April 22, 2009 MLS Toronto FC vs Chivas USA (from MLSnet.com)
Chivas see unbeaten start come to end
Red-and-White suffer first defeat of 2009 with 1-0 loss in Toronto
04/22/2009 10:02 PM
By Peter Mallett / MLSnet.com Staff
TORONTO -- A five-game season opening undefeated streak came to an abrupt end Wednesday for Chivas USA, who fell 1-0 to Toronto FC on a first-half goal from Amado Guevara at BMO Field.
The Reds, who had yet to win at home this season, dominated possession from the opening whistle and scored the only goal of the match in 36th minute when Honduran international Guevara collected a headed pass from Toronto forward Danny Dichio.
After bringing down the swirling cross, Guevara then beat Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo at the top of the penalty area, dribbled into the box and slammed a hard shot past onrushing goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
With nine regulars missing from the Chivas starting lineup, it appeared the club's roster shortage might finally have taken its toll on the visitors, who had remained Major League Soccer's only undefeated team going into Wednesday's match and were off to their best start in club history.
Chivas best and only serious scoring chance of the opening half came when forward Eduardo Lillingston stripped Toronto defender Jim Brennan of the ball in the 24th minute and ripped a hard shot into the side of the Toronto goal.
Toronto nearly made it a 2-0 lead one minute before halftime when midfielder Pablo Vitti sent a through ball to Chad Barrett who beat defender Carey Talley on the play but saw his hard shot stopped by goalkeeper Zach Thornton and turned wide of the Chivas goal.
The match also saw some physical play from both sides as tempers threatened to boil over with some nasty fouls. TFC defender Carl Robinson escaped sanctioning after a hard two-footed challenge on Chivas midfielder Bojan Stepanovic which saw the Serbian leave the field limping before returning to play moments later.
Dichio wasn't so lucky to escape penalty when he earned a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Chivas midfielder Paulo Nagamura in the 38th minute.
Alecko Eskandarian also earned his way into referee Ricardo Salazar's notebook after a caution in the 56th minute after a hard tackle on Toronto defender Marvell Wynne.
Sacha Kljestan was booked in the 79th minute for a hard foul on Vitti at the midfield stripe.
Lillingston was replaced at halftime by Chukwudi Chijindu. Eskandarian came off at the hour mark for Michael Lahoud, while Gerson Mayen replaced Trujillo in the 66th minute.
Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton was steady on a number of through balls and crosses but came up with the save of the match in the 62nd minute when he stopped Toronto forward Danny Dichio at point blank range on a well-placed header.
Chivas only big chance of the second half came when Nagamura tried to beat Thornton from the left of goal at a next to impossible angle.
Toronto midfielder Dwayne De Rosario was missing from the Reds lineup after injuring his hamstring in a 3-2 loss to Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday.
Chivas coach Preki made just one change to the lineup that defeated Seattle 2-0 last Saturday. Midfielder Paulo Nagamura returned to the lineup after missing a game due to suspension, replacing Atiba Harris.
Still unavailable for duty for Chivas because of injury were defenders Bobby Burling (sports hernia surgery), Ante Jazic (concussion), Claudio Suarez (left calf strain), Lawson Vaughn (ankle surgery); goalkeeper Dan Kennedy (knee sprain); midfielder Sacha Victorine (knee surgery); and forwards Justin Braun (knee sprain) and Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery).
Going into Wednesday's match Chivas had never lost to Toronto FC in four previous meetings, winning every match and outscoring Toronto 9-2.
Chivas play their next game Saturday at The Home Depot Center against FC Dallas.
Peter Mallett is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
Chivas USA (4-1-1) vs. Toronto FC (2-2-2) April 22, 2009 -- BMO Field Scoring Summary: TOR -- Amado Guevara 3 (unassisted) 36 Chivas USA -- Zach Thornton, Mariano Trujillo (Gerson Mayen 66), Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein, Paulo Nagamura, Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Bojan Stepanovic, Eduardo Lillingston (Chukwudi Chijindu 46), Alecko Eskandarian (Michael Lahoud 60). Substitutes Not Used: Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores, Atiba Harris, Lance Parker Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Marvell Wynne, Adrian Serioux, Marco Velez, Jim Brennan, Amado Guevara (Rohan Ricketts 91+), Sam Cronin, Carl Robinson, Pablo Vitti (Fuad Ibrahim 80), Chad Barrett, Danny Dichio. Substitutes Not Used: Nana Attakora-Gyan, Emmanuel Gomez, Kevin Harmse, Johann Smith, Greg Sutton Toronto FC Chivas USA total shots: 6 (Amado Guevara 2) 3 (3 tied with 1) shots on goal: 3 (3 tied with 1) 1 (Sacha Kljestan 1) fouls: 10 (Pablo Vitti 3) 11 (4 tied with 2) offsides: 6 (Chad Barrett 4) 2 (Alecko Eskandarian 1, Sacha Kljestan 1) corner kicks: 7 (Amado Guevara 7) 1 (Carey Talley 1) saves: 1 (Stefan Frei 1) 2 (Zach Thornton 2) Misconduct Summary: TOR -- Danny Dichio (caution; Reckless Tackle) 38 CHV -- Alecko Eskandarian (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57 CHV -- Sacha Kljestan (caution; Reckless Foul) 79 referee: Ricardo Salazar Referee's Assistants: Joe Fletcher; Philippe Briere 4th official: Steven DePiero time of game: 1:52 attendance: 19,915 weather: Cloudy -and- 43 degrees All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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