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Result of the Sunday April 26th, 2009 MLS game between Toronto FC and Kansas City Wizards played at BMO Field in Toronto at 5:00pm.
Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)
................24 Stefan Frei
16 Marvell Wynne...15 Adrian Serioux...4 Marco Velez...11 Jim Brennan (cpt)
2 Sam Cronin...20 Amado Guevara...33 Carl Robinson
..............19 Chad Barrett...9 Danny Dichio...8 Pablo Vitti
Subs:...1 Greg Sutton (gk)...3 Nana Attakora-Gyan (def)...5 Kevin Harmse (def)...7 Fuad Ibrahim (fwd)...10 Rohan Ricketts (mid)...13 Johann Smith (mid)
32 Emmanuel Gomez (def)
team officials:...coaches Chris Cummins and Nick Dasovic
Kansas City Wizards (all blue, white names and numbers)
.......................1 Kevin Hartman
6 Lance Watson...12 Jimmy Conrad...15 Aaron Hohlbein...5 Matt Besler
2 Michael Harrington...22 Davy Arnaud (cpt)...10 Santiato Hirsig...17 Roger Espinoza
.................16 Josh Wolff...7 Claudio Lopez
Subs:...27 Boris Pardo (gk)...4 Abe Thompson (fwd)...11 Kurt Morsink (mid)...13 Rauwshan McKenzie (def)...21 Herculez Gomez (mid)...26 Kevin Souter (mid)...30 Michael Kraus (fwd)
head coach Curt Onalfo
Game officials:...referee Paul Ward...referee's assistants Thomas Supple and Craig Lowry...fourth official Silviu Petrescu...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)
Comedian Rick Mercer and the Canadian Health Minister were on the field for the coin toss. There was also a salute to two of the Red Patch Boys in attendance who had just returned from serving with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
1st Half:...game starts 5:07pm...TFC defend south end on this cool early evening with a bright sun in the west. There's a breeze from the north.
2 min...W Besler gets back to poke ball away from TFC Vitti just outside right side of box.
3 min...TFC Velez wins ball off W Wolff on edge of TFC box.
5 min...TFC Wynne run down right to get to cross from 25 yards and his cross on right edge of box is blocked. His recross is cleared in the box by defender's header.
6 min...W goalie charges to 15 yards and slides to clear ball ahead of TFC Vitti who receives threaded pass up middle from TFC Robinxon.
6 min...W Lopez on right passes to center a few steps ahead of W Wolff so TFC goalie stops it on far left side of box.
7 min...W goalie charges to right to catch ball but has to drop it as his momentum takes him over box but he's able to clear.
8 min...TFC Wynne on right passes back to edge of box and TFC Barrett crosses through face of goal but no one can knock it in.
11 min...TFC Cronin charges back to poke ball from W Espinoza on edge of TFC box to prevent him getting clear shot up the middle.
11 min...TFC Arnaud boots 22 yard shot up middle that deflects off TFC Robinson on edge of box and flies wide right of net.
12 min...W Lopez cornerkick from right is caught by goalie in crowd of players.
13 min...TFC Guevara out muscled in box and can't get control of ball nor get away shot after receiving short pass from TFC Brennan.
14 min...TFC Barrett back for sliding tackle on W Watson. He then tackles him a second time resulting in freekick on right.
15 min...TFC Robinson kneels to head away 25 yard freekick from right by W Lopez.
15 min...W Espinosa cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Brennan pop up header out left side of box.
17 min...W Espinosa pass forward to W Lopez who crosses on left endline that TFC Velez heads ball behind end line.
18 min...W Lopez cornerkick from left is partially cleared but Lopez gets ball passed back to him on edge of box and TFC Guevara sliding tackle draw freekick on left edge of box.
18 min...W Hirsig 18 yard freekick from left has TFC Robinson at 8 yards get leg to it to knock ball behind net wide left.
19 min...W Lopez cornerkick from left is headed out of box by TFC Robinson.
20 min...W Lopez receives throw-in behind defenders on right and TFC Robinson charges back to clear ball behind end line.
20 min...W Lopez cornerkick from right has W Conrad miss midair shot at 15 yards. TFC defenders finally clear.
23 min...W Hirsig gets weak 25 yard shot up middle that sliding defender blocks in box after W players had a rush and crossed back and forth over the TFC box.
