April 8, 2007 Chivas USA beat Toronto FC (from MLSnet.com) story 2
04/08/2007 01:04AM
Toronto FC fall in first-ever match
By Danny Bueno / MLSnet.com Staff
CARSON, Calif. - Ante Razov and Sacha Kljestan scored on either side of halftime and spoiled what was otherwise a historic night for Toronto FC as Chivas USA dropped the expansion side 2-0 in its first-ever match at The Home Depot Center on Saturday night. Razov struck for the home side in the 35th minute, knocking in a shot from close range on an empty net, and Kljestan added a goal in the 88th minute to seal the victory.
Toronto FC did not look the part of an overmatched expansion side for long stretches during the first half of the match and forced Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan into making several superb saves to keep the Canadian club off the scoreboard.
However, Chivas USA controlled the run of play in the last 45 minutes and their advantage was rarely threatened during the second stanza as inexperience and tired legs overcame the visitors.
Toronto FC was put on the defensive throughout the first quarter-hour as Chivas USA created three quality scoring opportunities early in the match.
First, it was Jonathan Bornstein who fired a waist-high shot from near the Toronto FC goal line in the sixth minute. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton, however, had no trouble making the stop.
Then two minutes later Chivas USA playmaker Amado Guevara dribbled the ball in a quick circle to shake off a defender inside the Toronto FC penalty area before chipping the ball over Sutton's head but just wide left of the goal.
Razov then tested Sutton with a 20-yard shot that the Canadian 'keeper did well to bat away while diving to his left.
Toronto FC appeared to shake off their early jitters in the 13th minute when forward Edson Buddle nearly knocked in the club's first-ever goal. Buddle won a ball deep inside the Chivas USA penalty area off a Carl Robinson free kick, which he headed downward at the goal forcing Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan to make an impressive save with his left arm.
Paulo Nagamura and Buddle then each had open shots blocked by Guzan in a quick sequence in the 16th minute.
Toronto FC continued mounting pressure on the Chivas USA defense and nearly capitalized on a forced error on the half-hour mark. Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn muffed a rolling ball deep in the Chivas USA defensive third of the field, which Alecko Eskandarian quickly pounced on. Eskandarian took a quick step then unleashed a hard shot from 12 yards out that Guzan did well to bat over the crossbar.
When it appeared that Toronto FC had gained momentum in the game, Chivas USA broke through with the first goal of the match in the 35th minute.
Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo raced toward goal, forcing Sutton to make a play on the speedy forward. As Sutton approached, Galindo passed left to Razov who calmly slipped the ball into the empty net with his left foot.
Toronto FC picked up their first yellow card in the 61st minute as defender Maycoll Canizalez tackled Chivas USA midfielder Francisco Mendoza just outside the left side of the penalty area. Guevara took the ensuing free kick, bending a shot over the wall that Sutton caught just below the crossbar.
Conor Casey entered the match in the 65th minute as he replaced Andy Welsh. The former Bundesliga player, however, proved a non-factor and was held to only a handful of touches.
Toronto FC showed signs of fatigue midway through the second half as defender Marco Reda and Eskandarian each appeared to suffer from leg cramps.
Three minutes from full time Chivas struck again. This time it was Kljestan, who fired a 20-yard shot just past the outstretched hands of Sutton and into the left side of the goal to seal Toronto FC's fate.
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Toronto FC (0-1-0) vs. Chivas USA (1-0-0)
April 07, 2007 -- The Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
CHV -- Ante Razov 1 (Maykel Galindo 1, Sacha Kljestan 1) 35
CHV -- Sacha Kljestan 1 (John Cunliffe 1) 88
Toronto FC -- Greg Sutton, Miguel Canizalez, Andrew Boyens, Jim Brennan, Marco Reda (Adam Braz 76), Paulo Nagamura, Carl Robinson, Andy Welsh (Conor Casey 65), Richard Mulrooney, Alecko Eskandarian, Edson Buddle.
Substitutes Not Used: Rich Asante, Tomer Chencinski, Abbe Ibrahim, Andrea Lombardo, Stephen Lumley
Chivas USA -- Brad Guzan, Alex Zotinca, Claudio Suarez, Lawson Vaughn, Jonathan Bornstein, Sacha Kljestan, Amado Guevara, Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza, Maykel Galindo (Matt Taylor 85), Ante Razov (John Cunliffe 85).
Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Jason Hernandez, Carlos Llamosa, Rodrigo Lopez, Erasmo Solorzano
Chivas USA Toronto FC total shots: 17 (Ante Razov 6) 5 (Edson Buddle 3) shots on goal: 12 (Ante Razov 4) 4 (Edson Buddle 2) fouls: 14 (Sacha Kljestan 3, Claudio Suarez 3) 13 (Alecko Eskandarian 3) offsides: 7 (Maykel Galindo 3) 2 (Edson Buddle 2) corner kicks: 7 (Amado Guevara 6) 3 (Carl Robinson 3) saves: 4 (Brad Guzan 4) 10 (Greg Sutton 10) Misconduct Summary: TOR -- Miguel Canizalez (caution; Pushing, Holding) 61 TOR -- Paulo Nagamura (caution; Reckless Foul) 77 CHV -- Alex Zotinca (caution; Reckless Foul) 84 referee: Terry Vaughn Referee's Assistants: Chris Strickland; Paul Scott 4th official: Ramon Hernandez time of game: 1:50 attendance: 14,351 weather: Cloudy -and- 60 degrees All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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