The Young Reds weren't able to arrest their losing slide as Harrisburg City Islanders continued their winning streak, coming out 2-1 victors at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The first goal of the game came in the 26th minute from Paul Wilson who was dangerous all game. An under hit pass from Chris Mannella in the midfield was jumped on by Wilson and he looked up and struck the ball quickly from 30 yards out, looping it over Quillan Roberts who had been caught off his line.
Aaron Wheeler extended the lead to two in in the 29th minute. He was able to turn Skylar Thomas and hold him off long enough to take a curling shot that beat the unsighted Roberts. It was his third goal in two games.
Brian James was able to grab a consolation goal for The Young Reds in injury time, scoring with effectively the last kick of the game. He picked the ball up in the middle of the park and slalomed around several Harrisburg players before his shot clipped off a defenders heel and looped over the diving Keasal Broome.
Toronto was playing on the back foot for much of the first half, but in the 17th minute Malik Johnson slipped a ball through for Shaan Hundal. He delicately rolled it to the far post, beating the keeper and the recovering central defender, but the play had been whistled down for offside.
The first half came to close with Brian James receiving a yellow card in the 42nd minute as he lunged to recover the ball after a loose touch. Harrisburg sat much deeper in the second half, with no need to commit men forward whilst sitting on a two goal lead but still offering plenty of danger on the counter with the pace of Wilson, Benbow and substitute Craig Foster.
Toronto FC II tried to turn up the pace as the half wore on with Wesley Charpie and Malik Johnson in particular looking dangerous on the right flank. Mitchell Taintor had a good look goal in the 76th minute off a Luca Uccello free kick from deep.
His header back across the goal just crept wide of the post. TFC II are back in action on May 29th when they host the Wilmington Hammerheads at the Ontario Soccer Centre. Watch the game via livestream at Tfc2.ca at 7:30 PM ET.
Scoring Summary
HBG – Paul Wilson 26' HBG – Aaron Wheeler 29' TFC II – Brian James 90+3'
Misconduct Summary
TFC II – Anthony Osorio 7' TFC II – Brian James 42' HBG – Matthew Bolduc 86'
Lineups
Toronto FC II – Quillan Roberts; Wesley Charpie, Mitchell Taintor, Skylar Thomas, Anthony Osorio (Robert Boskovic 83'); Chris Manella (c) (Liam Fraser 62), Brian James, Aidan Daniels, Luca Ucello, Malik Johnson (Sal Bernal 71), Shaan Hundal (Ethan Beckford 62)
Harrisburg City Islanders – Keasel Broome; Shawn McLaws, Shane Johnson, Liam Doyle, James Thomas; Matthew Bolduc (Shane Campbell 88'), Bobby Warshaw (c), Josh Hughes (Danny DiPrima 62'), Cardel Benbow (Brett Janouskas 82'); Aaron Wheeler (Craig Foster 68'), Paul Wilson (Dante Leverock 90')
