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Result and details from the CONCACAF qualifying game of Tuesday July 1st, 2008 between Toronto FC of the MLS and Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:00pm..
Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)
....................1 Greg Sutton
16 Marvell Wynne...4 Marco Velez...14 Tyrone Marshall...11 Jim Brennan (cpt)
32 Laurent Robert...33 Carl Robinson...20 Amado Guevara...6 Maurice Edu...10 Rohan Ricketts
....................9 Danny Dichio
Subs:...18 Brian Edwards (gk)...3 Julius James (def)...5 Kevin Harmse (mid)...7 Abdus Ibrahim (fwd)...23 Jarrod Smith (fwd)...29 Nana Attakora-Gyan (def)
...96 Jeff Cunningham (fwd)
team officials:...head coach John Carver...assistant coach Chris Cummins
Vancouver Whitecaps (all white, blue names and numbers)
.....................1 Jay Nolly
24 Lyle Martin...2 Jeff Clarke (cpt)...15 Omar Jarun...22 Takashi Hirano
25 Justin Moose...7 Martin Nash...8 Steve Kindel...9 Alfredo Valente
................11 Nicholas Addlery...16 Eduardo Sebrango
Subs:...77 Srdjan Djekanovic (gk)...6 Luca Bellisoma (def)...23 Vicente Arze (mid)...26 Jason Jordan (fwd)...27 Stefan Leslie (mid)...28 Diaz Kambere (def)
...32 Charles Gbeke (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Teitur Thordarson...assistant coach Todd Wawrousek...goalkeeping coach Mike Salmon
Game officials:...referee Steve DePiero...referee's assistants Amato DeLuca and Joe Fletcher...fourth official Sylvie Petrescu...(neon green shirts, black shorts and socks)
1st Half:...game starts 4:11pm...TFC defend south end on this hot day with a bright sun in the West.
30 sec...TFC Robert freekick from 40 yards iis just over bar.
5 min...TFC Robert 35 yard freekick is caught by goalie on right post.
8 min...VWC Addlery chips 25 yard shot up middle is wide left after receiving long cross from left side line near center line.
9 min...TFC YELLOW card...Brennan earns this for a pushing match between both teams that breaks out after whistle at center line.
...........VWC YELLOW card...Clarke earns this for a pushing match between both teams that breaks out after whistle at center line.
10 min...VWC Valente skies midair 25 yard kick high and wide left.
12 min...VWC Moose cornerkick from left is headed away by defender.
14 min...VWC Valente cross has TFC Wynne block along left end line for cornerkick.
15 min...VWC Moose cornerkick from left has defender head ball away.
16 min...TFC Velez 55 yard ball from right has goalie charge out to catch in front of TFC Dichio on left.
17 min...TFC Brennan given roller for him to blast 35 yarder wide right of net from left.
20 min...TFC Wynne races back to stop VWC Moose on rush up left side. (Wow. Moose had a 20 yard head start at the start of his run).
21 min...VWC Valente cross from left is high through box and VWC players cross from right is blocked.
22 min...TFC YELLOW card...Guevara for holding call.
23 min...VWC Hirano 35 yard cross from left has leaping VWC Addlery head ball wide left from 8 yards.
24 min...TFC Robert cornerkick from right has TFC Dichio head ball wide left from 5 yards on left.
26 min...TFC players poke ball around on edge of VWC box but don't get away shot.
28 min...VWC Kindel blast from 15 yards after freekick from right has TFC Dichio head down and TFC player checks rebound attempt.
31 min...VWC Addlery 30 yard balst up middle is just wide left.
33 min...VWC Nash 33 yard freekick from left is wide right on chip as no VWC players charge into box to try for header.
34 min...VWC Moose cornerkick from left has Penalty kick called when VWC Clarke is pushed over on right side of box by TFC Brennan.
35 min...VWC Martin Nash GOAL...Nash rolls Penalty kick down middle and under sprawling goalie Greg Sutton who's diving left.
38 min...VWC Moose bends in 30 yard freekick from left that goalie catches.
39 min...VWC Hirano 30 yard blast from left is just wide of flying goalie.
40 min...TFC goalie deflects ball up and ball lands off defender wide left.
41 min...VWC Moose cornerkick from left is headed away by defender.
41 min...TFC Wynne long run on right and shot has goalie push ball wide right.
42 min...VWC goalie catches TFC Robert cornerkick from right is crowd of players in box.
42 min...TFC Gueraro cornerkick from left has TFC Dichio head ball down on right and has TFC Ricketts not able to get away shot on edge of box.
44 min...VWC Valente run on left wing has cross poked by VWC Sebrango down from 6 yards saved by sprawling goalie.
45 min...VWC YELLOW card...Moose on for pulling TFC Robert down on break out rush at center line.
47 min...TFC Robinson 30 yard rebound blast down middle over net.
47 min...half ends 4:58pm.
The halftime entertainment was a 4 on 4 relay race with young boys from the Oakville Storm.
2nd Half:...starts 5:15pm.
halftime subs:....TFC Smith replaces Robert.
