Toronto FC II 2019 Season in USL League One

[Rocket Robin]

OK not exactly a TFC II story but here's my game report of the TFC U-18/19 USSDA game against Vardar (Michigan) played on Saturday March 23, 2019.


http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc213.htm

pics now added include outside the training fields

[Mikmacdo]

First game is starting now in Orlando. Dunn, Endoh, Shaffleburg and Dorsey are starting for TFC 2, Okello is on the bench.

[OgtheDim]

All games on Youtube this season again


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCBxsXIHClo

[OgtheDim]

Endoh at this level is men with boys

[ag futbol]

I guess the second team practices penalties the same way the first team does...

[notthesun]

Dorsey and Shaffelburg are providing some pretty good wing play.

[Mikmacdo]

i like what I see from the two CB’s so far. Dunn and the kid from Clemson.

[rydermike]

This Orlando City B keeper's ball distribution makes Bono look like Julio Cesar

[Red CB Toronto]

Nice to see the young Reds come away with the victory. Jacob Scaffelberg looked good had some nice chances. 16 year old Jayden in his pro debut showed some sweet moves specially when he went in on net.

[ag futbol]

Perruzza since coming to TFC II has been on an absolute tear in terms of goal scoring. He joined the team in late 2018 and as far as i’ve seen he’s averaging near a goal a game including during the preseason leading up to this year. Track record not long but he just turned 18 a few months ago.

I’d describe him as a #9. Not fast but very skilled, still learning how to cope with the speed / physicality of the game. Once he puts on more weight and gets in the gym heavily he could be a real force.

Finish on the second goal tonight was impressive.

[Red CB Toronto]

Out in Tucson tonight, it was 0-0 at the half. TFCII really came on in the latter half of the first half. Griffin Dorsey had the best chance, putting one just over the cross bar.

[Red CB Toronto]

After falling behind 1-0 in the 72nd minute Jordan Hamilton on a cross from Griffin Dorsey tied things in the 79th on a header from very close range to the bottom left corner. TFC II were fortunate to come away with the point after Caleb made a spectacular save on a volley in the last minute or so of action.

[Rocket Robin]

May 5, 2019 details of League1Ontario Woodbridge Strikers vs Windsor TFC game at Vaughan Grove.


my report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19l1o025.htm


photos, lineups, and game play in days to come but interviews with both coaches are up now (page down in report).


Fourth L1O game for me this weekend (Saturday games to follow)

Limited interest to most fans except the interview with Windsor head coach Ryan Mendonca about the relationship between Toronto FC and the WTFC.

[Initial B]

^ Hey Robin, just thought I'd mention you're posting this in the wrong League One. g:D

[Rocket Robin]

^ Hey Robin, just thought I'd mention you're posting this in the wrong League One. g:D

Well it is one of the TFC Academies.

Nothing gets read in the Canadian Soccer subforum...25 reads for all the L1O news of 2019. While this main forum last year had 900+ reads and dozens of replies for "what's your favourite cubicle at BMO to shit in?"

[Lil'John]

Is anyone going to the game tomorrow at 4?

[Red CB Toronto]

Is anyone going to the game tomorrow at 4?

I am planning on going up for it. Want to check out the young Reds.

[reggie]

I am planning on going up for it. Want to check out the young Reds.
where are they playing

[Red CB Toronto]

where are they playing

Up at the BMO Training Ground at Downview Park. You can park at the hangar or if taking the subway, get off Downsview.

[Lil'John]

It's a short walk from Downsview Park subway.

[Red CB Toronto]

I am hoping we get a good RPB presence out today, giving the young Reds some good support. Plus it's a great opportunity to see some of the up and comers in action like Jacob Shaffleberg.

[Rocket Robin]

Friday May 24th 4:00pm. With a crowd of about 600+ TFC II played their first home game of the season and beat FC Tucson 1-0 on a headed goal by Jordan Perruzza with assist from Jacob Shaffelburg's cross. Many of the crowd were Academy kids. 'Canadian Gold Cup roster of 40' midfielder Noble Okello played the first 87 minutes and looked good. Goalie Kevin Silva earned the Man of the Match coffee supplies. I counted his goalpost as making the save on the one good shot FC Tucson could muster.

I think USL League 1 is the right level for them. Middle of the pack team although they could move up with all the home games they have left and a winning mentality they didn't have the last few years when they were frustrated with so much losing.

http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc226.htm

[Heepster]

In highlights of TFC II home games, instead of streetcars on King Street, now you see Bombardier business jets going past in the background.
http://youtu.be/rCD6UlbDsE4?t=21

[Lil'John]

Great to see TFC2 doing better.

