiago Calvano to 20 yards and taps pass to right for
Andrews to shoot 18 yarder from right into short top right
corner of net.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC II.........3.....Harrisburg City Islanders.....4........

Attendance was announced as 156 (that's one hundred fifty-six)
on this warm afternoon with a pregame rain and the hazy sun
actually coming out during the second half. I know it was
a USL Cup game but USL conference rivals FC Cincinnati drew
more that 32000 for a midweek game a few days ago against
MLS opposition. For us....blah blah blah Canada Day holiday
weekend, and pregame rain (actually there were two as there
was an early morning rain as well) but I appreciate the
PA announcer for an honest announcement.

Referee Yusri Rudolf gave out three Yellow cards today
(two to HCI) in a game that wasn't rough but a lot of HCI players
went down with injuries. Paul Wilson who would later score
replaced Rasheed Olabiyi at 19 minutes when he couldn't continue.
Some fans were saying about later injuries 'Get up' when other
HCI players went down but funniest comment was at 84 minutes
when HCI Abass Mohammed went down but play continued on into
the TFC end. When the tide turned and TFC had a rush a teammate
yelled out 'get up' and Mohammed got up to make TFC Aikim Andrews
rush his shot from 12 yards that had the goalie make an overhead
catch just under the bar. The tie was still waiting until almost
the last kick of the game where TFC Dante Campbell got a cross
drop into the middle but he whiffed on the ball at 12 yards
then shot wide left of the net.

Mark Pais can't really be blamed for any of the HCI goals.
On most of them he made the initial save and had no one to clear
the rebounds. Angelo Cavalluzzo had played many games in a row
but had been shelled for six goals last week against first place
Charleston Battery so it gave Pais a chance to start again.

Harrisburg improves to 4 wins, 7 losses, 4 ties for 17 points
and they climb up to twelve place in the Eastern Conference.
It was their second win in a row.

TFC II's record falls to 2 wins, 9 losses, 5 ties for 11 points.
They are in fifteenth (last) place in the East. Their three goals
adds to the six goals they had scored all year up to now and the
first time they have scored two goals in a game this season.
The broadcast crew mentioned that Luca Uccello had taken the
scoring lead for TFC II with his second goal of the season!

It must be tough on TFC head coach Jason Bent making a line
up as this week TFC MLSers that at times have been loaned down
were up with the big team in Dallas. Ashtone Morgan was a starter
and Tsubasa Endoh, Jason Hernandez, Jay Chapman, Ben Spencer,
and Jordan Hamilton were on the bench. Oyvind Alseth who has
been a TFC II mainstay was also playing against Dallas and was
a starter.

Some writers have been making these elaborate story-lines about
how TFC II can climb to eighth to make the playoffs but I am
more looking forward to watching young players getting their
chances to get on the team and obtaining playing time. Guys like
midfielders Dante Campbell and Malik Johnson I've had a chance
to watch at TFC III in League 1 Ontario. Andrew Dias just
joined from TFC III in the last week and Julian Dunn-Johnson
bypassed the whole L1O team by joining TFC II from their academy
last week. He is only age 15 and is the only Canadian defender
on the team (OK Ashtone Morgan was really a drop-down from the
MLS team). He replaced Brandon Aubrey at 71 minutes and didn't
look out of place...(didn't give up an own goal).  I buy into
what TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko answered me one or two
years ago that the purpose of TFC II is to feed players to the
MLS team so development is more important than results.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC II player) was named
as Luca Uccello and wins the prize from one of the team sponsors
'Anthony's Espresso Equipment'. I saw his father on the way out
and joked it must have been about the fourth time he won
an espresso machine. He said it's only the supplies they give
him like the reloads and not a new machine each time.
I confirmed with the company who were putting away their demo
equipment not so much for that but to say something friendly
after snapping at them while standing on the other side
of the gate in the pregame rain "You shouldn't give a prize
when the team loses 6-1". The owner said "Why not? Winning
isn't everything"...which makes a perfect loop of how I felt
at the end of the game.