.............TFC James replaces Ricketts.
.............TFC Cunningham replaces Dichio.
45:15 min...TFC Cunningham on rush wins cornerkick as his shot is deflected wide.
45 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left has goalie clear ball while crashing into defender.
46 min...TFC Cunningham gets shot that pops up and TFC Edu 15 yard shot has flying goalie at 7 yards deflects ball wide left.
46 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left is crossed out for TFC Brennan who blasts ball from 25 yards that's blocked on edge of box.
49 min...VWC Sebrango leaps but can't quite turn header from 7 yards on cross from left.
49 min...VWC Addlery 25 yard blast from right is just over bar.
52 min...VWC Moose 40 yard freekick from left has defender head ball away.
53 min...TFC Brennan can't win Penalty kick on rush up middle into VWC box.
54 min...TFC Guevara 45 yard freekick from left is caught by goalie.
54 min...TFC goalie charges to edge of box to grab through ball.
55 min...TFC Guevara 35 yard freekick from right sideline has TFC Cunningham bounce 15 yard header wide left from left.
56 min...TFC Cunningham cross from 25 yards on left has VWC Hirano head behind end line.
56 min...TFC Edu ends TFC pressure with 8 yard cross caught by goalie after TFC cornerkick from right starts play.
57 min...VWC Sebrango 20 yard shot rolled that sliding goalie blockes at 15 yards.
58 min...VWC Nash blast from 22 yards low and caught by goalie.
59 min...TFC Cunningham wins cornerkick with save deflected behind line.
60 min...VWC goalie leaps to catch cross in to two TFC players as no offside call. VWC Hirano is injured in VWC box.
62 min...TFC Cunningham pushes pass ahead from 30 yards but no one rushes into box to make play.
64 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick has defender head away.
64 min...TFC Brennan can't draw freekick on long run down left wing and he's bumped by VWC Clarke before he runs into box.
65 min...TFC Edu saves ball from rolling over VWC end line and cross along end line has TFC Smith not able to turn header.
65 min...VWC sub...Kambere replaces Hirano.
66 min...TFC Marshall 35 yard blast from left is well over net.
67 min...TFC Velez stops through ball pass at 20 yards.
68 min...TFC Cunningham taps over to TFC Guevara returning pass and blast is well over net from 20 yards.
69 min...TFC Brennan cross from left has TFC Cunningham on right pop 12 yard header to goalie.
70 min...TFC Brennan cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Cunningham and TFC Smith crash together and head ball over net on leaping header at 6 yards.
72 min...VWC Sebrango taps over to VWC Moose who blasts 20 yard shot is well over net.
73 min...VWC sub...Arze replaces Valente.
74 min...TFC player's long freekick has TFC Smith pop 5 yarder to goalie wide left of net.
74 min...VWC sub...Gbeke replaces Sebrango.
77 min...VWC Nash 35 yard freekick from right is just wide right.
78 min...TFC Smith beats defender on left end line and 10 yard shot into left webbing of net.
78 min...TFC Brennan crosses over VWC box on left.
79 min...TFC Cunningham touches pass back to TFC Edu for a 25 yard blast through players that has flying goalie push ball wide right.
79 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from right has defender knock away from box.
80 min...TFC Cunningham ruled offside on 15 yard roller from right into left corner of net.
80 min...TFC YELLOW card...Cunningham for pulling off shirt and jumping into crowd to celebrate what he thought was a goal.
81 min...TFC Guevara 30 yard freekick from left bounces into box and James turns and blasts 15 yard shot that deflects off defender. TFC Guevara gets rebound and bends in 20 yarder that leaping VWC goalie bats ball wide right of goal.
82 min...TFC Brennan blasts 22 yarder from left is well over net as TFC cornerkick out to TFC Robinson who passes past defender to TFC Brennan.
83 min...VWC Gbeke ends VWC pressure with 8 yard header over goalie and off right post and goalie catches deflection.
84 min...TFC Cunningham and TFC Guevara at 5 yards pushes ball forward off defender and over end line for cornerkick.
85 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left has TFC Smith blast off bar and stay out although bounces down and rebound is wide left from 5 yards from TFC Brennan.
85 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left has TFC Robinson blast 30 yarder over crowd of players and well over net.
86 min...VWC YELLOW card...Nash for not giving 10 yards on freekick at center line.
87 min...VWC Nash has 8 yard shot deflected by goalie as ball threaded to him.
88 min...VWC goalie beats TFC Cunningham to through ball.
89 min...TFC Brennan cross from left and goalie swats ball down at 6 yards and cleared.
92 min...VWC Gbeke 40 yard blast over crowd is well over net.
93 min...TFC Smith 15 yard shot is deflected wide left by flying goalie.
94 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left is headed by TFC goalie (who'd run up field to get involved in play) wide right from 6 yards.
95 min...game ends 6:05pm.
Final Score:..........Toronto FC..........0...............Vancouver Whitecaps..............1..........
