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It didn't quite define the game, which ended 1-1 (4-3 to Bolton on penalties - now a customary Toronto fate in this contest), but the moment Mista and Maicon Santos linked up for the equalizer, every TFC supporter took notice of a possible cure to Reds' recent scoring woes.
Toronto had gone down 1-0 when Matt Taylor deflected Martin Petrov's shot past Jon Conway at the 28th minute. But the Reds roared back to level in first half injury time when Jacob Peterson spotted Mista on the left. The former Valencia man identified Maicon's run in to the area, from where the Brazilian finished with a perfectly executed header.
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The two halves produced differing fortunes for the clubs. In the first 45 Bolton dominated much of it with Petrov regularly testing the Toronto backline. The Bulgarian exploited Maxim Usanov quite convincingly prior to taking the shot that produced Taylor's opening strike.
In the second half Toronto was more assertive but couldn't find a finish. O'Brian White sent a scorcher to Jussi Jaaskelainen's near side at the 49th minute but off target. Then at the 66th, the Scarborough native missed a chance to redirect from six yards, before Nicholas Lindsay had two shots blocked by the Bolton backline and its Finnish keeper.
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Toronto and Canada supporters have to be very excited about the development of Doneil Henry. One of the most talented young central defenders in the country, the 17-year old TFC Academy star turned heads with a strong performance at the middle of the back four.
After Petrov had dominated the early stages on the left side of Bolton's attack, Henry turned his attention to the Bulgarian international. In one sequence the defender relentlessly pressed Petrov before cleanly taking the ball from him deep inside Toronto's half. He was substituted at the 77th minute, only after the dangerous Petrov left the pitch.
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Toronto (4-4-2): Conway (Kocic), Usanov, Medic (Cordon), Henry (Stinson), Hscanovics, Peterson (White), Vukovic (Lindsay), Nane (McNicoll), Ibrahim (Adjelkovic), Mista (Ent), Maicon Santos (Gala)
Unused Subs: None
Goals: Toronto: Maicon Santos 46' Bolton: Matt Taylor 28'
Discipline: Toronto: Hscanovics 58' (caution)
Penalty Kicks: Toronto: Gala (Goal), Hscanovics (Saved), White (G), Lindsay (G), Cordon (S) Bolton: Steinsson (Crossbar), Holden (G), Blake (G), Davis (G), Cahill (G)
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Thursday, July 24 v. Dallas
MLS - Week 17
4:00 PM (CBC)
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GAME NOTES:.
Toronto's next fixture is against another club in the thick of the postseason hunt, FC Dallas - who are in the midst of a six-match unbeaten streak.
The Frisco, Texas side is three points ahead of Toronto heading into this game and boasts a dangerous attack led by the red-hot David Ferrerira, who is complemented by Jeff Cunningham, Brek Shea and Atiba Harris.
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| 19 |
Number of substitutions used in this friendly. Toronto had nine. |
| 8 |
Identical number of shots for both clubs in this contest. |
| 23 |
Number of fouls called in the match (Toronto had 15). |
| 3 |
How many times the Calsberg Cup has been played - Toronto losing all three on penalties, 4-3 on every occasion. Too early to call it a curse? |
| 19,507 |
Attendance for this match, with many supporters around the globe watching a live stream on TorontoFC.ca. |
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"It's important that he gets on the pitch and gets some minutes because he hasn't played in a while. Obviously, when he touches the ball I can tell he has some special ability. When he gets fit he'll be able to show more of that ability" - Preki on the debut performance of Mista.
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"It was a wonderful finish from Maicon. Mista brings that creative, calming force we didn't have before. It was a perfect counter-attack." - Jacob Peterson on Maicon's goal, in which he had a part by finding Mista on the left side of attack.
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"It was a very good ball. It just went under my leg ... It's a big joy to play against a (EPL) club in Toronto." - O'Brian White on his missed chance at the 66th minute and his excitement in competing against an EPL side.
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