It was Canada Day and we were given a small nylon Canadian
flag on a wooden stick which was nice and more permanent than
the paper flags most cities give out at their festivals.
We early arrivals (first 200 which meant everyone) were given
a piece of cake on a stick. It was smaller than
a golf ball—I asked for a second piece on my way out.

I didn't like how the team fled to the exits without coming
to the fence to talk to their fans but I guess they were
too upset by the loss.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01
 

[ironcub14]

Will be at the Saturday game vs Ottawa, as a neutral of course If any of you guys are there, come say hi, I'll be the few with a stroller lol.

[Gopherbashi]

I hope to be there rocking my NASL vintage Fury jersey.

[Ruffian]

Ben Spenser is still not producing anything even at USL level. I was reluctant to give him too much criticism until I had seem him over multiple games but I think at this point he seems to bring less than what Shaan Hundal provided when he got most of the starts at striker. Spenser doesn't even provide any decent hold up play and had multiple times where he had an opportunity but had multiple poor touches under pressure.

I am liking what 19 year old Canadian Robert Boskovic gives at left wing back. He is 6ft3, so I am hoping he can win one of the 3 CB spots that TFC2 play with soon.

Canadian 20 year old Luca Uccello again is the best player on the TFC2 team. The best passing midfielder on the field. Scores a beautiful looping goal over Irwin. Maybe the keeper could have been positioned better. I haven't checked stats but I am pretty sure he would have good numbers for tackles and interceptions.

[Ruffian]

Uccello's finish:

 

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Saturday July 8, 2017 USL game between
Toronto FC II and Ottawa Fury played at the Ontario Soccer Centre
in Vaughan at 7:30pm.

72 min...TFC Luca Uccello GOAL...TFC Brian James stops his own run
and passes from 60 yards on left that finds Uccello running on the
right at 35 yard line and he runs forward and gets shot around
OF Andrae Campbell at 25 yards on right and over goalie Callum Irving
at 6 yards in center of goal and ball drops into left corner of net.

93 min...OF RED card...Andrae Campbell earns his second Yellow card
for tripping TFC Luca Uccello who was breaking out of TFC box with
ball after frantic scramble in box.

Final Score:......Toronto FC II......1......Ottawa Fury.......0......

Attendance was announced as 1007. That was more than six times more
than last Saturday night against Harrisburg City. This was the
largest crowd of the season here except for the two matinee school
day games packed with middle school students and the game played
down at BMO Field on May 13 when they were able to hang onto just
over 10% of their MLS crowd. Tonight was a warm evening but people
left to get windbreakers from their cars at halftime as it was
cooling off quickly.

Last week was a holiday weekend that would have cut into their numbers.
Also there was no threat of rain like a week ago when there were two
storms on game day. Last Saturday also had the TFC MLS team playing
away in Dallas with kickoff only thirty minutes after the USL game
ended. A lot of fans probably stayed home. I think the biggest rivalry
was that this week's team was Ottawa...a team new to the USL this year
after a history with NASL and this year for the first time, an opponent
drawn for the MLS team for the semi-final of the Canadian Championships.
The Fury won the first game in Ottawa 2-1 before being overpowered
4-0 a week later in Toronto when TFC used more of their MLS lineup.
Tonight's game wouldn't have Sebastian Giovinco coming in off the bench.

I didn't know how many marginal MLS players might make their way into
tonight's lineup because the MLS team has the week off and their
manager Greg Vanney might want to keep them sharp. Also at the other
end, Toronto FC III of League 1 Ontario had a key game earlier in the
day against Vaughan Azzurri (ironically youth players from Vaughan
Soccer Club were the ball kids for today) so that would limit teenage
players 'brought up' from that squad for this game. It turned out only
midfielder Tsubasa Endoh (who has recently been getting some MLS
minutes including starts) and little used forward Ben Spencer were
their only MLS roster players. I thought I saw goalie Clint Irwin
warming up in net but it must have been regular Mark Pais with
Angelo Cavalluzzo as backup. Cavalluzzo shut out the Fury on April 22
in USL action in Ottawa in a 0-0 draw.

