Toronto flogged in foggy Florida, 2:0
February 26, 2015 (Official Game Summary)
The New York Red Bulls claimed a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night in the final group game of the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic preseason tournament. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sal Zizzo each scored to secure the Red Bulls a spot in the tournament's championship game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening.
Each team had chances early. Toronto threatened with a corner in the fourth minute, but an on-target header from Lovitz was saved by Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles at the back post. Two minutes later Lloyd Sam, wearing the captain's armband, crossed a ball for Sacha Kljestan, who squared up for striker Wright-Phillips, but the chance sailed over the crossbar.
Robles again made a save off the head of Lovitz in the 10th minute. Toronto continued to threaten through the air, coming close again in the 20th minute when a header from Bright Dike rang off the left goal post and was put out of play.
The Red Bulls were able to capitalize on a chance minutes later thanks to Wright-Phillips, who struck a low ball through traffic from 20 yards out that froze Toronto goalkeeper Chris Konopka and give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
The Red Bulls made a wholesale change at the half, bringing on a second XI that included the return of homegrown center back Matt Miazga, who missed the beginning of training camp with a quad injury.
The second group continued to find success around goal. Just after the start of the half a Mike Grella cross found Anatole Abang at the back post, but the 18-year-old Cameroonian striker put the chance over the bar.
Grella was involved in the action again in the 47th minute, recovering a blocked cross and putting a second ball across the face of goal for Sal Zizzo to finish at the far post, pushing the lead to 2-0.
The second XI finished strong, keeping up the pressure and playing mostly in Toronto's end. Unsigned draft pick Manolo Sanchez had a chance to score his second goal in as many games in the 72nd minute, finding himself open at the back post with a chance to finish a set piece from Zizzo, but his left-footed touch went straight to Konopka.
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