At what point in the last five years could a TFC II loss ever be considered an upset?

Not that things weren’t already on a downward trend. Having been outclassed in Madison and outfought in Statesboro, the Reds should maybe have more wary about this second trip to Florida, coming as it did at the end of a marathon six-game road trip.

That said, even with all the air miles the kids have clocked, who wouldn’t be confident going up against a team winless in seven that they’d already beaten?

Go figure.



That’s A Busy Bench

Tonight’s Starting XI in FL



Kickoff is at 7:30 PM#TFCLive // #ORLvTOR pic.twitter.com/do1ooicnAu — Toronto FC II (@TorontoFCII) May 17, 2019

Despite how the game ultimately went, there was some cause for optimism in the build-up when Rabasca unveiled his first seven-man bench since April. Joining the returning Srbely (always a welcome sight) was Trinidadian centre-back Jelani Peters. The injury list perennial’s return was timely as they’ll need the extra backup at the home opener.

A Debut to Forget

The air of mystique surrounding Argentine centre-back Franco Ramos Mingo (FRM) finally lifted on Friday when he debuted ahead of Julian Dunn. The ex-Boca U21 was putting in a so-so shift up until the cusp of half-time. Whether or not Rafael was actually downed in the box, the foul was a clear-cut DOGSO (my new favourite soccerism).

FRM’s early exit was just the icing on the worst half of soccer the Reds have played this season. Despite having most of the ball, and playing so high up the field, Petrasso and Okello were frequently seen hovering around OCB’s litter box, the kids somehow didn’t get a single shot.

The most promising offensive play of the period was a solo run by right-back Dante Campbell from deep in TFC’s half. Sadly, it came out of (and ultimately went) nowhere.

Hi-Ho Silva Lining

The one bright spot of Toronto’s first half was Kevin “El Jambo” Silva. The Hearts loanee pulled off some crucial saves early on, and stopped the Reds falling into the hole FRM dug for them by saving Amer’s penalty. He didn’t have a prayer of catching Moises Tablante’s screamer.

Given the day he was having, he might well have been fine in the 1-on-1 the Argentine saw fit to ‘rescue’ him from. As for the other spot-kick, you’ll have to ask Martyn Bailey what the probability of a TFC goalie saving two PKs in the same match are.

The Return of Primetime

After four games away on GA Cup detail and U17 World Cup qualifying duty (they got in!), Jayden “Primetime” Nelson returned to the scene of his pro debut back in April, and sweet Jesus, did the Reds need him!

TFC II’s usual frontline were all having an off-day. To be fair to Jordan Perruzza, he was starved of service, but he also sclaffed his only half-chance in the 52nd minute. Griff Dorsey was pretty much invisible, and Jacob Shaffelburg’s running battle with OCB’s hard-tackling (but annoyingly precise) backline weren’t helped by an unsympathetic ref.

When Nelson came on for Perruzza in the 60th minute, he immediately brought two things TFC II were lacking: hair and flair. Doggedly patrolling the left wing, he bounced an interception off a defender to Shaff who, uh, elected to dribble rather than shoot.

Far from deflated by the Kittens doubling their lead, he then put on a show for his next highlight reel, beating four purple shirts before nailing a through-ball to Shaff. The play fizzled out from there, but the kid’s tekkers are hype train fuel writ large.