VAUGHAN, Ont. – Luca Uccello scored the only goal of the game as Toronto FC II earned a 1-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC at the Ontario Soccer Centre on Saturday night in the second edition of the Battle of Ontario this season. Ottawa’s Ryan Williams forced an early save from TFC II goalkeeper Mark Pais in the fifth minute, and Fury FC had the better chances over the first 20 minutes as they held the hosts from creating many clear-cut chances. Fury FC found the net in the 28th minute, but Steevan Dos Santos was ruled offside, while Toronto wasn’t quite able to connect as Ryan Telfer’s cross was just out of the reach of Ben Spencer soon after. Pais was then forced into two good saves just before the break to deny headers from both Martin Ramon Del Campo and Dos Santos, and the game went to the break scoreless. Fury FC had chances in the second half, but both Andrae Campbell and Dos Santos missed the target before Toronto grabbed the lead in the 73rd minute as the hosts struck perfectly on the counterattack. Brian James’ ball over the top found Uccello, and the Canada U20 international produced a perfect chip from 25 yards that beat Callum Irving in the Ottawa goal. Ottawa pressed late to try and find an equalizer, and Pais came up with a tremendous stoppage-time save to deny Tucker Hume the last chance of the game, and secure his side the victory.

Scoring: 
73’ – TOR – Luca Uccello (Brian James)

• #TORvOTT: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Toronto FC II hadn’t been able to create many chances over the game, but when their best opportunity of the contest arrived, Luca Uccello came through with a finish that illustrated the young Canadian’s quality. Breaking forward onto an excellent pass by Brian James, the Canada U20 international was being closed down quickly by the trailing defenders, but made the perfect finish to catch Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving with an angled chip from outside the top-right side of the penalty area that dropped into the left corner of the net for one of TFC II’s best goals this season.

• 2. Ottawa had numerous chances to take control of the game in the opening half, but through some good goalkeeper by Mark Pais in the Toronto net and some profligate finishing, Fury FC was unable to take the advantage its overall play deserved. Edged out of the playoff picture going into the weekend’s action, Saturday’s game would have been one Ottawa will have believed it needed points in, but instead they returned home to the nation’s capital empty-handed.

• 3. Toronto FC II faces an uphill climb to get back into the race for the USL Cup Playoffs, but games like Saturday’s highlighted how the side could be a tricky proposition for opponents moving forward. While Ottawa was unable to take advantage of its chances, Toronto’s defense came up big often enough to right the ship after giving up 10 goals in the past two games. After recording six shutouts in its first 14 games of the season, TFC II got the second half of its season off to an ideal start.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Mark Pais, Toronto FC II – Pais provided numerous key saves, most notably denying Tucker Hume deep in stoppage time, to earn his side victory and its seventh shutout of the season. 

Upcoming Games:
Toronto FC II at New York Red Bulls II – July 21, 7 p.m. ET, MSU Soccer Park
Ottawa Fury FC vs. Rochester Rhinos – July 15, 2 p.m. ET, TD Place