April 18, 2025...MLS NEXT Pro Toronto FC II vs Carolina Core FC

........

Result and details of the Friday April 18, 2025 MLS NEXT Pro game between Toronto FC II and Carolina Core FC
played at York Lions Stadium in North York at 7:00pm.

Toronto FC II (all red uniforms, white names and numbers)

.....................80 Shafique Wilson
72 Mark Fisher...85 Marko Stojadinovic...58 Ythallo...73 Micah Chisholm
.....82 Patrick McDonald...74 Michael Sullivan (cpt)...79 Andrei Dumitru
......25 Nathaniel Edwards...91 Dekwon Barrow...81 Hassan Ayari

Subs:...68 Lucas Olguin (mid)...78 Malik Henry (mid)...86 Joseph Melto Quiah (mid)...87 Costa Iliadis (mid)
...64 Jahmarie Nolan (fwd)
team officials:...manaager Gianni Cimini...assistant coach Arman Mohammadi

Carolina Core (all white uniforms, dark green numbers and tiny names)

.....................0 Alex Sutton
99 Aryeh Miller...2 Daniel Chica...6 Juan Pablo Rodriguez...3 Zion Scarlett
14 Jathan Juarez...10 Jacob Evans (cpt)...12 Alenga Charles...24 Faundo Canete
................17 Glory Nzingo...9 David 'Pachi' Polanco

Subs:...1 Andrew Pannenberg (gk)...7 Yekeson Subah (fwd)...8 Drake Hadeed (fwd)...21 Derek Cuevas (mid)
...22 Kiki Gregoire (def)...26 Paul Baptiste Behe Leonardi...77 Jonathan Bazaes (mid)
team officials:...head coach Donovana Ricketts...assisstant coaches Amando Guevara and JC Martinez
...chief Eddie Pope...director of soccer operationss Robert Ritchie

Game officials:...referee Fabrizio Stassolla...referee's assistants Anton Hadzhiski and Reda Fazazi
...fourth official Nivan Raizada (black socks and shorts, chartreuse shirts)

First Half:...game starts 7:03pm...TFC defends south end on this surprisingly warm evening compared to other nights this week.
2 min...TFC Edwards run down middle and rolls 25 yard shot thaat goalie smothers near right post.
7 min...TFC Dumitru big poke check on CC Nzingo near right end line to prevent cross.
8 min...CC Juarez cross into 6 yard box from right has TFC Edwards in crowd of players head away.
9 min...TFC Ythallo makes clearance of roller into 6 yard box from right.
10 min...CC player's cornerkick from right is worked out short and wins another then CC cornerkick from right is cleared from box.
11 min...CC Polanco has 10 yard shot blocked.
13 min...TFC Ayari cornerkick along 10 yard line from left is headed away by defender on edge of 6 yard box. TFC Dumitru
high cross from left is over heads of players for goalie to catch.
16 min...CC Rodriguez long chip from 55 yards is caught by goalie on bounce with CC forward bumped by defender from getting
to ball.
17 min...TFC Barrow rush down left and cuts to middle anda shoots 20 yarder over net.
20 min...CC goalie is out to 15 yards on right to catch through ball on bounce.
21 min...TFC Edwards crossses loose ball on right over box for goalie to catch from 15 yard line.
22 min...TFC goalie beats CC Nzingo to through ball.
23 min...TFC goalie makes two big sliding saves on edge of 6 yard box on low shots.
25 min...TFC Ayari cornerkick from left is high over leaping TFC Ythallo and goalie behind him on right is at 6 yards to catch.
26 min...CC Nzingo passes into TFC box. TFC Fisher blocks CC Polanco at 8 yards.
27 min...TFC goalie dives at 7 yardss to prevent CC pass reaching CC forward.
30 min...Core Glory Nzingo GOAL...Nzingo receives pass from CC Facundo Canete and shoots 25 yarder that deflects
off TFC Mark Fisher at 20 yards and pops over leaping goalie Shafique Wilson at 6 yards to land in left side of net.
31 min...CC goalie makes save.
32 min...TFC Patrick McDonald GOAL...TFC Michael Sullivan chips short pass from 30 yards over defenders that
TFC Hassane Ayari recovers and rolls into box from left end line. TFC Dekwon Barrow recovers in middle and rolls 6 yard
shot off right post. McDonald rushing forward recovers rebound and taps 4 yarder into empty right side of net as goalie
Alex Sutton was marooned on left side of goal.
33 min...TFC Edwards has 15 yard shot on right blocked.
33 min...TFC Fisher sliding tackle earns CC a freekick on edge of TFC box.
34 min...CC Evans blasts 18 yard freekick that goalie crumples to punch away at 6 yards. CC player's rebound blast from 22 yards
blocked by defender.
36 min...TFC goalie picks up bounced chip at 8 yards.
41 min...TFC Sullivan chips ball from 25 yards over defenders but goalie picks up ball on bounce.
44 min...TFC goalie smothers ball on CC Scarlett long rush to left end line and rolls past defender.
45 min...TFC McDonald wins cornerkick on deflection of his midair shot from 12 yards off defender from right.
46 min...TFC McDonald from right is knocked around in box snd goalie saves by smothering but is injured by boot to chest.
46 min...half ends 7:49pm.