Ottawa is the only other Canadian team in the Eastern Conference
so the game day staff had thirteen kids hold one large Canadian flag
as they were not needed to split between two medium sized Canadian
and American flags.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC II player) was announced
as Luca Uccello for the obvious reason as he scored the game's only
goal. I'd say it was between him and goalie Mark Pais who had to make
some spectacular saves early to keep them in the game and late
to hold on to the lead. Uccello won last week too but
as I straightened up last week Anthony's Espresso is a coffee
supplier not the maker of coffee machines so it's the coffee
that's the prize each game.

Mark Pais earned the shutout for TFC. He was always the busier
man in net right from the start of the game. Fury really turned
up the pressure after the TFC goal. At 75 minutes
OF Steevan Dos Santos got by a falling defender at 75 minutes
but couldn't get away a shot. A minute later a goal by him was
whistled down as offside. 78 minutes had OF Ryan Williams send
a 35 yard freekick down the middle that Pais caught. A minute
later TFC Jordan McCrary made a key header on the left side
of the box to break up a play. 82 minutes had
TFC Julian Dunn-Johnson chest down a ball and clear from
their box. A minute later OF Lance Rozeboom crossed from the
right side of the box and OF Carl Haworth couldn't get away
a shot in a mass of defenders on the left side of the box.
84 minutes had OF Gerardo Bruna chip a ball from 30 yards on the
left into the box and an OF player whiffed on the ball
at 8 yards and Haworth shot a low 8 yarder forward and wide
left of the post but the play was flagged offside. 86 minutes
had OF Andrae Campbell run into the box but the play was whistled
down for him pushing down McCrary. 88 minutes had
OF Sito Seoane work a ball to the right edge of the box and
centered a pass to OF Sergio Manesio who did the splits to try
to pass forward to Seoane from 20 yards but a defender blocked
and cleared for a fast break. 93 minutes had OF Tucker Hume
take a 16 yard shot up the middle that had the goalie make
a huge save at 3 yards in the middle of goal to dive and push
the ball to the right. Dos Santos got to the ball and his
low 8 yard shot from the right was stopped
by TFC Julian Dunn-Johnson at 3 yards on the right post.
That same minute the OF goalie lofted a 70 yard freekick high
to the edge of the box where in a crowd of players had Hume
not able to get away a shot after bashing through
to the 8 yard line then a defender cleared and TFC Luca Uccello
was tripped up breaking out of the box by Campbell resulting
in his second Yellow.

Fury had 'goals' at 27 minutes and 76 minutes ruled offside.

Julian Dunn-Johnson was a starting defender for TFC and played
well. He is the only Canadian defender on the team and more
impressive he is only age 15 and it's tough with the team
playing like their MLS parent with only three men in the back.
Brandon Aubrey who was credited with an own goal last week was
glued to the bench. Dunn-Johnson subbed for him at 71 minutes
last week and isn't giving up that spot yet.

Referee David Barrie gave out five Yellow cards tonight
(three to the Fury—and two to Andrae Campbell). Campbell's
second which was the last play of the game was to prevent
a TFC breakout with all the Fury players forward for a last
minute scramble in the box and he was preventing a breakout
which would have been an open space 80 yard dash downfield.
I had been critical while watching a halftime 8 v 8 mini-game
between kids in the center circle with no-one holding their
positions. I asked a soccer mom beside me "How old are kids
when they are taught to hold their positions?" Well this late
scramble was one time those kids hopefully never forget.

It was another Young Reds Day (as was last week) with under
age 14 fans being able to take Penalty kicks after the game
if their parents signed a waiver. Players came over to the
sidelines to greet the fans and sign autographs after the game
unlike last week when they lost and fled as soon
as the whistle blew.

Before the game I asked questions to new Fury signing
Adonijah Reid who was suddenly on their roster within the
last three days after being drafted by MLS FC Dallas earlier
this year as a Generation Adidas player. This was a former
League 1 Ontario co-leading goalscorer (with Filipe Vijela
of Oakville) for ANB Futbol with 20 goals in the 2015 season
when he was only age 15. He is still only 17! He answered
me that he is still with FC Dallas who can recall him but
since they don't have a USL team they've placed him with
Ottawa to get more playing time.

