Toronto FC’s game-winning goal in the 78th minute on Sunday against CF Pachuca in the Leagues Cup was a direct result of time spent on the training ground from a pair of homegrown players.

Both Kobe Franklin and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty entered the action off the bench – in the 71st and 67th minutes, respectively – and combined shortly thereafter to seal the victory over the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup champions.

“Those two,” smiled John Herdman post-match. “It's funny. At the end of training, they're the two that are there every single day with Alex Dodgshon, the wingback coach. Every day the two of them do an extra 15, 20, 30 minutes and hard work pays off.”

“Any young players out there,” he highlighted. “That goal was a ‘hard work pays off’ goal.”

Marshall-Rutty received a poked ball from Matty Longstaff on the left touchline, took one touch wide then paused to lure the defender in before taking another, dropping his shoulder, and getting position to fling in a ball.

As that was taking shape on one side, Franklin was charging up the other, betting that the delivery would come.

And it did.

That one-side to the other connection is something TFC has sought.

“The wingback-to-wingback goal. We got [one] against Montréal and we got it again tonight,” said Herdman – albeit there was a certain Lorenzo Insigne in between Federico Bernardeschi and Richie Laryea combining for the game-winner against CF Montréal. “That's been something we've been working on a lot as a team, so [I’m] proud of the lads, really proud of that effort tonight.”

Franklin was sent out there with a mission: “Just to make a difference.”

“I’ve been working hard during training, doing whatever I can for this team,” he continued. “So getting out there and really installing myself into the game.”

And he did.

It was Franklin’s first goal for the first team.

“I'll never forget my first goal,” said Derrick Etienne Jr. “[Kobe] works hard and gets himself in those positions in training a lot too, so to see the combination with Jahkeele and then the composure on the finish – a great finish – is going to give him a lot of confidence.”

“A lot of times it's getting that first goal and then the floodgates open, so I'm excited for him,” he continued. “You were able to see how excited we were for him. It's going to push him and give some confidence.”

A fraction of a second after the ball left his boot, the celebration began. Franklin ran straight to Marshall-Rutty and the two slid towards the corner flag before taking it to the fans in the South End and being enveloped by their teammates.

He was pleased to share the moment with a fellow homegrown and dedicated it to one of his biggest fans.

“Jahk bombing down the wing, a player that is very close to me – we work in close quarters every day on the training field, so for him to whip the ball in for my first goal is really special,” said Franklin. “A really proud moment for me and my family. That one's for my mom, she's always telling me to shoot.”

“The wingback's role is to defend the back-post and attack the back-post,” he added. “Attacking has been something I've been trying to grow in my game. Working to get to that back-post has been really key.”

“I've had a couple opportunities this season where I've been just short or a millisecond late,” Franklin recalled. “So happy to get there today and stick it in the back.”

Getting that timing right is crucial to the move coming off. Both players need to be on the same page. Is the opportunity at the back-side or the front? Does the ball come early or late? Any lack of cohesion or execution and the moment passes.

Franklin and Marshall-Rutty nearly combined five minutes earlier, but Franklin’s header at the back-post went wide.

“I was just saying to my assistant coach, when he had a chance when he first came on, I was sure it's in his head; he’s saying, ‘Your opportunity has been missed.’ So for him to go and do it again,” marvelled Herdman. “How good was Jahkeele tonight? Coming on, what an impact. That's as good as I've seen him. He played in a real flow state.”

Franklin capped off the night by banging the drum during the post-match celebrations. He, Marshall-Rutty, and the rest of the squad will now face Inter Miami CF in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 at Inter&Co Stadium in Florida on Thursday.

“In front of the supporters, definitely a special moment I'll hold dear in my heart,” he said. “It's a quick turnaround heading to Miami, a top side, but I think no one can really stop our team when we're flying.”

“We’re looking forward to the match,” closed Franklin. “Preparation starts now.”