Halftime: there's no entertainment tonight. There's also no ice cream truck outside the gates.
Both teams' subs warm up as the turf is watered.

Second Half:...starts 8:06pm.
46 min...CC Evans cornerkick from right is worked around the outside of the box and CC Nzingo blast from 25 yards is between
players but deflected just wide left for cornerkick.
46 min...CC Evans cornerkick from left has ball chested across box and goalie dives to smothere at 3 yards on left.
48 min...TFC Barrow run up right cuts to middle and shoots 25 yard roller wide right.
54 min...CC Juaarez long run up right and low centering pass has CC Evan have 10 yard shot that sliding goalie saves at 6 yards.
55 min...CC Juarez is injured at TFC 40 yard line and needs trainer. Both teams take a break at the sidelines.
57 min...CC Evans 30 yard freekick on far left has TFC Barrow head away in crowd of players in box and starts breakout.
58 min...TFC Ayari is chipped short pass but can't get away shot but wins cornerkick on left.
59 min...TFC Ayari cornerkick from left defenders clear in crowd of players in box.
60 min...TFC player's shot from left of box deflects across box but defenders clear.
60 min...CC Evans is knocked off ball near right end line without getting shot.
63 min...TFC Chisholm cross along 15 yard line from left has TFC Barrow who can't turn header at 12 yards slightly behind him.
64 min...TFC Dumitru 35 yard chip from left is well wide right on bounce.
65 min...CC Scarlett on 1 v 4 on left shanks ball over end line.
67 min...CC sub...Subah replaces Polanco.
..........CC sub...Leonardi replaces Scarlett.
68 min...CC Nzingo rush on right and 18 yard shot/cross has diving goalie fly forward and knock away.
69 min...TFC Edwards run down right and rolls pass forward and centered to TFC Barrow who's a step behind and can't control.
70 min...CC Leonardi 30 yard blast on right deflects off defender and goalie saves.
76 min...CC Rodriguez is injured by jostling in player wall waiting for TFC 30 yard freekick down middle.
78 min...TFC Ayari 30 yard freekick blast down middle has flying goalie push wide of top right corner of goal.
79 min...TFC McDonald cornerkick from right drops in box and CC Rodriguez clears at 8 yards.
80 min...CC sub...Cuevas replaces Nzingo.
there's a few drops of rain falling now.
82 min...TFC defenders stop shot attempts on right side of box.
83 min...TFC goalie leaps to catch cross by CC Cuevas along 8 yard line from right.
85 min...TFC sub...Iliadis replaces Dumitru.
............TFC sub...Henry replaces Edwards.
86 min...TFC Ayari 28 yard freekick from right has TFC Fisher not quite able to turn 8 yarder on diving header.
90 min...TFC Barrow can't get away shot from 15 yards on right.
90 min...CC defender deflects ball into outside mesh of own net stopping a TFC cross.
91 min...CC sub...Hadeed replaces Charles.
91 min...TFC player's cornerkick frorm right can't get referee to call Penalty kick on shouts for hand ball in box.
93:19 min...end of regulation time 8:54pm.

Regulation time ends with a 1-1 score which earns both teams 1 point but a bonus point is available to whoever wins
in Penalty kicks.

