TORONTO — Having joined the Toronto FC academy at the age of 12 and served as a ball boy during TFC's championship run, Luca Petrasso's roots run deep with the MLS club.
So making his first-team debut and registering an assist in Saturday's home opener was a day to remember, even if the result wasn't — a 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
"It's been a dream come true to play for this team and be part of this organization," said the 21-year-old from Toronto.
Petrasso wasted little time turning heads early on at BMO Field. Starting on the left wing, he had success running at the Red Bulls defence.
He set up Jesus Jimenez's 35th-minute goal, sprinting between two defenders and attracting a third before slipping the ball over to the Spanish striker, who went around the goalkeeper and slotted the ball home past two more Red Bulls.
"In the first half, he was really bright," head coach Bob Bradley said of Petrasso after the game. "That's what we've seen a bit lately and I think he took the opportunity to start. A lot of our attack in the first half came down the left side through him. So a really positive day."
With Toronto down 4-1 at the break, Bradley moved Petrasso to left fullback for the second half as he rejigged his lineup.
It helped that Toronto was attacking the south end in the first half, meaning Petrasso was running straight at the east corner of the south stand, which is home to some of TFC's most fervent supporters.
"Obviously before the game I was quite nervous. I wasn't sure how I was going to do or my plan," Petrasso said. "But I kind of knew after the first dribble and the first two minutes. I felt confidence and I felt the fans get into it — and a big roar. So after that, I knew I had space on the ball and there were times I could play through gaps with Jesus and get on the ball and dribble at players. That's something that I've done for quite a few years now with TFC 2 and that's just something that I'm comfortable with — driving at players."
Petrasso was an observer at the 2016 and '17 MLS Cup finals in Toronto, saying he was one of the first academy members to sign up as a ball boy.
It was cold both days, he recalls. But he was thinking of other things at the time.
"I was kind of just dreaming of playing on that field and playing with the players I play with now," he said.
Petrasso has taken a different soccer road than his older brother Michael, a midfielder with York United FC of the Canadian Premier League who has won nine caps for Canada.
Michael, now 26, was also part of the TFC academy but left for England as a teen and spent time with Queens Park Rangers, Oldham Athletic, Coventry, Leyton Orient and Notts County between 2012 and '18 before signing with Montreal. He had CPL stints with Valour FC and York before joining England's Barnet for a season-long loan in late 2020.
"I felt very comfortable at home ," said Luca. "I think my parents lost one of our siblings when he went away very young, so I think they really wanted to keep me close around here. And there's no place I'd rather be than be a part of this club and be a part of this academy — and take the steps to show young players that there's a pathway here.
"I'm just trying to lead by example and create that pathway for other players coming through the club."
Luca signed as a homegrown player in January, becoming the 27th player in club history to sign for the first team from the Toronto academy. His contract runs through 2023.
The Canadian youth international waited his turn, appearing in 63 matches over four seasons with Toronto FC II. He came through the ranks with the likes of fellow young first-teamers Noble Okello, Ayo Akinola and Jordan Perruzza.
Toronto (0-1-1) plays at Columbus (1-0-1) on Saturday.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2022.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
