Photo: Paul Rudderow

Several years ago, then PSP editor-in-chief Dan Walsh forbade Philly Soccer Page writers from any further use of the Dickens-like phrase “a tale of two halves.” Philadelphia Union II scored two goals in the first half from Jeremy Rafanello in the 13th minute and Jose Riasco in the 14th, both on fast breaks that caught Toronto FC II’s defensive mid and fullbacks upfield and exposed their center backs for pace.

Toronto FC II then scored three goals unanswered in the second half between minutes 56 and 74, a headed corner kick from defensive mid Antony Curic, a fast counter-attack from striker Hugo Mbongue, and a penalty kick from winger Jesus Batiz.

Union II’s Stefan Stojanovic caught Toronto’s keeper well off his line from distance in the 81st minute to re-tie it, and Union Goalkeeper Holden Trent saved Toronto’s fifth shootout penalty kick, to allow Richard Odada to score Union II’s fifth shootout PK and win the extra point available from the draw.

The best of times and the worst of times, as it were.

In advance

Toronto II beat Union II three times last season including the first round of the playoffs, each time by one goal.

Since the Union played the night before, five first-team reserves played in addition to regular loanees Nelson Pierre and Anton Sorenson: goalkeeper Holden Trent, left center back Brandan Craig (who captained the side), defensive midfielder Richard Odada, attacking midfielder Jeremy Rafanello, and striker Chris Donovan.

Toronto came into the game on no points with three losses from three matches, having scored two goals and given up eight while suffering two consecutive clean sheets kept against them. They were in last place in the eastern conference.

Toronto also used first team reserves, for the same reason. Former Bethlehem Steel FC and Academy goalkeeper Tomas Romero, left back Themi Antonoglou, midfielder Kosi Thompson and striker Hugo Mbongue all started. Markus Cimermancic began on the bench.

First Half

The dominant fact of the first half was Union II’s superior athleticism, especially Chris Donovan matched up against Toronto II’s center backs. The Canadian central defensive midfielder had to drop into the center of the backline to stop the hemorrhaging, and even that only reduced the breakaways to threats instead of goals. Time after time after time the Union center backs or defensive mids found Donovan or Jose Riasco in the center for distribution via head balls or in the wide channels for breakaway crosses. The Toronto defenders were repeatedly exposed for pace, and Donovan delivered threatening cross after threatening cross to be run onto in the appropriate space.

Pedro Alvarez deserves mention for the precision of his first half offensive support work and the speed with which he applied defensive pressure. Unlike his teammate during earlier games Maike Villero who would drift to the left channel, Alvarez stayed primarily in the central one. Richard Odada was the more defensively minded of the two. They formed a nice partnership.

Toronto created an occasional thrust of dangerous potential, but Philadelphia was in full control of the half.

Second half

The second half was quite different.

Toronto substituted at half strengthening themselves defensively on their right side, and Philadelphia replaced Donovan with Nelson Pierre. Pierre did not provide the same continuation of offensive thrusts as Donovan. No one can fault his energy or willingness, but he did not win head balls let alone distribute those wins to maintain and advance attacks.

Toronto earned themselves an emotional life-line directly from a corner kick in the 56th minute that was scored by captain and defensive midfielder Antony Curic’s  head at the far post, and the balance of the match shifted. Union II were generating no offensive thrusts of any consequence, while Toronto was.

Batiz fed Mbongue on a breakaway counter that caught too many Union II players upfield in the 68th minute. Then Anton Sorenson, who had subbed on for the lamed Juan Castillo in the 61st, gave up inside position to Batiz in the penalty box, took him down from his outside when he had the ball, and was correctly called for both the penalty kick and the yellow card. Goalkeeper Trent got a touch on Batiz’s strike but the Toronto winger put it home in the 74th, and the match had been turned on its head.

And then it turned even.

In the 81st minute with Toronto on the front foot, Stefan Stojanovic, who had come on for Rafanello in the 69th minute, received a ball in the right channel from Craig 40 yards or more from goal and realized that Toronto substitute keeper Luca Gavran was 25 or 30 yards off his line. Stojanovic beat him with a well-placed if leisurely worm-burner and the ball outpaced a desperate but futile center back to tie the score.

Twelve minutes later the full-time whistle blew and the match went to penalty kicks for the extra point from the shootout.

In the shootout both sides dispatched their first four tries. Kosi Thompson took Toronto’s fifth,  and Trent again dove correctly. But this time the Union’s High Point graduate dove hard with conviction, force, and authority and made the save. When Richard Odada buried Philadelphia’s 5th shot, the stadium’s noise exploded.

Next match

Philadelphia Union II play away to Atlanta United 2 at 6:00 pm Sunday, April 30 in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Three points

1. Tomas Romero started in Toronto’s goal but had to come off a few minutes after Riasco’s goal with an unknown shoulder problem.
2. David Vazquez played his second consecutive full 90, continuing to look like an MLS NEXT Pro player not like an Academy kid.
3. Both 17-year-old U-17 right center back Daniel Kreuger and defensive midfielder Pedro Alvarez got their first starts of the season.

BOXSCORE

Union II lineup – (4-2-2-2, L_R) Starters: Holden Trent; Juan Castillo (Anton Sorenson 62′), Brandan Craig, Daniel Kreuger, Francis Westfield; Pedro Alvarez (Alex Perez 81′), Richard Odada; David Vazquez, Jeremy Rafanello (Stefan Stojanovic 69′); Chris Donovan (Nelson Pierre HT) , Jose Riasco (Luciano Sanchez 81′). Unused substitutes: Brooks Thompson; Nathan Nkanji, Gino Portella, Boubacar Diallo. 1^st – 7, UII –8, Acad – 5.

Starters’ Ages

Toronto II lineup – (4-3-3, L-R). Starters:Tomas Romero (Luka Gavran 21′); Themi Antonoglu, Lazar Stefanovic, Adam Pearlman (Mathew Medeiros HT), Jalen Watson (Markus Cimermancic HT); Lucas Olguin, Kosi Thompson, Antony Curic ; Jesus Batiz, Hugo Mbongue (Julian Altobelli 88′), Jordan Faria (Dekwon Barrow 78′) . Unused substitutes: Alec Diaz, Ethan Kang, Adamo Panteleo,  Jovan Ivanisevic. Suspended: Rohan Goulbourne

Goals

U II       13th minute       Jeremy Rafanello

U II       14th minute       Jose Riasco (Chris Donovan, Jeremy Rafanello)

T II       56th minute      Antony Curic (Jordan Faria)

T II      68th minute      Hugo Mbongue (Jesus Batiz)

T II      74th minute      Jesus Batiz (penalty kick)

U II      81st minute      Stefan Stojanovic (Brandan Craig)

Shootout

Cards

U II      23rd minute      Yellow       Daniel Kreuger (foul)

U II      73rd minute      Yellow       Anton Sorenson (foul)

Stats

Whistle

Ref: Gary Gutierrez, AR¹: Sharon Gingrich, AR²: Patrick Casey, 4^TH: Justin Saporito