FC Montreal’s second half goal was enough to give the visitors the three points in the second 401 Derby of the season.
TFC II’s record falls to 3-9-3. The team has struggled at home, losing all four matches played at the Ontario Soccer Centre this season.
Perhaps motivated to break their goalless drought against their biggest rivals and in front of home fans, Your Reds came out flying right off the kickoff.
The boys pushed the tempo to the visitors while maintaining majority of possession in the first half. On the other hand, FC Montreal seemed comfortable playing a counter-attack game against Your Reds.
Marcos Nunes nearly opened up the scoring in the 4th minute of the match. Nunes’ free kick was deflected on target but Montreal goalkeeper David Paulmin was quick to react and was able to get a hand on the shot to keep TFC II off the board.
A minute later Malik Johnson tested Paulmin with a shot from outside the box but Montreal’s keeper was up to the task, knocking the high shot over the bar for a TFC II corner.
In the 21st minute Jordan Hamilton had a free-kick shot sail just over the crossbar. A few inches lower and he might have opened up the scoring for TFC II.
Malik Johnson had another great opportunity in the 25th minute but his shot skied over the Montreal net.
FC Montreal came close to scoring in the 39th minute but the volley from inside the box was hit over the bar.
The visitors came out strong in the second half and were rewarded in the 55th minute.
FC Montreal midfielder Zakaria Messoudi opened up some space for himself with a run through midfield and hit a well-placed strike into the top right corner from about 25 yards out to put Montreal up 1-0.
TFC II forward Massimo Mirabelli came close to tying the match in the 86th minute but his shot from just outside the box produced an impressive save from FC Montreal’s David Paulman.
Toronto FC II is back at the Ontario Soccer Centre this Friday, July 24th, to take on second place Charleston Battery at 8PM.
Scoring Summary
FCM – Zakaria Messoudi 55’
Misconduct Summary
FCM – Nazim Belguendouz 83’ (caution)
TFCII – Anthony Osorio 88’ (caution)
Records:
Toronto FC II: 3-9-3 12pts.
FC Montreal: 4-11-2 14pts.
Lineups
Toronto FC II – Quillan Roberts ©; Gabriel Boakye, Emeka Ononye (Edwin Rivas 73’), Daniel Fabrizi, Mark Anthony Kaye (Nicholas Osorio 87’); Liam Fraser, Anthony Osorio, Marcos Nunes (Luca Uccello 63’), Malik Johnson;Massimo Mirabelli, Jordan Hamilton (Kevin Timachy 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: Filippo Di Bennardo, Robert Boskovic, Marcus Godinho
FC Montreal – David Paulmin; Zachary Sukunda (John Dinkota 68’), Jems Geffrard ©, Chakib-Nazim Hocine, Janouk Charbonneau; Mastanabal Kacher (Nazim Belguendouz 74’), Marco Dominguez, Alessandro Riggi (Frederic Lajoie-Gravelle 73’), Zakaria Messoudi (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 90’ +), Fabio Morelli; Charles Joly (Victor Ndiaye 80’)
Substitutes Not Used: James Pantemis, Mele Temguia
