Toronto FC finish preseason with 1-1 draw and unveil new kit

Toronto FC closed out their preseason on Saturday with a 1-1 draw courtesy of a late equalizer, while also unveiling their new away kit.

The countdown is now on to the start of the regular season next weekend against FC Dallas. Toronto FC completed their preseason with a 1-1 draw versus Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, to give them a record of 3-2-1.

TFC was actually on the verge of losing their final preseason match, after falling behind 1-0 to a Daniel Salloi goal in the 73rd minute. However, the Reds managed to salvage a draw with a last-minute equalizer by Hugo Mbongue.

At just 17-years-old, it was a special moment for Mbongue. It also showed head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley what the young forward is capable of.

The Toronto native is one of the TFC II players who joined the main roster for preseason. He will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Ralph Priso-Mbongue, who made his debut for the first team in 2020.

While it’s extremely early days for Mbongue, the talent and potential is certainly there. As per the Toronto Sun‘s Steve Buffery, the teenager was a member of the Canadian U15 squad for the 2019 Concacaf championship and scored a hat-trick in their opening match.

Saturday’s match was played behind closed doors and brings to an end what has been an interesting first preseason for Bradley with TFC. As much as you fully expect the club to improve from a disastrous 2021 season, there is still a lot of uncertainty at this stage.

There are numerous questions to consider, including who will start in goal and how well the defence will gel after wholesale changes during the offseason? These questions and more will be answered, starting next Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Texas.

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Saturday also marked the unveiling of Toronto FC’s new away kit, called the 2022 Community Kit. It makes for an interesting design, and is a departure from what Reds fans are used to:

What stands out particularly about the kit is the lack of red, save for the badge. As per TFC’s official website, they said:

"“Toronto FC’s all new Community kit stands at the intersection of lifestyle and sport. A white and silver split design uniting club and culture; city and community. Authentic to our city, a collection of neighbourhoods where cultures meet and personality defines individuality. Fashioned for nights of all kinds, at BMO Field or those spent away from it.”"

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How confident are you feeling about Toronto FC following the conclusion of their preseason? Are you optimistic, concerned, or taking a wait-and-see approach? Let us know in the comments section below.