Reds Training Match Ends Tied

Martin Saric

TORONTO -- With a weekend off from Major League Soccer action, Toronto FC played U.S. second tier team Rochester Rhinos in a training match at Oakville Soccer Centre on Saturday afternoon. Toronto dominated the game but couldn’t score, and the match ended 0-0.

Coach Preki fielded a couple of trialists in the starting line-up and also used the match to give most of his squad some game time. Argentine midfielder Martin Saric was in the starting line-up after recovering from an injury that forced him to leave last week’s season opener in Columbus midway through the second half. SuperDraft pick Nane Joseph also started the match.

Rochester Rhinos were mainly restricted to long range half chances, but did miss a second half penalty. In the 75th minute, half time substitute Dwayne De Rosario was ruled to have pushed a Rhinos player as the ball was played into the area from a free kick and the referee pointed to the spot. It was a let off for TFC, as the penalty was fired over the bar.

Soon after, De Rosario had Toronto’s best chance of the match, but his shot hit the woodwork.

Toronto FC return to training in Oakville on Tuesday as they prepare to face New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The match will be broadcast in High Definition on GOLTV Canada.