Toronto FC v. Red Star Belgrade - Match Report

Toronto FC 1-0 Red Star Belgrade - FT
Stinson 41'

Matt Stinson scored the only goal of the game as Toronto FC beat Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in preseason action in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday. The TFC Academy product scored in the 41st minute as Toronto maintained their unbeaten start to preseason.

The goal came just before the break in a closely fought first half when Stinson got on the end of a good attacking play from Toronto. Maicon played a through ball to Martina who crossed to Stinson. The former Winthrop midfielder scored off the post to give the Reds the lead. More...

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90' FULL TIME: Toronto 1-0 Red Star Belgrade.

89' Henry double block. Corner swung in by Red Star is cleared, throw in for Red Star – huge block from Henry. Another corner and another block from Henry.

85' Red Star with possession but TFC holding on. Kocic claims a cross under pressure.

82' Ent laid out again for the second time in the half. Physical game but ref happy to let play flow though.

77' Long throw deep into the Red Star penalty area by Dan Gargan but Makubuya can’t make contact.

72' Corner for TFC after a good play by King Osei Gyan.

71’ Gold loses the ball in the middle of the park. Red Star winger sends shot towards far corner of the goal but Kocic makes a routine stop.

68' Plata continues to cause problems for the Red Star defence. Gets in 1-on-1 but slips on the pitch.

64' Calls for a penalty from Red Star after a challenge by Ty Harden, but the ref waves the appeals away.

60' Silky skills from Plata. Gets past 2 players, but unable to find a Red shirt. The Draft pick has been the most lively player in the second half so far.

56' Corner for Red Star turns into a  great counter by TFC. Plata skips a challenge and plays to Makubuya who in turn feeds Zavarise. Move ends after one too many passes allows Red Star to clear.

52' Bas Ent brought down by a late challenge, but the Dutch trialists manages to get back to his feet. No foul called by the ref.

47' Red Star cross into box saved by Milos Kocic.

Second Half: Toronto 1-0 Red Star

Toronto FC introduced another new trialist for the start of the second half. English born defender Chris Hunter 23, played for UC Santa Barbara in 2010.

Hunter came into the match at left back as Aron Winter made 11 changes.

Second half line up:
Milos Kocic, Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Chris Hunter, Matt Gold, King Osei Gyan, Gianluca Zavarise, Bas Ent, Keith Makubuya, Joao Plata

Halftime Report

Toronto 1-0 Red Star - HT
Stinson 41'

Toronto FC are leading 1-0 against Red Star Belgrade at half time of their second preseason game in Antalya, Turkey. Academy product Matt Stinson scored the only goal of the half in the 41st minute.

In a closely fought contest, Toronto stood strong in defence but found it difficult to break down a well organized Serbian team until they found the breakthrough four minutes before half time.

Ahead of the match, Toronto FC added a new trialist to their training camp roster, 32-year-old Dutch midfielder Elbekay Bouchiba. He was named in the starting lineup along with fellow trialists David Monsalve, Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.

Toronto’s first attack came in the 7th minute when trialist goalkeeper David Monsalve started an attack quickly from the back. His ball out to SuperDraft pick Demitrius Omphroy got the Reds moving down the right wing but when the ball was crossed towards Maicon Santos, the Brazilian striker couldn’t make contact.

Red Star Belgrade used the wings effectively with their early possession, but TFC broke on the counter attack in the 12th minute when Oscar Cordon played in Maicon who shot just wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Just after the half hour, Monsalve made a good save from a close range shot by Red Star to keep the game goalless, and soon after Ashtone Morgan did well in a one-on-one battle to halt the Red Star winger.

Maicon went close again for Toronto in the 39th minute but this time saw his header deflected just wide following a good cross from Soolsma.

The goal came in the 41st minute when Stinson got on the end of a good attacking play from Toronto. Maicon played a through ball to Martina who crossed to Stinson. The former Winthrop midfielder scored off the post to give the Reds the lead.

HT: It's halftime now in Turkey. One note, official time of Stinson's goal has been changed to the 41st minute.

44' Tackles flying everywhere. Cann crunches a Red Star forward and gets all ball.

42' Toronto FC 1-0 Red Star Belgrade.

41' GOAL Toronto. Matt Stinson. Maicon plays the ball through to Martina who crosses into Stinson. Hs shot goes in off the post.

39' TFC Cross by Soolsma met by Maicon. Header deflected just wide of the net.

35' Morgan with some solid defending in a 1-v-1 situation against the Red Star winger. Lots of defending for TFC to do at the moment.

31' Good save from Monsalve after a close range shot from Red Star.

27' Attakora clears the danger after more good wing play from Red Star. Decent cross into the box, but the young Canadian is equal to it.

19' Red Star setting the tone. Physical play leads to a hard foul on Matt Stinson in the midfield - TFC free kick.

16' TFC keeping possession well. Looking for ways to break down a very well organized Red Star side.

13' Free kick Red Star. Played towards the penalty area but referee calls offside.

12' TFC break on the counter attack. Cordon finds Maicon who shoots just wide from inside the penalty area.

9' Good play from Red Star down the right wing – they win a corner. TFC clear danger.

7’ TFC attacking down the right after a quick ball out from Monsalve to right back Omphroy. Ball crossed towards Maicon but the striker can’t make contact.

2' Match just getting underway. No De Rosario today for TFC. He left this morning to join up with the Canada squad in Greece ahead of Wednesday’s friendly. As Adrian Cann was a late call up for the National Team, he will not be leaving Turkey until Monday.

February 6 - 7:58 a.m.

First half line up (4-3-3):

David Monsalve, Demitrius Omphroy, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Ashtone Morgan, Matt Stinson, Elbekay Bouchiba, Oscar Cordon, Nick Soolsma, Maicon, Javier Martina

Another trialist has been added to Toronto FC’s training camp in Turkey. Dutch Midfelder Elbekay Bouchiba will start today’s match against Red Star Belgrade as part of a three man midfield.

Bouchiba, 32, has played most of his career in the Netherlands and spent time with AZ Alkmaar, Sparta Rotterdam and FC Twente. In 2007 he moved to play in Qatar with Al-Wakrah Sports Club.

Other trialists starting the game against the Serbians are: Goalkeeper David Mosalve and forwards Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina. SuperDraft pick Demitrius Omphroy starts at right back and three Academy players all start the game. Ashtone Morgan is at left back with Matt Stinson and Oscar Cordon in midfleld.

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Toronto FC will play its second preseason match from Turkey on Sunday at 8 a.m. against Serbian side Red Star Belgrade.

Supporters can follow developments on this very news page as TorontoFC.ca reports on the match. TFC starting XI will be posted early Sunday prior to kickoff.

Postgame highlights, interviews and pictures will be posted on TorontoFC.ca. 

Major events will also be reported on the official Toronto FC Twitter account along with halftime and postgame updates on the official Toronto FC Facebook page.

Toronto drew Red Star rival Partizan Belgrade 1-1 on February 2 in its first preseason match of 2011. Nana Attakora scored at the sixth minute for TFC, but a 41st minute penalty allowed the Serbian side to level through Nemanja Tomic.