The Toronto FC Academy U-13 (2004) team is through to the U-13 CONCACAF Champions League Semifinals after a dramatic penalty kick victory over Mexican side LM Boca del Rio.
The Reds jumped out in front on a great goal from Shayan Soltanzadeh. The forward gathered a failed Boca clearance at the top of the box and fired a rocket past the ‘keeper.
The lead was short lived as Boca answered just 8 minutes later to even up the score into the half.
Both teams traded chances in the second half but each failed to put away the go ahead marker.
The match ended even at one and the team that will move on will be decided by penalty kicks.
Keegan Walker, Marko Stojadinovic, Lucas Fiorini, and Aidan Huga all converted their PKs.
Boca’s third PK was stopped by ‘keeper Dino Bontis. Bontis dove to his right and made a great fingertip stop to give the Reds an advantage.
On Boca’s fifth and final PK Bontis had appeared to have stopped the shot for the win but was ruled to have left early. However, the Boca player fired his second attempt off the left post and the Reds were off to the semis!
The Reds will now get a day off before their semifinal match to be played on Friday, August 11th. Time and opponent are still TBD.
