FULL TIME: Toronto FC 1-1 Partizan Belgrade
REPORT:
Nana Attakora scored Toronto FC’s goal as the Reds tied 1-1 with Partizan Belgrade in their first preseason game of 2011 at the Calista Luxury Resort near Antalya in Turkey on Wednesday.
Toronto took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Attakora scored off a corner. The Canadian defender came forward for the set piece and when the delivery sailed to the back of the penalty area, he crossed back into the danger zone, only to see the ball go straight into the net.
Toronto had lots of possession in the early stages and in the 12th minute, trialist Gianluca Zavarise fired over the bar with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area after a foul on Jacob Peterson.
Zavarise was one of four trialists named in the starting lineup by Head Coach Aron Winter along with Uruguyan attacker Santiago Gonzalez Areco and Dutch forwards Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.
Partizan went close to equalizing when they hit the post in the 19th minute when a corner was only half cleared, and Reds goalkeeper Stefan Frei also made an excellent double stop to keep the Serbians out in the 32nd minute.
Toronto had a golden opportunity to double their lead nine minutes before half time when Gonzalez was fouled in the penalty area. Dwayne De Rosario stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted the shot against the post.
Just four minutes before half time, Partizan gained a penalty of their own and scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Toronto changed all 11 players at half time but maintained their 4-3-3 formation. The second half lineup included two more players on trial with the club, Ghanaian midfielder King Gyan Osei and Dutch winger Bas Ent. 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick Joao Plata also saw action in the second half along with Toronto FC Academy players Ashtone Morgan and Oscar Cordon.
Partizan almost took a 62nd minute lead with a free kick that hit the post, and then it was Toronto’s turn to go close at the midway point in the second half when Ent found himself played through on goal following an excellent pass from Gyan, but the Dutch winger shot wide.
Toronto pushed forward as they searched for a winner, and in the 75th minute Cordon shot against the woodwork from the edge of the box after a feed from Plata. Then with six minutes remaining, Brazilian Maicon Santos fired just over the bar with a free kick from 25 yards out.
Dwayne De Rosario came back into the game with five minutes left to play after an injury to Cordon, and Toronto finished the game with 10 men after Doneil Henry’s 90th minute sending off for picking up a second yellow card.
Toronto FC’s squad will remain in Turkey through until February 12. There is one more match currently scheduled; against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, February 10.
Toronto FC first half lineup:
Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Gianluca Zavarise, Jacob Peterson, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, Nick Soolsma, Javier Martina, Santiago Gonzalez Areco.
Toronto FC second half lineup:
Milos Kocic, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Emmanuel Gomez, Ashtone Morgan, King Gyan Osei, Nathan Sturgis, Oscar Cordon (Dwayne De Rosario 85’, Bas Ent, Maicon Santos, Joao Plata
Second Half Notes:
90' Ejection. TFC's Henry sent off for a second yellow card.
81' Free kick TFC. Maicon from 25 yards - flies just over bar.
77' Handball by Partizan. Free-kick from 30-yards, weak from TFC - cleared.
75' Plata to Cordon, he shoots from edge of box off woodwork.
68' Excellent through ball by Gyan finds Ent who shoots just wide.
67' Oscar Cordon making an impact – setting up plays, causing problems for Partizan.
62’ Free kick Partizan - off the post after a foul by Doneil Henry on a Partizan forward.
58' Approaching the hour mark, teams still tied 1-1.
51' Not much action so far in this half.
46' Second half underway...
TFC Second Half Starting XI v. Partizan Belgrade: Milos Kocic, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Emmanuel Gomez, Ashtone Morgan, King Gyan Osei, Nathan Sturgis, Oscar Cordon, Bas Ent, Maicon, Joao Plata
HALFTIME: Toronto 1-1 Partizan
Toronto FC are tied 1-1 with Partizan Belgrade at half time in their first preseason game of 2011. The match kicked off just after 5 p.m. local time at the Calista Luxury Resort near Antalya in Turkey.
Toronto took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Reds defender Nana Attakora scored off a corner. The Canadian came forward for the set piece and when the delivery sailed to the back of the penalty area, he crossed back into the danger zone, only to see the ball go straight into the net.
Toronto had lots of possession in the early stages and in the 12th minute, trialist Gianluca Zavarise fired over the bar with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area after a foul on Jacob Peterson.
Zavarise was one of four trialists named in the starting lineup by Head Coach Aron Winter along with Uruguyan attacker Santiago Gonzalez Areco and Dutch forwards Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.
Partizan went close to equalizing when they hit the post in the 19th minute when a corner was only half cleared, and Reds goalkeeper Stefan Frei also made an excellent double stop to keep the Serbians out in the 32nd minute.
Toronto had a golden opportunity to double their lead nine minutes before half time when Gonzalez was fouled in the penalty area. Dwayne De Rosario stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted the shot against the post.
Just four minutes before half time, Partizan gained a penalty of their own and scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Toronto FC first half lineup: Frei, Gargan, Attakora, Cann, Zavarise, Peterson, LaBrocca, De Rosario, Soolsma, Martina, Gonzalez.
First Half Notes:
41' GOAL: Nemanja Tomic. PENALTY to Partizan - they score. Match level 1-1.
36' PENALTY to TFC - De Rosario hits the post. Missed PK.
35’ Long shot by De Rosario awkwardly saved by the keeper and cleared for a corner.
33' End-to-end game. Peterson shot blocked. TFC corner - cleared.
32’ Double save from super Stefan Frei to keep Partizan out.
31' Zavarise lively down the left. Fouled. Free kick taken quickly but comes to nothing.
27' Partizan corner – half cleared. Ball back into the box, they shoot wide.
22' TFC dominating on possession – stretching Partizan through width.
19' Reds escape a close call as Partizan hits the post following a corner.
18' End to end game, but not much flow. LaBrocca, Zavarise and Gargan most active.
12' Free Kick Toronto. Zavarise shoots over the bar.
11' Foul on Peterson.
8' Free Kick Partizan. Cleared by Cann.
6' GOAL: Nana Attakora - Toronto 1-0 Partizan
Wednesday 9:35 a.m. - TFC first half Starting XI v. Partizan Belgrade:
Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Zianluca Zavarise, Jacob Peterson, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, Nick Soolsma, Javier Martina, Santiago Gonzalez
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Toronto FC will play its first preseason match against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET from the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek, Turkey.
Supporters can follow developments via the official Toronto FC Twitter Account and starting lineups will be posted on this page Wednesday morning.
Toronto trained ahead of this match with a double session on Tuesday, where Toronto FC TV caught up with goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
