Photo: Oscar Cordon struck the winner for Toronto FC Reserves.
Following a low-scoring affair between their respective first teams Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union engaged in a five-goal thriller at BMO Field in MLS Reserve League action.
Toronto won the contest 3-2 on the strength of a brace from Efrain Burgos Jr., and a 65th minute winner from Oscar Cordon.
Fresh off scoring the decider in the earlier 1-0 Toronto victory, Danny Koevermans started for the Reds’ Reserves to add some minutes to his day, as did fellow first team substitutes from that match, Nick Soolsma and Richard Eckersley.
RELATED: Toronto beats Philadelphia 1-0
The big names were silenced early though, when Jack McInerney opened the scoring for the visitors by beating Quillan Roberts on his left side with a shot from just inside the 18-yard box at the 14th minute to put Philadelphia up 1-0.
Toronto slowly got back into the match and by the 34th minute had found its equalizer through Burgos. The TFC attacker fired a bullet from the left side of the box that cleanly beat Brian Rowe to level the match 1-1 into halftime.
At the restart Koevermans, Soolsma and Eckersley were substituted, while Burgos built up for his brace. The CalPoly grad finished from the top of the 18 with another assertive strike to make it 2-1 Toronto at the 52nd minute.
It only took four minutes for Philadelphia to respond. McInerney matched Burgos’ double by rounding Toronto keeper Quillan Roberts to equalize at 2-2.
The back-and-forth affair finally settled at 65the minute. Former Portugal international Luis Boa Morte, on trial with Toronto, evaded the entire Philadelphia midfield before finding Cordon near the top of the opposition area. The Toronto FC Academy graduate delivered a low shot past Rowe’s fingertips to give the Reds the 3-2 advantage.
Philadelphia had two trialists in the match - Christian Ibeagha and Andreas Chronis - they paired up in the middle of the backline.
McInerney stood out apart from his two goals, showing poise on the ball and a variety of touches in and around the box. The 19-year old forward is a U.S. youth international and was selected seventh overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
Toronto received 73 industrious minutes from trialist Boa Morte. He combined with 16-year old Academy player Jordan Hamilton to score what would have been his first goal in a Toronto shirt, but for an offside flag.
Scoring Summary
14’ Philadelphia – Jack McInerney
34’ Toronto – Efrain Burgos Jr.
52’ Toronto – Efrain Burgos Jr.
56’ Philadelphia – Jack McInerney
65’ Toronto – Oscar Cordon
Misconduct Summary
None.
Lineups
Toronto - Quillan Roberts; Richard Eckersley (Oscar Cordon 45’), Ty Harden, Dicoy Williams (Chris Manella 72’), Tyler Pasher; Terry Dunfield, Matt Stinson, Luis Boa Morte (Mario Orestano 73’); Nick Soolsma (Keith Makubuya 45’), Danny Koevermans (Jordan Hamilton 45’), Efrain Burgos Jr.
Philadelphia - Brian Rowe; Greg Jordan, Christian Ibeagha, Andreas Chronis, Jimmy McLaughlin; Amobi Okugo, Antoine Hoppenot, Josue Martinez, Christhian Hernandez; Chandler Hoffman, Jack McInerney
