The Toronto FC Academy U-13 (2004) team is off to the Quarterfinals at the 2017 U-13 CONCACAF Champions League in Toluca, Mexico!
The Reds secured a trip to the quarters with a 2-1 victory over the defending champions CD Santa Ana on Monday afternoon.
The Reds opened the tournament with a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mexican side Universidad Cantera North. āKeeper Dino Bontis made a couple of great stops to keep the score level, but Cantera found a breakthrough in the final minutes to take the match 1-0.
The boys bounced back in impressive fashion with a dominant 3-0 win over Nicaraguan side Real Esteli F.C.
Shayan Soltanzadeh got the scoring started with a 25th minute strike. The forward got the ball in the middle of the 18 then turned and tucked the ball home into the bottom right.
Jahkeele Marshall-Ruty doubled the Reds lead with 46th minute blast off a well executed free kick.
Defender Fraser Geddes added another as he slotted home a 50th minute strike.
The Reds went into the final group stage match controlling their own destiny. A win or a draw would see the boys through to the quarterfinals.
The boys struck first off another well-executed free kick. The ball was whipped in for Fraser Geddes who redirected home his second in as many days.
Santa Ana quickly answered as they fired one past Adisa De Rosario shortly after the restart.
The Reds went out in front on a Jahkeele Marshall-Ruty goal. The forward capitalized on a miscue by a Santa Ana defender to break in a calmly finish past the ākeeper.
The team will now enjoy a well deserved off day before their quarterfinal match on Wednesday. They will be taking on Mexican side LM Boca del Rio at 11 AM ET. The game will be live streamed here.
The TFCA was the only MLS Academy to advance to the quarterfinals as both the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps failed to make it out of their group.
