Who: Toronto FC II (5-12-5, 20pts) vs. Bethlehem Steel FC (6-7-7, 25pts)
When: Sunday July 31 2016, 4PM ET.
Where: Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, PA
Livestream: tfc2.ca
Toronto FC II will make their first trip to Goodman Stadium in franchise history on Sunday when they take on Bethlehem Steel FC at 4PM.
TFC II will be looking to rebound from a tough road loss last weekend. “We will take it as a one off,” said Head Coach Jason Bent, “we will try to bounce back for these next two games, which are extremely important for us as we move forward.”
A major story line heading into the matchup is the team’s current goalkeeping situation. The Young Reds were already short handed at the position with both Alex Bono and Quillan Roberts up with the first team. Then recent starter Phil Di Bennardo went down with an injury on the weekend. Angelo Cavazullo and Brogan Engbers will likely be the goaltending tandem for the foreseeable future. "This will test the depth of the entire club." added Bent.
In the only previous matchup between the teams, the Young Reds defeated the Steel FC 3-2 at the Ontario Soccer Centre. The match on July 6 saw Lucca Uccello, Bubacarr Jobe, and Liam Fraser all score for the Reds.
The Reds enter a pivotal point of their season. The next two matches are against teams the Young Reds are chasing for a playoff position. The team currently sit 5 points out of the final playoff position in the eastern conference.
“We have to go out and get the three points,” added Luca Uccello, “It’s an important stretch of games.”
The Steel FC comes into the match having drawn their last fixture against the Rochester Rhinos. This Sunday’s match will be their fifth game in a row played at Goodman Stadium.
Players to watch:
Ryan Richter: The name may sound familiar for Reds fans. The former TFC defender played 14 games for the first team in 2013. After a stop in the NASL with the Ottawa Fury, the defender has found a home with the Steel FC this season. He has 3 goals and 1 assist on the year well playing every minute for the Steel.
Joshua Heard: Heard has been used primarily as a substitute this season. Scoring 2 goals in 13 games. He scored one of his goals in the last meeting against TFC II. However, with the apparent departure of Derrick Jones to the Philadelphia Union on a homegrown contract, Heard should see his minutes increase and he could be an impact player in the matchup on Sunday.
Toronto FC II take on Bethlehem Steel FC this Sunday, July 31 at 4:00 PM ET. Follow along on Twitter @TorontoFCII using the hashtag #BSTvTOR and watch the action via livestream at tfc2.ca
