MLS Toronto FC

Greetings from Orlando

February 19, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


The club will continue preseason in Orlando, Florida from February 15th - March 2nd and participate in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic tournament for a fifth consecutive year.

Toronto FC will open the tournament today, Wednesday, February 19 against the Columbus Crew at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by Orlando City on Saturday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Reds will face the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, February 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET to conclude the group stage of the tournament. Each team participating will play a final playoff match on Saturday, March 1 determined by their final placing from the group stage. The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex will host the tournament. All matches will be streamed live on torontofc.ca

UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE

- Wednesday, February 19 - Game Day: Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew at 1:00 p.m. ET

- Saturday, February 22 - Game Day: Toronto FC vs. Orlando City at 8:00 p.m. ET

- Wednesday, February 26 - Game Day: Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union at 1:00 p.m. ET

- Sunday, March 2 - Toronto FC returns from Orlando, FL.

- Saturday, March 15 - 2014 MLS Season Opener at Seattle Sounders FC

TFC NUCLEUS INTACT

Despite an offseason of change, Toronto FC has kept the nucleus of its team intact, building the 2014 squad around core players such as goalkeeper Joe Bendik, and team captain Steven Caldwell. Including a group of young Canadian internationals: defenders Doneil Henry, Ashton Morgan, and midfielders Kyle Bekker and Jonathan Osario.

Toronto FC has signed seven newcomers this offseason, including three Designated Players (DP) English international Jermain Defoe, American international Michael Bradley and Brazilian forward Gilberto. Among the key offseason additions were 2011 MLS MVP and MLS Golden Boot recipient Dwayne De Rosario, midfielder Jackson, defender Justin Morrow and Homegrown Player Jordan Hamilton. Toronto also acquired defender Bradley Orr from Blackburn Rovers F.C. and goalkeeper Júlio César from Queens Park Rangers F.C. of the English Primer League (EPL) on full season loans.

TORONTO FC 2014 PRESEASON TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

Goalkeepers (4): Julio Cesar, Joe Bendik, Chris Konopka, Quillan Roberts

Defenders (9): Gale Agbossoumonde, Mark Bloom, Steven Caldwell, Nick Hagglund, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Justin Morrow, Bradley Orr, Ryan Richter

Midfielders (12): Manuel Aparicio, Kyle Bekker, Michael Bradley, Dwayne De Rosario, Jackson, Jeremy Hall, MatÃ-as Laba, Reggie Lambe, Daniel Lovitz, Jonathan Osorio, Alvaro Rey, Issey Nakajima-Farran

Forwards (6): Bright Dike, Kene Eze, Jordan Hamilton, Gilberto, Andrew Wiedeman, Emery Welshman

DRAFT RECAP

Last month, Toronto FC selected Xavier University defender Nick Hagglund (Rd. 1, No. 10), Elon University midfielder Daniel Lovitz (Rd. 2, No. 24), and Rutgers University forward Kene Eze (Rd. 4, No. 60) in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.

ACADEMY NOTES

Toronto FC U-16's were in Arizona from February 12 to 17 and participated in friendly matches against Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas Academy teams. The U-16's played Real Salt Lake on Friday February 14th, Colorado Rapids on Saturday February 15th and FC Dallas on Monday February 17th. U-16's beat Real Salt Lake in game one by a score of 1-0 on Friday. On Saturday the U-16's were down 2-1 late in the game, but were awarded a penalty kick and tied it up at 2-2 in the final minutes of the game. The final game of the weekend was an early 8 a.m. kick off versus Dallas on Monday. The U-16's dominated from start to finish and won by a final score of 4-0.

PRESEASON TRAINING CAMP THUS FAR...

Toronto FC opened training camp in Bradenton, Florida to begin preseason at the IMG Academy. Toronto FC took to the pitch for the first time in 2014 in a preseason friendly against D.C. United on February 5th. Bright Dike found the back of the net in the 85th min to secure a 1-0 victory for the Reds.

SCORING SUMMARY

TFC - Bright Dike 85'

LINEUPS

Toronto FC - Joe Bendik (Chris Konopka 45'); Ryan Richter (Matias Laba 45'), Chris Mannella^ (Doneil Henry 45'), Nick Hagglund (Gale Agbossoumonde 45'), Justin Morrow (Ashtone Morgan 45'); Manuel Aparicio (Issey Nakajima-Farran* 45'), Michael Bradley © (Jeremy Hall © 45'), Jonathan Osorio (Kyle Bekker 45'), Reggie Lambe (Alvaro Rey 45'); Andrew Wiedeman (Emery Welshman 45') (Kene Eze 74'), Dwayne De Rosario (Bright Dike 45')

D.C. United - Andrew Dykstra (Joe Willis 45'); Taylor Kemp (Jalen Robinson 45'), Jeff Parke (Steven Birenbaum 45'), Bobby Boswell (Conor Shanosky 45'), Sean Franklin (Travis Golden 45'); Nick De Leon (Victor Munoz 45'), Davy Arnaud (Zach Barnes 45'), Perry Kitchen (Jared Jeffrey 45'), Luis Silva (Collin Martin 45'), Kyle Porter (Christiano Francois 45'); Conor Doyle (Michael Seaton 45')

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 19, 2014


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