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TFC Academy Scores Four On Toronto Skillz To Extend Winning Form

By League1 Ontario staff, 07/22/16, 2:00PM EDT

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Toronto FC Academy got their fourth consecutive win in the matchweek 12 closer, beating Toronto Skillz 4-1 at Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough.

Glenn Muenkat (35', 62') led the way for the Junior Reds, with Nicholas Osorio (81') and Malik Smith (83') adding late goals. 

The two sides were evenly matched for much of the proceedings, with Lukas Risto (61') levelling the score just after an hour, but TSkillz lost their edge after conceding Muenkat's second just a minute later. 

"At 1-1 Toronto Skillz came out and they took our game away from us in the final third," said Toronto FC Academy head coach, Stuart Neely. 

"They defended well, they were physically strong, and they looked to counter and catch us, but they didn't maintain possession. There can be a situation of having too much of the ball at times, and we weren't effective with it in the first half." 

"I felt there was a goal in this for the Skillz, and I told the players when it comes it will be your wake-up call. When it came it was almost on cue, as we were getting a bit sloppy in possession, getting a bit too carried away and trying to be too cute on the ball, and they tied it up. It was 1-1 but I felt we still had the opportunity to respond, and from that point we began to wake up and got an immediate second goal, and from that point on I think we dominated."

Toronto Skillz head coach Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick felt his side had a decent start to the match, but succumbed to a persistent weakness.

"We managed the game well in the first half, but we gifted them a goal after a mis-communication between the back four and the keeper, so we talked about that at half and about trying to get back into the game and getting a goal," he said. 

"In general, we talk about the five minute rule in this game, and it seems every time we score a goal in this league we give up a goal within five minutes, and that is exactly what happened today," he added. "That will hurt you."

"From there I think we had a lot of poor decision making and the game intelligence just wasn't there to be able to manage the game."

Toronto FC Academy leapfrogged North Mississauga Panthers and Oakville Blue Devils in the standings to take over fourth position in the west with 18 points from 12 matches. 

TFCA's next match is against North Toronto Nitros on July 24 (3 p.m.) at University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium.

Toronto Skillz remains in eighth place in the east division with four points from 12 matches. TSkillz will play Oakville Blue Devils on July 24 (3 p.m.) at Sheridan College, Oakville.