Toronto FC II (3W-2L-2T, 11 points) defeated Huntsville City FC (0W-5L-3T, 3 points) by a scoreline of 1-0 at Wicks Family Field on Sunday evening, courtesy of substitute Charlie Sharp’s second-half winner and the team’s first shutout of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
TFC II Head Coach Gianni Cimini made three changes to the starting eleven that faced Columbus Crew 2 at York Lions Stadium last weekend with Marko Stojadinovic, Lazar Stefanovic and Lucas Olguin making way for Antony Curic, Ythallo and Charlie Staniland.
In a scoreless first half, the Young Reds’ Adisa De Rosario made an important stop after a late first-half attempt in the 43rd minute from Huntsville’s Adem Sipić to keep the game tied as both teams headed into the locker room tied at zero at the break.
Both sides created goalscoring opportunities in the second half but it wasn’t until the 85th minute when Charlie Sharp came off the bench to put the game away and send the visitors home with three points. Markus Cimermancic recorded his first assist of the 2024 campaign as him and Sharp linked up for a quick one-two pass inside the 18-yard box as Sharp sent a low, hard shot into the back of the net, beating the Huntsville keeper to give the Young Reds its second road victory of the season.
Toronto FC II continue its road game stretch to face New York City FC II in MLS NEXT Pro regular season action on Friday, May 17. Kick-off from Belson Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. ET and will be available to watch on MLSNEXTPro.com and the MLS YouTube channel.
SCORING SUMMARY
TOR – Charlie Sharp 85’ (Markus Cimermancic)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
HNT– Ollie Wright 41’ (caution)
TOR – Adam Pearlman 73’ (caution)
HNT– Faiz Opande 90+2’ (caution)
HNT– Ollie Wright 90+6’ (ejection)
LINEUPS
HUNTSVILLE CITY FC – Jacob Grekowicz; Joel Sangwa, Faiz Opande, Christian Applewhite (Tomás Ritondale 86’), Fernando Cicéron; Jonathan Bolanos (C), Isaiah Jones (Sergi Oriol 86’), Isaiah Johnston, Ollie Wright (Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez 86’); Dominic Wilson (Cannon Stretchen 63’), Adem Sipić
Substitutes Not Used: Simon Jillson
TORONTO FC II – Adisa De Rosario; Adam Pearlman, Antony Curic (C), Ythallo; Theo Rigopoulos (Marko Stojadinovic 87’), Andrei Dumitru (Mark Fisher 64’), Charlie Staniland (Lucas Olguin 83’), Markus Cimermancic, Nathaniel Edwards; Hassan Ayari (Charlie Sharp 64’), Julian Altobelli
Substitutes Not Used: Shafique Wilson, Kundai Mawoko, Lazar Stefanovic, Matthew Catavolo, Kristjan Fortier
Notables:
- Markus Cimermancic recorded his first assist of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season for Toronto FC II.
- Adisa De Rosario recorded his first professional clean sheet for Toronto FC II and the club’s first of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
- With tonight’s win, Toronto FC II have now gone unbeaten in their last five matches (W3 T2).