[Rocket Robin]

Big 3-2 home win against the first place team North Texas SC the farm team of FC Dallas. Crowd was listed as 177 by USL--again mostly made up of Academy kids.
Patrick Bunk-Andersen scored at 11 minutes on a one yard header on a goalmouth cross by Julian Dunn-Johnson that the goalie got a piece of after a cornerkick knock around. Matt Srbely scored at 25 minutes as two TFC players dispossessed the lone defender off the ball at 30 yards and Srbely raced in alone. NT Ricardo Pepi scored in first half injury time on a breakaway pass. He had an identical play at 22 minutes but put his shot off the post.
Second half had NT Ronaldo Damuas put in a rebound at 55 minutes after a series of saves by goalie Kevin Silva.
Terique Mohammad scored the winner at 77 minutes on a give and go with Jacob Shaffelburg with Mohammad ending up in alone.

Official league stats list North Texas as being called offside 14 times in the game. I thought the coach would lose it and get ejected but it was TFC's Michael Rabasca who was sent back to the locker room at 90 minutes for complaining about a call. Stupid as it was right after NT had their tying goal called back on another offside call.

TFC II is up to third in the ten team division...top four make the playoffs in October...look more a cinch than the parent team!

http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc227.htm

[Mikmacdo]

Would bunk anderson be a domestic player in mls?

[notthesun]

Big 3-2 home win against the first place team North Texas SC the farm team of FC Dallas. Crowd was listed as 177 by USL--again mostly made up of Academy kids.
Patrick Bunk-Andersen scored at 11 minutes on a one yard header on a goalmouth cross by Julian Dunn-Johnson that the goalie got a piece of after a cornerkick knock around. Matt Srbely scored at 25 minutes as two TFC players dispossessed the lone defender off the ball at 30 yards and Srbely raced in alone. NT Ricardo Pepi scored in first half injury time on a breakaway pass. He had an identical play at 22 minutes but put his shot off the post.
Second half had NT Ronaldo Damuas put in a rebound at 55 minutes after a series of saves by goalie Kevin Silva.
Terique Mohammad scored the winner at 77 minutes on a give and go with Jacob Shaffelburg with Mohammad ending up in alone.

Official league stats list North Texas as being called offside 14 times in the game. I thought the coach would lose it and get ejected but it was TFC's Michael Rabasca who was sent back to the locker room at 90 minutes for complaining about a call. Stupid as it was right after NT had their tying goal called back on another offside call.

TFC II is up to third in the ten team division...top four make the playoffs in October...look more a cinch than the parent team!

Two assists for Shaffelburg in this one, and he also hit the post on a 25 yarder.

I think he has a future, even moreso because of TFC sorely needing speed and wingers up top. He's lightning quick... routinely beats defenders at this level with a knock on and pure pace. Talking purely playing style here, he reminds me of early Tottenham Gareth Bale. He's a solid enough dribbler in close but clearly prefers to push the ball past his man on the outside and just get around him. His second assist was nice to see as I haven't found vision to be his strong suit, but it was a really great pass.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCD6UlbDsE4

[Rocket Robin]

Would bunk anderson be a domestic player in mls?

Nope Danish I'd expect from the TFC website:
Patrick Bunk-Andersen (https://www.torontofc.ca/players/patrick-bunk-andersen)
Defender-Copenhagen
Age:24
HT:6' 2"WT:195


Although domestic, if playing 79 games for Clemson Tigers in NCAA from 2015 to 2018 qualifies him...

[Mikmacdo]

Nope Danish I'd expect from the TFC website:
Patrick Bunk-Andersen (https://www.torontofc.ca/players/patrick-bunk-andersen)
Defender-Copenhagen
Age:24
HT:6' 2"WT:195


Although domestic, if playing 79 games for Clemson Tigers in NCAA from 2015 to 2018 qualifies him...


Such weird rules. I assumed if you went through the draft the players would be domestic but then again Bakero is not.

[stegosaurus]

Such weird rules. I assumed if you went through the draft the players would be domestic but then again Bakero is not.

Domestic players aren’t about drafts. Hence why Canadians are disadvantaged in MLS entirely, as are players who intend to become “Canadian.”

Same reason ATL is Green Carding everyone within a couple years.

[Rocket Robin]

June 8, 2019 Toronto FC II vs Lansing Ignite played at BMO Training Centre. my game report at:


http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc231.htm


Three for three in home wins this season!

[Fort York Redcoat]

/Vi8haVn0bfg

Incredible that these games are so available.

[Rocket Robin]

June 12, 2019 USL League One Toronto FC II vs North Texas SC


matinee game with schoolkids at BMO Training Ground still unbeaten at home.


my game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc233.htm

[OgtheDim]

Love the snark in all these - a useful antidote and reminds me a lot of non-league punditry in England.