Attendance was announced as 18938 on this hot sunny day. This was not part of the season ticket package. The whole concept of the CONCACAF qualification process was announced this Spring. Today was Canada Day and a national holiday in Canada however I've heard of people who got Monday off to make a long weekend and had to work today-Tuesday. In my row, I didn't recognize one person who I've ever seen before. Lots of empty seats were in the upper deck midfield seats. Selling tickets to the public resulted in people filling the cheapest seats.
Men of the Match were Martin Nash of the Whitecaps and Carl Robinson of TFC.
The PA announcer used both names of the Toronto players instead of expecting fans to fill in their last name. They had no graphics this game so maybe they're owned by the MLS.
TFC Jim Brennan was allowed to play on the wing in the second half and he swung in some good crosses. Head coach John Carver made his three subs at the beginning of the second half. Jarrod Smith, Julius James, and Jeff Cunningham replaced respectfully, Laurent Robert, Rohan Ricketts, and Danny Dichio. The team as a whole played much better than in the first half.
Jay Nolly earned the shutout for the Whitecaps. He had some huge saves to make to ensure the Whitecaps won. Greg Sutton played in net for TFC and had to make some good saves to keep the Whitecaps from scoring more goals.
Charles Gbeke came into the game for Whitecaps at 74 minutes to play forward. I saw him on Saturday play for the Montreal Impact farm team, Trois-Rivieres Attak who were in Toronto this week to beat the TFC Academy twice in CSL league play including scoring in each game. He was traded to the Whitecaps over the weekend and I expect he stayed in town while the trade was going on. TFC would be considered 1st division in North America with MLS, Whitecaps in the USL would be considered 2nd division, and the CSL would be third tier.
Toronto FC fail to score in this game. They couldn't score in their last league home game--a 0-0 tie against Eastern celler dwellers Kansas City Wizards. Their last road game they lost 2-1 against league leaders New England Revolution. Today's game was about as frustrating for fans as periods of TFC's inaugural 2007 season.
Since their first game in this tournament when Toronto won 1-0 against Montreal Impact, the Impact won both their games against Vancouver 2-0 and took the lead in qualifying. Vancouver had to win today to have any chance of winning the competition. The two teams meet for a rematch on July 9th in Vancouver which is another must-win for Vancouver.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
Vancouver Whitecaps (1-0-0) vs. Toronto FC (0-1-0) July 01, 2008 -- BMO Field Scoring Summary: VAN -- Martin Nash 1 (penalty kick) 36 Vancouver Whitecaps -- Jay Nolly, Omar Jarun, Jeff Clarke, Steve Kindel, Takashi Hirano (Diaz Kambere 66), Lyle Martin, Justin Moose, Alfredo Valente (Vincente Arze 74), Martin Nash, Nicholas Addlery, Eduardo Sebrango (Charles Gbeke 75). Substitutes Not Used: Luca Bellisomo, Srdjan Djekanovic, Jason Jordan, Stefan Leslie Toronto FC -- Greg Sutton, Marvell Wynne, Tyrone Marshall, Marco Velez, Jim Brennan, Rohan Ricketts (Julius James 46), Maurice Edu, Carl Robinson, Laurent Robert (Jarrod Smith 46), Amado Guevara, Danny Dichio (Jeff Cunningham 46). Substitutes Not Used: Nana Attakora-Gyan, Brian Edwards, Kevin Harmse, Abdus Ibrahim Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps total shots: 20 (Maurice Edu 4) 16 (Eduardo Sebrango 4) shots on goal: 9 (Maurice Edu 3) 4 (Martin Nash 2, Eduardo Sebrango 2) fouls: 10 (3 tied with 2) 14 (Justin Moose 5) offsides: 3 (Jeff Cunningham 2) 6 (Nicholas Addlery 3, Eduardo Sebrango 3) corner kicks: 13 (Amado Guevara 11) 6 (Justin Moose 4) saves: 3 (Greg Sutton 3) 9 (Jay Nolly 9) Misconduct Summary: TOR -- Jim Brennan (caution; Dissent) 11 VAN -- Martin Nash (caution; Dissent) 11 TOR -- Amado Guevara (caution; Pushing, Holding) 23 VAN -- Justin Moose (caution; Reckless Foul) 46+ TOR -- Jeff Cunningham (caution; Delaying a Restart) 81 VAN -- Nicholas Addlery (caution; Delaying a Restart) 88 referee: Steven DePiero Referee's Assistants: Amato DeLuca; Joe Fletcher 4th official: Silviu Petrescu time of game: 1:55 attendance: 18,938 weather: Clear -and- degrees
Game officials wave to me before the game. From left, referee Steve DePiero, referee's assistants Joe Fletcher and Amato DeLuca.
Toronto FC starters
Whitecaps starters
Very early pushing match between the teams resulted in Yellow cards for both captains, TFC Jim Brennan and Whitecaps Jeff Clarke.
TFC player clears cornerkick.
Can't hide the empty seats for today's game in Sections 222, 223, and (further to right) 224.
Whitecaps Jeff Clarke gets ready to take the first half Penalty kick.
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