TFC won at home for just the second time this season.
They looked good at beating another fringe playoff team
like when they edged Orlando City B last month.
Sportsclubstats.com now has TFC II climbing from 0.2 %
to exactly 1.0% chance for making the USL playoffs. Their
record improves to 3 wins, 9 losses, 5 ties for 14 points
and they climb out of the basement (fifteenth) up to fourteenth.

Fury's record falls to 5 wins, 6 losses, 5 ties for
20 points and are tied for tenth place. Top eight earn
a playoff spot.

TFC now have a weekend off before playing two in a week
on the road against New York Red Bulls II and Rochester
Rhinos then finish with another road game against Ottawa
(their third league meeting this season—unusual based
on the number of teams and games but done to build rivalries).
Next home game isn't until August 5 against the current
first place Charleston Battery who beat TFC 6-1 two weeks ago.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter RocketRobin01
 

[ironcub14]

On 2017-07-06 at 6:52 PM, Gopherbashi said:

I hope to be there rocking my NASL vintage Fury jersey.

Ha that makes it maybe 3 people I know that have that jersey in the GTA, maybe.

[ironcub14]

Believe that the unnamed East team quoted in this article below as refusing to invest or move down to USLD3 is TFCII.

Some TFC fans, myself included, believe that MLSE needs to move the team from its current location in Vaughan at Ontario Soccer Centre, out in the burbs, to where the TFCIII side and the Academy sides play in North York at Downsview Park.

There's no "facility" there, but there's potential, and a new subway station is opening there at the end of this year, with both TTC (subway) and GO (commuter train) access from Union Station (downtown).

By far the biggest complaint by TFC fans about TFCII is the fact that there's zero public transit access to the Ontario Soccer Centre.

http://newsok.com/article/5558393

[Kent]

1 hour ago, ironcub14 said:

Believe that the unnamed East team quoted in this article below as refusing to invest or move down to USLD3 is TFCII.

Some TFC fans, myself included, believe that MLSE needs to move the team from its current location in Vaughan at Ontario Soccer Centre, out in the burbs, to where the TFCIII side and the Academy sides play in North York at Downsview Park.

There's no "facility" there, but there's potential, and a new subway station is opening there at the end of this year, with both TTC (subway) and GO (commuter train) access from Union Station (downtown).

By far the biggest complaint by TFC fans about TFCII is the fact that there's zero public transit access to the Ontario Soccer Centre.

http://newsok.com/article/5558393

Interesting article. I can see why MLS teams would be upset at the idea of relegating themselves. They came in with the understanding that their players would get to play competitive games in this league. If all the MLS2 teams have to go down a division, they might end up with a full reserve league which is what they were trying to get away from in the first place. Part of me says USL picked reserve league status, they should be stuck with reserve league status. It seems if they are going to split up the league into 2 tiers, the fairest thing to do is... pro/rel. <ducks>

[ironcub14]

3 minutes ago, Kent said:

Interesting article. I can see why MLS teams would be upset at the idea of relegating themselves. They came in with the understanding that their players would get to play competitive games in this league. If all the MLS2 teams have to go down a division, they might end up with a full reserve league which is what they were trying to get away from in the first place. Part of me says USL picked reserve league status, they should be stuck with reserve league status. It seems if they are going to split up the league into 2 tiers, the fairest thing to do is... pro/rel. <ducks>

No need to duck, that's exactly where it's heading, for both USL/USLD3, and NASL/NISA. And yes, completely valid point about avoiding another reserve league, it's been said many times now for sure.

Said something similar in the CPL D2 thread as well, but honestly, forget Tinfoil Ted's crew for a second, it's a bit ridiculous that people think that talking about pro/rel in NA reasonably for even a minute or so needs to be prefaced by an apology or ducking away from the screen or whatever.