[C.Ronaldo]

/Vi8haVn0bfg

Incredible that these games are so available.

good to see PK consistency across the org

[Rocket Robin]

Here's what Brogan Engbers is doing: (from my post about the League 1 Ontario game Vaughan vs Windsor TFC).


Windsor's record falls to 1 win, 6 losses, 0 ties for 3 points. They are currently fifteenth.

I never thought Windsor nor FC London were particularly close to the MLS Toronto FC team
(that's at the League 1 Ontario level) when they signed their sponsorship deals. It was the 14 year old
and under kids I expected TFC would be more interested in for coaching and their academy programs.
Today I thought I recognized the Windsor back up goalie. Yes once I had the game sheets I did
realize it was Brogan Engbers. He played for Toronto FC III (who were in this league since the
beginning but at the end of last season joined the USSDA system). I asked him after the game because
the next progression would be the USL Toronto FC II team. He said he can't play for them as changes
to the Academy system and TFC II mean he'd be on the same team as professional contracted players
and would lose his eligibility to play for his university team. (I looked it up later to remind
me it was Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia co-founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell). He could
join amateur Windsor TFC though so to keep in game shape he has been offered to play games--but road
games. Windsor is quite a distance but the team is usually in the GTA every second week as most
of the teams are here.

[Rocket Robin]

June 28, 2019 USL League One--Toronto FC II vs Forward Madison played at BMO Training Centre.
My game report at:

http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc237.htm

[Rocket Robin]

July 12, 2019 USL League One--Toronto FC II vs South Georgia Tormenta FC played at BMO Training Ground.


My game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc239.htm

[Mikmacdo]

Bunk - Anderson seems legit. Hopefully he makes the first team next year he looks like he could help TFC.

[PizzaEatingYeti]

It seems to me that there is a huge value gap between the teams from USL Chanpionship and USL League 1, probably more than between the MLS and USL Chanpionship.

Prior to this season TFC II was usually dead last, or if not, one of the worst teams in the USL, now they are a high-mid standings team, with a real shot to playoffs.
Is the team's game/value increased since last year? Maybe, just maybe, but if so, just a little bit.

[notthesun]

This is a better level for TFC II. Almost every player on the team besides Bunk-Anderson and the keeper is 22 or much younger. Asking them to compete against men in USL in years past was tough, not to mention they were poorly coached (I have little faith in Jason Bent's tactical acumen).

This season we appear to be pretty well-organized, no longer a tire fire defensively, and a lot of the kids are taking a solid step forward in their play (Mohammed, Peruzza, Srbely). I'm also curious as to how Adolfo Ovalle is viewed by our management... we're not short on young CMs with promise between Fraser and Okello but Ovalle controls games quite efficiently for TFC II from what I've seen. Never heard of the guy before we picked him up but he signed a Homegrown deal with RSL in 2015 back when he was 17 and he even played in 6 MLS games for them. He's 22 now... maybe we end up on the good side of a Mark-Anthony Kaye situation here.

[Fort York Redcoat]

TFC toonies gotta improve tho.

I want to see them in the USL top level.

[Red CB Toronto]

Looking forward to Friday, heading up to the BMO Training Ground for the match vs. Lansing. Have really enjoyed the matches I have attended their this season. Will be interesting to see how they finish out the season, hopefully securing a top four position, earning a playoff spot.

[Rocket Robin]

July 19, 2019 USL League One--Toronto FC II vs Lansing Ignite played at BMO Training Ground.


My game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc242.htm

[Rocket Robin]

July 26, 2019 USL League One--Toronto FC II vs Richmond Kickers played at BMO Training Ground.

My game report at:


http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc243.htm

[Rocket Robin]

July 31, 2019 TFC II vs Forward Madison With TFC II using MLS Morgan, Fraser, Chapman, Akinola, & Zavaletta and got worst result of season! Jordan Perruzza subbed in at 66', scores 1 min later. 8 goals in USL League One. 2nd best in scoring race I think. Vanney did not look pleased in the parking lot. My game report will be posted tomorrow all going well.

[Heepster]

I was finally able to get there to watch a game yesterday. They charged $10 at the entrance, which I mention as I wasn't able to find any information on the TFC2 website. It's about a 7 minute walk (https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/43.7474821,-79.4739433/43.7434431,-79.4705893/@43.7455402,-79.476811,910m/am=t/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e3?hl=en) from the nearest TTC bus stop, according to Google map. The higher of the aluminum stands have 14 rows, I think a little higher than the ones they had during the last couple of years when they were in Vaughan.

[Rocket Robin]

http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc245.htm
My report on the July 31, 2019 against Forward Madison with the five players from their MLS lineup.

