Last Friday was Groundhog Day at BMO Training Ground, as Toronto FC II played out their second 3-3 draw of the season. It also marked the Young Reds’ fourth meeting with Lansing Ignite, meaning a quarter of the kids’ games this season have been against the Michiganders.

Say what you will about the MLS schedule being the handiwork of an intern with a spreadsheet; this takes some beating. Fortunately, so did the kids.

Although they fought their way back from 3-1 down, this comeback wasn’t quite on the same level as the one they pulled off in June, when they bounced back from a 3-0 deficit versus North Texas.

For starters, the ever-reliable Jordan Perruzza put them 1-0 up early on. Maybe the lapses in the concentration were down to them simply being bored of playing Lansing.

It’s as good as theory as any for explaining quite how a 1-0 advantage turned into a 3-1 lead for Lansing within fifteen minutes. Especially with the visitors missing three of their best players through visa issues. That said, TFC II were undermanned in some areas themselves.

For instance, only 50% of the backline ply their trade as defenders. For the second straight week, right-backs Dante Campbell and Jesés West were both MIA. Add to that left-back Terique Mohammed’s suspension, and you end up with Ghanaian utility midfielder Gideon Waja partnering Griff Dorsey on the left and right respectively.

At is happens, the one-time Black Star put in his most solid performance of the year so far. In addition to his reliably good passing and positioning, he made a couple of crucial early interceptions. He may yet be the back-up for TeMo Rabasca’s so eagerly sought.

Good as Waja was, the game would’ve been over by halftime were it not for Yann Fillion. It’s not most the common occurrence, naming a goalkeeper who’s just conceded three goals ‘Man of the Match’. However, when 9 of your opponent’s 11 shots were on target, it’s hard to argue.

Also, to the FC Zurich loanee’s credit, he almost never strayed outside his six-yard box, let alone his penalty area. An all-too-welcome contrast to the four times he came charging off his line for no good reason against Tormenta. As for that first-half penalty…you can’t say he didn’t try.

If there’s one positive to taken from the early second-half collapse that saw Ignite score twice in four minutes, there was no single player to blame for either. The first strike came about from a goalmouth scramble after a misheaded clearance by Okello, and the whole backline politely stood and watched Xavier Goméz put the second away.

Truth be told, Okello’s aerial game was found wanting a couple of times through this match, possibly a tad concerning for a boy his size. Then again, he’s only 19, so time enough to iron out that kink.

Speaking of youth, there was a second consecutive start for hot prospect Jayden “Primetime” Nelson. No showboating to be had this time out, but he came agonizingly close to scoring in the 10th minute, making a solo run into the box and threading a shot between two defenders that Ignite’s keeper elbowed into the turf.

The lad had a quieter game thereafter, though a rather heartening moment in the second half saw the 5’6” Nelson pursue the 6’1” Nick Moon halfway down the field in a vain attempt to reclaim the ball. This passage of play ended with the kid flat on his face, but what chutzpah.

Elsewhere, Canadian U15 national team star-in-waiting Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty got another ten-minute run-out. With most of the traffic going up Toronto’s left side, JMR didn’t see much of the ball, but come the 96th minute, he had the temerity to pickpocket Ignite’s left-back and nearly mounted a solo counterattack.

The Young Reds ultimately bailed themselves out with set-pieces. Centre-back Patrick Bunk-Andersen further consolidated his position as TFC II’s second-highest scorer, netting his fifth of the year when Matt Srbely volleyed an overhit freekick back into Lansing’s box.

The driving force behind the equalizer came in the unlikely form of 80th-minute sub Jordan Faria. Having previously failed to follow up on the promise he showed in 2018, he suddenly played the best seventeen minutes of his short career.

Mere seconds after replacing Perruzza, he won a corner with a well-hit cross. The subsequent in-swinger, also hit by Faria, bounced off Lansing’s keeper to the feet of Rocco Romeo who duly buried it, redeeming himself for the penalty he gave away.

Faria proceeded to hit a further three sound crosses, any of which could’ve won them the game had Hundal had his eye in. Coach Rabasca’s winger dilemma continues.

With TeMo set to return and no other suspensions pending, the outlook for the Richmond Kickers’ visit at 4PM (EST) this Friday is rather promising. The Kickers may have just ended a six-game goalless streak and eight-game winless run, they broke both against cellar dwellers Orlando City B, and veteran keeper Akira Fitzgerald ought to be suspended.

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Gwyn Richards An Englishman with no worldly connection to Canada. Descended from a long line of Queens Park Rangers fans but whose own interest in European football was killed by Florentino Pérez's credit card. Was indoctrinated into Toronto FC fandom at the hands of some irresponsible podcasters. "Professional football is philanthropy on a grand scale." -David Dome, New Zealand soccer executive

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