Toronto FC Academy under-12 team ties Barcelona at tournament in Spain

VILAGARCIA DE AROUSA, Spain – It was a day to remember for Toronto FC’s Academy’s under-12 team as it tied Barcelona 2-2 and defeated fellow Spanish side E.D. Xuventu Oroso 5-0 at the Arousa Futbol 7 tournament.

Nakye Greenidge-Duncan and Stefano Capano scored against the Barcelona youngsters in the second of two 30-minute, seven-versus-seven games Friday on a smaller field with a smaller goal.

Capano scored two goals in the earlier win over E.D. Xuventu Oroso with singles coming from Luca Accettola, Ifeoluwa Adenuga and Charlie Bontis.

Coach Gianni Cimini’s young Toronto FC side sits atop Group C after the first day of competition at the 20-team tournament. The Canadians plays Ajax (1-0-0) and Deportivo La Coruna (0-1-0) on Saturday.

The TFC squad qualified for the European event by winning the inaugural U-12 tournament at the Generation Adidas Cup last month in Frisco, Texas.

Toronto defeated FC Dallas in the final of the competition, which featured teams from eight MLS academies, Mexican club Queretaro FC and Club America USA, the U.S.-based affiliate of the Mexican powerhouse.

It’s the second year for the under-12 team at the Toronto academy, whose youngest team is under-10.