TORONTO – Bethlehem Steel FC scored within the opening 10 minutes and stayed strong on the defensive end to post a 1-0 victory against Toronto FC II on Saturday at BMO Field. The game was part of a Major League Soccer/United Soccer League doubleheader as Toronto FC’s 3-2 win against Minnesota United FC preceded the USL match. Steel FC’s Cory Burke tallied the lone goal in the eighth minute, converted on a penalty kick for his first tally of the season. Bethlehem goalkeeper Jake McGuire made seven saves for the clean sheet. For Toronto, the club’s offense has now gone more than 500 consecutive minutes without a goal and has scored just twice this season. Bethlehem improves to 3-4-0 (9 points) overall and earns its first road win, improving to 1-2-0 away from Goodman Stadium. Toronto falls to 1-4-3 (6 points) overall and 0-1-1 at home.

Scoring:
8’ – BST – Cory Burke (penalty)

• #TORvBST: Full match and Opta box score

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Bethlehem only created a handful of scoring opportunities, but the visiting side jumped at an early chance as Marcus Epps drew a first-half penalty kick with a strong run from the right as he was clipped in the box by TFC II captain Mitch Taintor. Cory Burke converted the subsequent PK in the eighth minute, firing into the right of the frame as Toronto goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo anticipated the shot going the other direction. It was Burke’s first tally of the season. Bethlehem only had two shots on target in the opening half.

• 2. Toronto’s offense has now gone 511 consecutive minutes without a goal, the last coming in the first half from Malik Johnson during a 3-1 loss to Orlando City B on April 4. TFC II can certainly look at Saturday’s match and say it generated enough moments to end that trend with 21 shots - seven on frame. Recent TFC signing and TFC II loanee Ben Spencer was the main catalyst early on, forcing a couple saves from Jake McGuire in the opening 13 minutes. Aikim Andrews also had an opening moment in the 15th minute, just inside the box, but McGuire stayed low for the save as Bethlehem’s defense sustained the pressure. In the second half, Luca Uccello had a great moment to find an equalizer in the 52nd minute, but lofted his shot over the bar, and Spencer couldn’t get enough power behind a chance just two minutes later as McGuire dropped down for the stop. Spencer missed the far left post in the 65th minute, putting his hands behind his head as it was representative image of the frustration that the Reds are going through. The biggest stop came in the 86th minute as McGuire made a diving save against second-half sub Shaan Hundal.

• 3. With Saturday’s start, Bethlehem captain James Chambers passed former Steel FC captain Ryan Richter for most appearances in the club’s young history, making his 30th appearance. Chambers and Richter are also tied for the organization’s all-time lead with four assists apiece in 2016.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Jake McGuire, Bethlehem Steel FC – While the brunt of McGuire’s seven saves weren’t acrobatic, he had a massive diving stop against Shaan Hundal in the final 10 minutes and did everything that was necessary for the clean sheet – positioned himself well all game and directed a cohesive defense toward its first road win of the year.

Upcoming Games:
Toronto FC II vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies – May 19, 5 p.m. ET, Ontario Soccer Centre
Bethlehem Steel FC at FC Cincinnati – May 20, 7 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium