Vaughan, ON - A windy night at Ontario Soccer Centre saw Charleston Battery score a late goal to run out 1-0 winners.
Toronto FC II started the game strongly, showing good team defence and consistently posing a threat on the break. The midfield were able to switch the ball with impunity. Wesley Charpie was linking well with Bubacarr Jobe on the right side to make inroads into the attacking third.
Phil Di Bennardo started for the second time and was a standout player. He made several spectacular saves over the 90 minutes with two in quick succession showed his versatility. He stopped a Zach Prince drive high, and then robbed Romario Williams a few minutes later on a low, in-close shot.
The Young Reds kept pushing for an equalizer late in the game despite losing substitute Malik Johnson after an awkward fall and captain Skylar Thomas to a second yellow card in added time.
TFC II will hope to carry their defensive solidity when they hit the road and take on Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday July 2. Be sure to watch the game live on tfc2.ca
Match Quotes:
JASON BENT – HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC II
Overall Thoughts on the game…
“Overall I am proud of the players. They put a lot of effort into the game. We were undermanned tonight. Every single player that stepped on the field put a great effort in. Unfortunately we were lacking that little bit of quality in the final third. Football can be a crazy game sometimes. When you're down at one end and you miss a couple close chances (Ayo and Sal) then all of a sudden conceding a goal. I am proud of the way the players fought tonight and the way they tried to play the game. When we were able to do things simply. (Connect Passes) Things eventually opened up we were just in a little bit of a rush especially early on in the game. But credit to the players they put a lot of effort into the game.”
Thoughts on Phil's Play in net…
“Phil was coming into the game with a bit of a knock. I thought mentally he should goodwill power and strength. He made some key saves for us. He read the play quite well off his line. I was pleased with his performance.”
Focus this week…
“We have to rest and get ourselves healthy. We have lost a few players tonight with some injuries. Some players are away with the first team as well. So we have to try and rest to get our bodies and minds right. Obviously losing three games in a row can hurt you mentally so that will be the priority for us.”
AIDAN DANIELS – MIDFIELDER, TORONTO FC II
How are you feeling after that game?
"Difficult match, disappointed to not get a result."
You guys are riding a 3 game losing streak, how does the team support each other and take yourselves out of that?
"Pushing each other in training every day and on the pitch ... we really need to buckle down and push for a playoff spot."
Scoring Summary
Charleston Battery: Romario Williams 79’
Misconduct Summary
Toronto FC II: Skylar Thomas 70’ (Caution)
Charleston Battery: Shawn Ferguson 70’ (Caution)
Toronto FC II: Aidan Daniels 74’ (Caution)
Charleston Battery: Ricky Garbanzo 89’ (Caution)
Toronto FC II: Skylar Thomas 90+3 (Caution) (Ejection)
Team Records
Toronto FC II: 3-10-4, 13 pts
Charleston Battery: 8-4-3, 27 pts
Starting XI
Toronto FC II: Phil Di Bennardo; Wesley Charpie, Mitchell Taintor, Skylar Thomas ©, Anthony Osorio (Robert Boskovic 82); Liam Fraser, Aidan Daniels, Brian James, Shaan Hundal, Sal Bernal, Bubacarr Jobe (Malik Johnson 58) (Ayo Akinola 66)
Charleston Battery: Alex Tambaki; Quinton Griffith, Emmanuel Adjetey, Taylor Mueller, Shawn Ferguson ©; Justin Portillo, Zach Prince, Maikel Chang (Dante Marini 90); Ataullah Guerra (Neveal Hackshaw 80), Heviel Cordoves (Ricky Garbanzo 63), Romario Williams (Chris Tsonis 85)
