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Match Preview: Toronto FC III v FC London

By League1 Ontario staff, 04/28/18, 8:45PM EDT

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2018 Men's division opener pits the pro academy against a growing Southern Ontario powerhouse

The fifth League1 Ontario season starts with a bang this weekend, featuring 14 matches across the men's and women's divisions.  

In Game 8 of Matchweek 1, we open up the men's division with a tasty fixture:

The pro academy, Toronto FC III unveil their latest crop of exciting young prospects vs FC London at BMO Training Grounds on Saturday April 28 (1 p.m.). 

Players

TFC III:

TFC's top academy team is by nature designed to flip squads every year or so in League1, as the generations pass through their ranks. 

A few familiar faces still dominate the 2018 squad-list though, and it will be a pleasure as usual for league and Reds supporters alike to see what they next crop is looking like. Head coach Danny Dichio singled out a few players to highlight: 

"Goalkeeper Gianluca Catalano (2000b)," he said. "This is Gigi's third season playing in League1. A big presence, good shot stopper who's recently committed to UCONN University."

"Left back Terique Mohammed (2000b)," he added. "Terique is a dynamic full-back that loves to support the attack and gets his fair share of goals from spectacular free-kicks."

Midfielder Steffen Yeates (2000b) is another one," Dichio said. "An attacking midfielder who has great balance with a low centre of gravity. Likes to drive forwards with the ball and contribute to the attack. Another player who has recently committed to UCONN University."

"Winger Luca Petrasso (2000b) has just signed his young professional contract after progressing through all the age groups of the Academy," he continued. 

"A skilful lefty who loves to take people on and get himself in goal scoring situations."

"Winger Kunle Dada-Luke (2000b) is another fast, powerful forward player who loves to take people on and create danger in the opponent's half."

"Last but not least is winger Jordan Faria (2000b), a quick tricky winger who has a variety if skills to take people on and create goal scoring opportunities for other teammates."

FC London: 

After a couple seasons under the management of head coaches transplanted from Dynamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split, in 2018 the FC London men's side passes to a local manager and former player in the League1 side - Mike Marcoccia. 

As London continues their tradition of building on a particular game model and way of playing, as well as working to increase the supply of youth team graduates, 2018 should be an interesting year to measure the progress of both. FC London has shown that they have the quality and organization to go right to the finals (as they did in 2016), and push the top teams (as they did in late season 2017). 

Marcoccia outlined a number of key players to watch. 

"Our core 4-6 players would consist of Parker Seymour, Aaron Schneebli, Randy Ribeiro, Mohammed Nafar, James Pucci - amongst some others, but those would be some of the core senior players that are currently rostered to the team," said FC London head coach, Mike Marcoccia. 

"We also have Connor Wilson, which is a player that we have high expectations for. These are all the core guys that have been here for some time. A few have been here for the whole time with League1 and others are coming back from our days in the PDL or professional ranks."

"We are looking for these guys to play a big role," he added. 

"These are full-time guys, they are not college players and so we expect them to be here until the end of the season." 


Mohammed Reza Nafar, FC London (Photo: Martin Bazyl)

"Parker Seymour is returning to the squad this year," he continued. "He was away last year playing in Sweden, but he was a part of our squad two seasons ago. Parker is very important piece of the puzzle. He's a super dynamic player that can play in a few different positions so that is good for us." 

"We have Aaron Schneebli, returning from last season, who was part of the 2017 Men's All-Star Game and was the MVP of that game. He's another senior player that is done school and will play a massive role for us at the back." 

"We have Randy Ribeiro, who has been named team captain this year. He is obviously a familiar face but he will play in a slightly different role this year," Marcoccia explained. 

"We're looking for him to do what he has always done well, but to take a much bigger leadership role as well. He'll probably play a little more into the attack this season as well." 

"Mohammed Nafar is a bit younger than the previous players in this group, but he is a super talented player and has already been in the league with us for two seasons. He's already made an impact but we expect an even bigger impact from him this season." 

"James Pucci is one of the most interesting situations as he was part of our PDL squad from a few years back but suffered a serious knee injury and was out for over a year," he added. 

"This is his first chance back on the pitch and he's looking to make a mark in League1. We're slowly adjust him back into the team, as you do after a serious injury, but I'm sure he will make an impact in this league." 

"Connor Wilson in previous years was part of the U21 but moved up last year and did very well. We are expecting him to play a vital role, but unfortunately he is also a university player so we will lose him part way through the year." 

"We're losing Sandro Rajkovic unfortunately," Marcoccia concluded. "He has a full time job and is not in the London area so we'll be sorry not to have his contributions." 

Objectives

TFC III:

TFC's objectives are simple with TFC III. Try and move academy products through to their fully professional ranks in TFC II and the MLS side. 

We have seen plenty Junior Reds move on into the pro ranks of late, but the TFC III side still has plenty of top talent. Many of these players have been featuring in League1 for three years, so expect nothing less than that most potent of combinations from the professional academy - youthful intensity, maturity of play and top quality ability.

FC London:

"The most important thing to remember is the foundation we have built on the men's side," explained Marcoccia. 

"I want to keep and continue the success we've had through our development of the training model and playing style."

"We are always looking for more ways to be successful on the pitch and in the standings of course, but another important measure of success for us is obviously our youth that we have been and will continue moving through." 

"Currently we have three reserve squads including two U21s and a strong U17 side so we are using those to prepare the future of FC London players. We have a vision that one day the team would be fundamentally homegrown - like, right from our academy - and we are very, very close to that." 

Prediction

An away game to the MLS professional academy to open the season - not necessarily the easiest beginning. And London TFC will have done it twice in two years after this weekend. 

The visitors from London will want to forget last year's 7-0 trouncing to open the season in this very same fixture at BMO Training Grounds, when they served as a first course to this rampant side of TFC academicians.

However, they say lightning never strikes twice and London proved their mettle throughout last season. Along with some players returned to the team from leagues abroad, London should be a very difficult prospect.

Still, it's tough to look past the Junior Reds. They have every weapon and luxury available to them and are on home court. 

Result: If history is any indication, victory to the home team. If FC London plan on rewriting history this year, expect an early season upset. Tough to call...