TORONTO – FC Cincinnati 2 struck first, but fell to Toronto FC II, 4-2, Saturday night at BMO Field.
The Orange and Blue drop to 1-4-0 (3 points) for the season. TFC II improve to 3-2-0 (9 points) in MLS NEXT Pro.
Academy product Gerardo Valenzuela netted his first professional goal in the 12th minute. He found Andrew Akindele, who distributed a pass back to Valenzuela, who hit his shot first time for his first goal of the season.
Leading at the half, another FC Cincinnati Academy product Marcel Ruszel scored for the first time and doubled the lead for FCC 2 in the 47th minute. After a turnover in Toronto’s defensive third, strong passing originating with Akindele to Arquimides Ordonez playing a through ball into the box to Ruszel, who buried his shot.
The hosts added four unanswered goals, beginning two minutes after Ruszel’s finish to down the Orange and Blue, 4-2.
The Orange and Blue return home to take on Rochester New York FC next Sunday, May 8 at NKU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 at Toronto FC II
Date: April 30, 2022
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
Venue: BMO Field
Kickoff: 6:05 p.m. ET
Weather: 52 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
TOR: 0-4-4
CIN: 1-1-2
TOR - Paul Rothrock (Steffen Yeates) 50’, Reshaun Walkes (Themi Antonoglou 66’), Julian Altobelli (Paul Rothrock 74’), Own Goal – Morgan Marshall, 90+5’
CIN - Gerardo Valenzuela (Andrew Akindele) 12’, Marcel Ruszel (Arquimides Ordonez, Andrew Akindele) 47’
LINEUPS
CIN: Beckham Sunderland, Max Miller, David Garcia, Kai Thomas, Morgan Marshall, Marcel Ruszel (Daniel Samways, 76’), Harrison Robledo, Avionne Flanagan, Gerardo Valenzuela (Leonardo Vazquez 60’), Arquimides Ordonez, Andrew Akindele (Preston Popp 60’)
Substitutes not used: Paul Walters, Owen Noverr, Nick McHenry, Preston Popp, Leonardo Vazquez
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
TOR: Greg Ranjitsingh, Themi Antonoglou (Kundai Mawoko 90+2’), Rohan Goulbourne (L. Stefanovic 46’), Matthew Medeiros (D. Gogarty 46’), Kobe Franklin, Steffen Yeates, Kota Sakurai (Julian Altobelli 46’), Alonso Coello, Alec Diaz (Stefan Karajovanovic 90+4’), Paul Rothrock, Nakye Greenidge-Duncan (R. Walkes 64’)
Substitutes not used: Luca Accettola
Acting Head Coach: Marco Casalinuovo
STATS SUMMARY: TOR/CIN
Shots: 9 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 / 7
Fouls: 9 / 14
Offside: 1 / 3
Possession: 51.7 / 48.3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TOR - Steffen Yeates (Yellow Card) 29'
CIN - Arquimides Ordonez (Yellow Card) 41'
CIN - Harrison Robledo (Yellow Card) 53'
TOR - Julian Altobelli (Yellow Card) 77'
About MLS NEXT Pro
Launched in March 2022 by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the player pathway from MLS NEXT through to MLS first teams. With 21 Clubs competing during the inaugural season – 20 MLS-affiliated and one independent club, Rochester New York FC – MLS NEXT Pro will grow the game through innovation and diversity by bringing professional soccer to new markets, creating career opportunities for professionals on and off the field, and providing communities with a strong sense of pride. Eight additional MLS-affiliated clubs will join MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, with more independent clubs joining in the years ahead. For more information about MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.