Heepster if you have a TFC card (a benefit to season ticket holders usually to get a discount on swag) I've been able to show that and get in free. Easier than last year when it was loaded onto an app with Ticketmaster.

[Rocket Robin]

August 9, 2019 Toronto FC II vs Greenville Triumph SC played at BMO Training Ground in Downsview.

my game report at:
http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc248.htm

Ouch, three home losses in a row to end their five game home stand.

[Rocket Robin]

August 23, 2019 Toronto FC II vs Greenville Triumph SC played played at BMO Training Grounds in Downsview.

my game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc250.htm

yes two weeks after playing them before.

[Rocket Robin]

September 6, 2019 Toronto FC II vs Chattanooga Red Wolves played at BMO Training Centre in the rain--well first half anyway. The canopy has not been replaced.


My game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc254.htm

[notthesun]

After two goals yesterday Jordan Perruzza has 12 in 20 appearances now on the season, 2nd in the USL League One Goldent Boot race. That's a single-season best for any TFC II player (Hamilton and Endoh both had 8 last year). One to keep an eye on...

[Prof]

Hey Robin this question is for you as you have probably watched more soccer in the GTA than anyone else. I have watched a few TFC 2 games, and a CPL game this year. In other years CSL games and League 1 games. My question to you as I watched TFC 2 yesterday is wouldn't the players who are mostly younger in age be better off playing in League 1 or the CSL and the TFC 2 team be made up of players signed to MLS contracts that never to rarely play. It seems to me that we waste so many players by not getting them into games ie Chapman. What do you think?

[Rocket Robin]

September 13, 2019 Toronto FC II vs Orlando City B played at BMO Training Ground partially in the rain again. My game report at: http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc256.htm

[Rocket Robin]

Hey Robin this question is for you as you have probably watched more soccer in the GTA than anyone else. I have watched a few TFC 2 games, and a CPL game this year. In other years CSL games and League 1 games. My question to you as I watched TFC 2 yesterday is wouldn't the players who are mostly younger in age be better off playing in League 1 or the CSL and the TFC 2 team be made up of players signed to MLS contracts that never to rarely play. It seems to me that we waste so many players by not getting them into games ie Chapman. What do you think?

Let's see. CSL is a non-starter as its been de-sanctioned by the CSA. Mo Babouli just joined a week or so ago.

TFC were in League 1 Ontario as recently as last season using their U-19s. They have moved them and all their teams younger than that to the USSDA playing American equivalent teams.

I think TFC II gives the younger players a chance to compete against men's teams week after week. Moving down from USL Championship was a good thing as it's not so frustrating to lose so often. This year they probably won't make the playoffs but they have a fair chance of finishing at .500.

The MLS draft picks have maybe at most two years to prove themselves or they're cut loose. The Academy kids have been with the team possibly since age 12. There are some Canadian TFC II players who can't make the final 18 (usually rotated in) I see leave the grounds before the game (I don't know if they go home or just cut back after going for coffee and watch from the balcony.

Some get sent to NCAA colleges on scholarships with TFC help.

I think there's a potential for more players to be loaned out to CPL teams. Ryan Telfer was a bit older than who I was expecting but in CPL circles he's rarely mentioned by posters outside the GTA as a TFC player anymore.

I think now that CPL has survived its first year there can be more agreements without the 'farm team' controversy especially if the loan-ees are spread out.

When MLS roster guys are dropped down to TFC II they don't really fit in. TFC II's worse loss this season was when five guys were dropped down to tune up for the Canadian Championships. Yesterday's game had none of that even though I wouldn't have been surprised with another two midweek CC games coming up with all weekends taken up by MLS league games.

[Rocket Robin]

September 27, 2019 Toronto FC II vs South Georgia Tormenta FC played at BMO Training Grounds in Downsview.


Final home game of the season for TFC II and they go out a winner. In front of a crowd of 51. (from USL website)

My game report at http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19tfc259.htm


I'll give myself a gold star for attending all 14 home games!

[Rocket Robin]

So Saturday first place North Texas SCwin the first USL League One season 1-0 over the third placeGreenville Triumph in the final. Monday the league reveals thatsecond place Lansing Ignite have ceased operations. Glad seventhplace TFC II's owners have deep pockets!

[Rocket Robin]

November 11, 2019 Rocket Robin's Soccer in Toronto 2019 Review at www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19l1o133.htm (http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19l1o133.htm)
I attended 77 games around the GTA including all the York 9 FC, Toronto FC II, Toronto held Canadian National team, and forty League 1 Ontario games.
You can read all my game reports for free!

[Rocket Robin]

Jayden Nelson of TFC II was named Canada Soccer's 'Youth International Player of the Year' earlier this week.