Tristan Jackman scored the winner as Toronto FC Academy beat Toronto Croatia 1-0 in the Canadian Soccer League on Monday night. The match was rescheduled from August 15th when only 38 minutes of play were possible to thunder and lightning.

Jackman got the Reds off to a flying start as he executed a fantastic bit of skill to spin on the ball past two defenders before striking a low hard shot past Sandi Matika in the Croatia goal to give TFC the lead.

TFC Academy dominated the first half of play and moved the ball quite well as Toronto Croatia seemed to be feeling the long travel of the past few days as they played in British Columbia on Friday night.

Toronto Croatia had one good chance in the first half in the 38th minute as Boris Tomac got in behind the TFC defence, but his shot from 15 yards out flew over the crossbar.

After halftime TFC Academy continued their passing game and in the 55th minute a quick counter attack involving Kevan Aleman, Tristan Jackman and Josh Janniere resulted in a shot from just outside the box which was parried by Matika into the path of Jackman. He managed to redirect the ball onto goal but it was cleared off the line by defender Halburto Harris to prevent TFC Academy from taking a two goal advantage.

Toronto Croatia introduced creative midfielder Alex Arbelo in the second half and he immediately started to influence the game. He is always a threat from set pieces but on this occasion in the 65th minute from the run of play he managed to work the ball nicely before creating  space to  strike a hard shot that Angelo Cavaluzzo did well to push around the post. 

For the next 15 minutes TFC were pinned back by the home side and had to endure a spell of pressure. Toronto Croatia created in their best chance of the evening in 90th minute when a cross came into the box and was met by Ainsley Deer, but the defenders’ diving header flew over the bar from point blank range. Referee Just Tasev blew the whistle for full time shortly after and the young Academy side celebrated a big three points on the road which moved them up to second in the standings only a couple of points behind league leaders Serbian White Eagles.

“I was thoroughly pleased with the effort the boys put in tonight,” said Toronto FC Academy Senior Team Head Coach Jason Bent. “Their work rate and defending at times was excellent and we limited Croatia to very few chances.”

“We passed the ball extremely well tonight and the movement off the ball was very pleasing on the eye. We got a number of solid performances tonight and some of the players that have been brought up from the Junior Academy have not looked out of place at all which is testament to the work being done throughout the Academy.”