August 18, 2007 MLS Toronto FC vs Deportiva Chivas USA (from MLSnet.com)
08/18/2007 5:54PM
Chivas wins, extending TFC woes
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff
TORONTO -- Second-half goals from Maykel Galindo and Sacha Kljestan provided all the offense Chivas USA needed, as they extended Toronto FC's scoreless streak to near-record proportions -- and even worse for the club, their winless streak to seven games -- the Red-and-White claiming a 2-0 win Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.
Toronto has now gone 552 minutes without a goal, and are on the verge of breaking the MLS record for scoring futility set by Real Salt Lake (557 minutes) in 2005. For Chivas USA, it was their second road win in their last three games away from home, after just one in their first eight this year, and their third overall this season after recording just four in their first two years.
After an uneventful first 15 minutes, Toronto FC managed the first real scoring opportunity of the game. Deep in the Chivas end, Andy Welsh made a drop pass to fellow midfielder Maurice Edu, who was back in the TFC lineup after a one-game suspension for accumulation of cautions. Edu's crossing pass came close to Todd Dunivant and Andrea Lombardo in the goal mouth area, but the ball was deflected to the left of the net.
Toronto captain Jim Brennan picked up the ball and attempted a curving shot that seemed to confuse Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan, but the shot ended up angling wide of the net.
Playing their first league game in 20 days, the Chivas attack looked as if it was still on vacation in the early minutes before grabbing a pair of chances in rapid succession. In the 20th minute, a midfield scrum led to the ball bouncing ahead in front of Galindo. Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos raced to the front of the goal area to dive on the ball before Galindo could get a foot on it.
Just a few seconds later, Kljestan collected the first shot of the game for Chivas. He carried the ball into the penalty area and fired a point-blank shot that Stamatopoulos had to be alert to stop.
It was Toronto FC, desperate for a goal, who controlled the action in the final minutes of the first half and might have been just a hat size away from breaking their scoring drought. A Brennan centering pass found the skull of striker Collin Samuel in front of the Chivas net, but the header went right of the net.
A minute later, Welsh drew two defenders and then arched a cross to Lombardo. The young forward ran forward to meet the ball, but his header went over the crossbar.
The missed headers underscored Toronto's need for a finisher in front of the net, and the call was answered when Danny Dichio came on for Lombardo at the half. It was Dichio's first action in nearly three games, as TFC's leading scorer has been hampered by a hip flexor and a sore back.
Even with Dichio in the lineup, however, it was Chivas who struck first. The play began when Brennan sent a long pass that found Carl Robinson by himself in the Chivas area. Robinson had to hold up in order to stay onside, however, and was quickly covered by two defenders.
Chivas captain Jesse Marsch then took the ball and launched a 40-yard pass downfield that found Galindo streaking down the left side. The Chivas striker outpaced defender Andrew Boyens and placed a perfect left-footed strike past Stamatopoulos into the right of the net for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Now facing a deficit, TFC coach Mo Johnston called on two more injured stars -- defender Marvell Wynne (out since July 22 with a strained hamstring) and forward Jeff Cunningham, who had played just seven minutes since July 4 due to a developing hernia.
These two nearly combined on a goal within five minutes of Cunningham's entry. The striker raced into the Chivas goal area before being swarmed by three defenders. In spite of the interference, Cunningham still managed a pass to a charging Wynne, who unleashed a quick shot that ricocheted off Guzan at point-blank range. Unfortunately, this was Toronto's best and last scoring chance of the game. The Chivas defense bore down to limit TFC's time with the ball, as the Reds threw everything in a last-ditch attempt to score.
It was Kljestan who took advantage of the lack of attention to defense by Toronto to notch the game-clinching goal for Chivas in the 88th minute. A long ball was played out of midfield and Ramon Nunez, who came on for Razov in his Chivas USA debut after being acquired from FC Dallas this week, raced down the left side. He sent in a simple square pass into the goalmouth for Kljestan to tap home past Stamatopoulos.
Toronto FC looks to avenge another early-season loss on Saturday when D.C. United make their second trip of the season to BMO Field, while Chivas heads home for an "away" game on Thursday as the club will be the visitors at The Home Depot Center against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Chivas USA (9-6-3) vs. Toronto FC (5-11-5) August 18, 2007 -- BMO Field Scoring Summary: CHV -- Maykel Galindo 8 (Jesse Marsch 4) 57 CHV -- Sacha Kljestan 3 (Paulo Nagamura 2, Ramon Nunez 3) 89 Chivas USA -- Brad Guzan, Alex Zotinca, Jason Hernandez, Shavar Thomas, Orlando Perez (Francisco Mendoza 46), Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Lawson Vaughn, Jonathan Bornstein, Maykel Galindo (Paulo Nagamura 81), Ante Razov (Ramon Nunez 86). Substitutes Not Used: Desmond Brooks, Preston Burpo, John Cunliffe, Laurent Merlin Toronto FC -- Kenny Stamatopoulos, Jim Brennan, Tyrone Marshall, Andrew Boyens, Adam Braz, Todd Dunivant (Jeff Cunningham 70), Maurice Edu, Carl Robinson, Andy Welsh (Marvell Wynne 63), Collin Samuel, Andrea Lombardo (Danny Dichio 46). Substitutes Not Used: Nana Attakora-Gyan, Joey Melo, David Monsalve, Marco Reda Toronto FC Chivas USA total shots: 11 (Jim Brennan 3) 12 (Ante Razov 6) shots on goal: 3 (3 tied with 1) 6 (Sacha Kljestan 2, Ante Razov 2) fouls: 18 (Tyrone Marshall 3, Danny Dichio 3) 17 (Jesse Marsch 4, Ante Razov 4) offsides: 3 (3 tied with 1) 7 (Ante Razov 4) corner kicks: 3 (Carl Robinson 2) 0 saves: 4 (Kenny Stamatopoulos 4) 3 (Brad Guzan 3) Misconduct Summary: CHV -- Jason Hernandez (caution; Delaying a Restart) 81 CHV -- Brad Guzan (caution; Delaying a Restart) 92+ referee: Brian Hall Referee's Assistants: Adam Wienckowski; Rob Fereday 4th official: Alex Prus time of game: 1:50 attendance: 20,178 weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 70 degrees All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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