TFC Junior Academy completed its three game identification process with a 2-0 win over the U-16 Ontario Provincial Program. Goals from Matias Naalband and Jordan Murrell sealed a positive result from a workmanlike performance.A quick start to the match almost saw the Junior Academy Team take the lead inside 30 seconds but they failed to capitalize on a glorious opportunity. TFC took the lead in the 30th minute when Matias Naalband finished off good build up play with a deflected shot that looped over the goalkeeper. The final goal of the match came from Jordan Murrell off a well executed corner.
“In my opinion we deserved the 2-0 win,” said Academy Manager and Junior Team Head Coach Stuart Neely. “I fully expected the Provincial Program to bounce back from the last match (1-1) and show us why they should be on TFC, but it didn’t happen that way. The Junior Academy players were given tasks and they stuck to them. That proved to be the difference at the final whistle.”
The next phase of the process is to review all of the players and then make a final selection within the next month. The selected players will then make the core of the future TFC Junior Academy Program.
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Toronto FC coach John Carver believes his side is well prepared heading into the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston this weekend. The Reds first game in the tournament is on Saturday against hosts Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League (kick off 7:15 p.m.). They will then go up against MLS opposition with matches scheduled against D.C. United and Real Salt Lake.”I’m now ready to start looking at the team that will play in the first game of the season,” Carver told TorontoFC.ca. “We have done a lot of preparation gearing towards the first game at Charleston on Saturday because I want to go down there and give it a good go. I am looking for some good performances when we get down there. Everything is geared towards making sure the guys are ready for that first game against Kansas City.”It is Toronto’s third year taking part in the Carolina Cup at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island, and Carver believes his team is much stronger than 12 months ago when they finished with a record of 0-2-1 in the tournament. “There is a lot more stability within the team and we are going down there with a settled squad,” he explained. “This time last year it was very hard work because the team wasn’t set and I wasn’t sure which players would be available.”
“We’ve got D.C. United on Wednesday and Real Salt Lake on the following Saturday so those games will be two great tests for us. There will be a lot of guys on the pitch for 90 minutes which is important. Everybody has had the best opportunity to prepare themselves and I have had a good look at the players. They are all in good condition, so hopefully we can come away with the right result.”
Tournament Schedule (all times local)
• Saturday March 7: Toronto FC vs. Charleston Battery, 7:15 p.m.
• Wednesday March 11: Toronto FC vs. D.C. United, 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday March 14: Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 5:00 p.m.
Toronto FC TV: John Carver Discusses CC Cup
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