FRISCO, Texas - Toronto FC Academy finished the round robin stage of the 2011 Generation adidas U-17 Cup with a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Colorado to finish second in its group.
Under tournament rules, teams go to penalties if tied after 90 minutes. The Young Reds needed a win and a defeat for Chivas USA to finish atop the standing. Chivas beat New England 1-0 with a goal in the dying seconds of their match.
RELATED: Toronto 0-1 Chivas USA
RELATED: Toronto 7-1 New England
The Reds prospered with player-driven character after going down by a goal to the Rapids at the hour mark. It was at that time Colorado began to gain greater control of the match and scored when the TFC midfield lost its shape and the backline opened up. Heads were down and the team could have sunk even further if not for a crossbar moments later.
With 10 minutes to play in regulation, the players found new motivation to press for an equalizer, which arrived five minutes later.
An injury to goalkeeper Chad Bush saw Quillan Roberts enter the match. Going forward, a free kick to Toronto in its own half resulted in a deep diagonal laser drive from Tyler Pasher to Omari Morris. The pass left Morris one-on-one against a Colorado fullback, whom he easily undressed before slamming a rocket into the top corner for the leveler.
Toronto nearly stole the victory in regulation when Morris again broke free and sent in a glorious cross for 14-year old Jordan Hamilton. His header hit the ground and bounced over the bar, leading to fulltime and penalties.
Michael Wagenknecht, Dylan Carreiro and Morris all took their penalties, while Roberts saved two strikes and got his hand on the other two that went in. Sergio Camargo then stepped up, providing the final blow to Colorado.
Academy director and head coach Stuart Neely wasn’t happy how the team started but was pleased to see the squad rise to the occasion when they were pressed, including the all-out vocal support from the bench in the final 10 minutes.
“Again, it was very hot at kickoff. Deon Rose, Michael Wagenknecht and Stephen Almeida were first half standouts.”
“Toronto FC has become known at the tournament to play an attractive brand of football combined with tenacious defending. On the night, the football was sluggish and it required players to reach inside for something new – a way to grind out a performance.”
“Chances were created and missed and frustration began to show in the Young Reds,” said Neely, but the squad still managed to pull out the victory.
A side story out of this match was the contribution of goalkeeping coach Domenic Ientile, who scouted Colorado in its previous match against New England, which also went to penalties. A jovial Ientile, who enjoyed his birthday on the same day said “Q (Roberts) still had to make the save, I just helped him remain focused with some information.”
“He just happened to listen this time,” Ientile saide smiling.
The keeper coach, affectionately known as “Nonno,” is reportedly “Forty-something,” joked Neely.
Toronto will play next against New York Red Bulls on July 29 at 8:15 p.m. Only group winners (D.C., Dallas, Chivas and Los Angeles) are eligible for the championship match.
