TORONTO – Toronto FC striker Andrew Wiedeman maintains that he has a bit of poacher in him. It took only about eight minutes into his appearance against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night for the 22-year-old to prove it.
After coming on in the 59th minute for Eric Avila, Wiedeman got the side of his foot on a shot by Luis Silva in the 67th minute to put in the Reds’ second goal of the game, the eventual game-winner in their 2-1 triumph at BMO Field.
It was his first goal since joining the team last Friday in a trade that sent Julian de Guzman to FC Dallas.
“It was definitely a poacher’s goal, huh?” Wiedeman said. “I was trying to get in a good position. Luis put a good ball across and I got on the end of it.”
Wiedeman made his TFC debut on July 14 in a 1-0 win against the New England Revolution, coming on for an injured Danny Koevermans in the 41st minute. In his second appearance as a substitute for the Reds, head coach Paul Mariner had some advice before he took the field.
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“He said go in, work hard on defense, bring some energy and get a game winner,” Wiedeman said.
Mission accomplished.
It came after a good run down the right side by defender Doneil Henry, who fought off a defender in the corner before getting the pass to Silva.
“That was all heart down there,” Wiedeman said of Henry. “He didn’t give up on the play, kept it alive and put it to Luis.”
Luis put a shot on goal. Then Wiedeman put the finishing touches to it.
“That’s always kind of been my strong suit,” he said. “So I go out with the idea that I want to try and put myself in good position, then hopefully the rest of it will take care of itself.”
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Mariner is impressed with what he has seen and heard about Wiedeman.
"He's deceptively quick,” Mariner said. “He gets around the field very, very well, he's a very intelligent footballer.
“He's got wonderful feet, his touch is very good and I've been told he's probably one of the best finishers in MLS but he's been behind some very good players in Dallas. We were fortunate to pick him up.”