Penalty kicks:
1. Core Jacob Evans GOAL...shot high in middle over diving goalie.
1. TFC Hassan Ayari blasts shot well over net with goalie crumpling to middle.
2. Core Alex Sutton GOAL...shoots mid-high to left side over goalie. (Sutton is the Core goalie).
2. TFC Ythallo GOAL...stutter steps and rolls ball to left side as goalie steps right.
3. Core Drake Hadeed GOAL...blasts roller to left under diving goalie. (Hadeed was only subbed into game at 91 minutes).
3. TFC Dekwon Barrow...stutter steps and shoots to right and flying goalie bats it away.
4. Core Juan Pablo Rodriguez GOAL...stutter step and hits inside of right post and ball deflects over to left side of net
behind goalie who had dived left.

Final Score:....Toronto FC II.....1......Carolina Core FC.......1.......
Carolina wins bonus point in Penalty kicks 4-1.

Attendance was about 180 on this surprisingly warm evening compared to the cold we've been getting most nights this month (and some days haven't been much better with snow last Thursday). The game ended and as I walked to the parking lot I could see lightning in the distance which would have halted the game if it had been closer and started earlier. A few drops of rain started falling at 80 minutes but it wasn't too noticeable until the game ended.

This was Good Friday so folks may have found other things to do. It was too bad as this was Toronto's first home game of the season after compiling a very respectable 2 wins, 2 losses record to start the season. TFC II plays here next Friday night at 7:00pm against Chicago Fire FC II.

Toronto had only five subs for this game and none of them were for a back up goalie. Usual number one, Adisa De Rosario who is actually on an MLS contract has made the trip with the main team to be a back up this weekend in Salt Lake City. Defender Reid Fisher had to watch from the stands as he was Red carded in the team's win last week against Inter Miami CF II. A lot of the players they could have called up from their Academy were away during the week down in Bradenton Florida playing multiple 70 minute games each day in the Generation Adidas Cup.

Carolina Core are an independent team and don't have to worry about supplying any MLS team with players so they must have looked forward to an undermanned Toronto.

Shafique Wilson played just his first game of the year (only playing two last season) but at times kept TFC from falling behind with a few high leaps for crosses into the box and dives and good saves. There should be a lot more opportunities for game time this season.

Toronto's problem is tonight they scored just their third goal in five games and the two wins were by 1-0 scores. That puts a lot of pressure on the defence if they know that allowing a goal is usually a way to a bad result.

Referee Fabrizio Stasolla gave out no cards tonight. That was fair with just a few shouts from the bench which he ignored.

This was the only game tonight in the league to start the weekend.

Toronto's record improves to 2 wins, 1 tie, 2 losses for 7 points. That's good for now for a five way tie for sixth place. Carolina improves to 1 win, 2 ties, 2 losses plus 2 bonus points for winning both their shootout results to catch TFC for 7 points. Expect other teams to pull ahead with their games later this weekend.

These teams have only met once before. That was last season when Jesus Batiz scored at 90 minutes 20 seconds to help TFC win 2-1 at this stadium. The Core play in the South East Division while Toronto is in the North East. The tables are combined as the Eastern Conference. This means they play some teams three times and some just once. I would have expected they would have played this season in High Point, North Carolina...well maybe next year.

I saw two of my favourite TFC II players in a game here last weekend in a CPL game. Forward Julian Altobelli after four seasons moved on (or back) to York United FC. Defender Adam Pearlman was loaned for the season to HFX Wanderers FC.

Admission is only $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for York University students, free for children 10 and under and free for season ticket holders. Concession stands are not open but there is no restriction on bringing in your own food. Tonight there was no ice cream truck parked outside the gate. It might have been the holiday weekend or maybe there wasn't enough business last year.

This was my last full day to be one of the few hundred people who picked up their AFC Toronto scarf and be able to strut around town as tomorrow there will be thousands (14K plus) at their debut game in the new women's Northern Super League being held at BMO Field. After that their remaining home games will be here at York Lions Stadium. The CPL team York United FC also play their home games here which will make some weekends quite busy.

Rocket Robin
robin.glover.1958@gmail.com

Toronto FC II starters