Toronto FC played its third match in the MLS Reserve League, for the first time against an USL Pro side – Pittsburgh Riverhounds – drawing 1-1 on Friday night with Jose Angulo and Andrew Wiedeman trading goals for their respective clubs.
It was Toronto’s first away match and draw in the 2013 Reserve League, keeping them unbeaten with two previous wins.
Pittsburgh went ahead at the ninth minute when an ideal cross from the right by Jhonny Arteaga cleared Gale Agbossoumonde and found Angulo’s head atop the six-yard box. The striker – who had danced in to the area between Agbossoumonde and Doneil Henry – placed the header perfectly past Quillan Roberts in the Toronto goal to put the home side up 1-0.
Toronto forward Justin Braun seemed to pick up a knock early in the match. He was substituted for Kia TFC Academy’s Dylan Sacramento at the 25th minute. Along with starters Manuel Aparicio and Chris Mannella, three Academy players saw action on Friday.
Reds were unconvincing on attack in the first half, often relying on long balls that were too easily recovered by Pittsburgh. One such effort did yield a chance at the 35th minute when Kyle Bekker delivered a pinpoint lob over the backline for Emery Welshman, but his shot was blocked by the advancing Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap. That was the Reds’ only shot on target in the half.
Teams traded soft blows in the opening minutes of the second half before Roberts made a fine stop from a free kick at the 55th minute to keep Toronto within one goal. The homegrown TFC keeper got his right hand to 30-yard drive from Angulo, denying him a second strike.
Roberts rescued Reds again less than 10 minutes later when Kevin Kerr rounded his midfield counterpart and found space for a 20-yard shot from open play. The Toronto keeper ranged to his right to make a diving save.
The attackers complemented Roberts’ second half display by leveling the match at the 72nd minute when Wiedeman took advantage of a turnover at the edge of the Pittsburgh area. Confusion between defenders resulted in the ball falling to Wiedeman’s foot. His shot from just inside the 18 took an important deflection before reaching the top right corner of the goal to make it 1-1.
Reds found their legs going forward after the Wiedeman goal and went in search for the winner. At the 78th minute Kyle Bekker had a free kick stopped by Gilstrap. Then three minutes from time a Bekker corner caused havoc inside the Pittsburgh box, with Gilstrap caught out of goal only a handball call on Toronto stopped the play.
Doneil Henry captained the side and Jim Brennan coached the Reserves on Friday night.
Scoring Summary
9’ Pittsburgh – Jose Angulo
72’ Toronto – Andrew Wiedeman
Misconduct Summary (Toronto)
60’ Darel Russell (caution)
76’ Gale Agbossoumonde (caution)
90+2’ Ashtone Morgan (caution)
Lineup (Toronto)
Quillan Roberts; Darel Russell (Logan Emory 65’), Gale Agbossoumonde, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan; Chris Mannella, Manuel Aparicio, Kyle Bekker, Emery Welshman; Andrew Wiedeman, Justin Braun (Dylan Sacramento)
Substitutes not used: Karl Gouabe; Elias Roubos
Kia TFC Academy player