24 min...TFC Vitti overruns pass that would have put him alone at 25 yards.
25 min...TFC goalie slides to edge of box to trap loose ball ahead of charging W Lopez.
26 min...W Arnaud leaves field for treatment for injury he picked up a minute or so earlier as play continues but he returns one minute later.
27 min...TFC Guevara 30 yard cross into box has defender chest ball back to goalie.
28 min...TFC Serioux long throw-in from left has defender head ball away and TFC Cronin blast 25 yard shot well high and left of net.
30 min...W Conrad injured when TFC Dichio elbows him leaping for high ball just inside W box.
33 min...TFC Dichio chests ball to set up TFC Guevara to blast 20 yard shot that W goalie flies over to deflect ball wide right of net.
33 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from right has goalie catch in box.
35 min...TFC Barrett gets pass after TFC Wynne long run on right and curves cross from 20 yards that's wide left for goalkick.
36 min...W Watson injured at W 45 yards on left when he crashes with TFC Robinson when both leapt for header.
38 min...W Lopez cornerkick from left has TFC Robinson head ball behind net.
39 min...W Lopez cornerkick from left is eventually cleared from box without W players able to get away shot.
41 min...TFC Wynne shanks cross attempt from end line 10 yards and ball is cleared after TFC Barrett had sent over to him a high cross from the left side of box
43 min...W Harrington chips ball into box from 30 yards and finds W Arnaud and his 8 yard low shot from left has TFC goalie make huge save on the post and defender clears from 3 yards.
44 min...TFC Wynne cross from 20 yards near end line on right and drifts behind net.
46 min...TFC Barrett after run on right crosses behind end line.
46 min...half ends 5:53pm.
Halftime entertainment: There are no onfield fan games today but the TFC Academy players on the Junior and Senior teams did do a full walkaround of the field to draw applause from the fans.
2nd Half:...starts 6:09pm...there's no change in the weather.
45 min...W Espinoza low cross into box from left has W Wolff shoot low 16 yard shot up middle that's saved by diving goalie on left post.
46 min...TFC Barrett injured on edge of W box.
47 min...W Harrington cross on edge of box from right has ball deflect off leg of TFC defender and another defender clears.
48 min...W Harrington cross from right is stopped in box when goalie charges to left to beat W Espinoza to bouncing ball.
49 min...TFC Barrett gets behind W defender Conrad excepting ball to roll over end line and gets 6 yard shot along end line that goalie blocks on left post.
50 min...TFC Vitti pushes ball too far forward into W box and defenders clear ball.
51 min...TFC Brennan cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Vitti shoot low into left side of net but he's offside.
52 min...TFC YELLOW card...Vitti draws it for pulling off his shirt to celebrate what he thought was his goal.
53 min...TFC Danny Dichio GOAL...TFC Barrett cross into box from left edge of box has W Aaron Holbein head ball over leaping TFC Dichio over to right and TFC Marvell Wynne on right edge of box rolls short pass back towards center of box and TFC Sam Cronin continues with short cross right to middle of box for Dichio's low 6 yard shot is into the left side of net beyond diving goalie.
54 min...TFC Vitti cuts through middle behind defender and rolls 12 yard shot wide right of post.
57 min...TFC Guevara cornerkick from left gets ball back and crosses through box and TFC Serioux shot partially blocked on edge of box and goalie dives over to keep it play so he can stop it on right end line.
58 min...W Lopez dekes defender but second TFC defender Serioux blocks ball.
58 min...TFC Robinson pops header over W forward in box heads ball back to goalie.
58 min...W goalie charges out to dive on ball and beats TFC Barrett to ball.
62 min...W Wolff rolls cross into TFC box from left side but TFC Robinson clears.
62 min...TFC Barrett on right gives pass to TFC Dichio at 12 yards up middle who falls as it's a step ahead of him.
64 min...W goalie picks ball as TFC Barrett blocked on run by defender.
65 min...TFC Cronin crosses after throw-in and TFC Barrett head 15 yarder that's caught by goalie.
67 min...TFC Brennan blasts partial clearance well high and wide left from 20 yards.
68 min...W Lopez 40 yard freekick is short for W Harrington to cross in 35 yard shot from right and cleared by TFC Brennan making stop in box.
69 min...W Lopez 25 yard freekick up middle is blocked in wall.
70 min...TFC Robinson crosses ball in from just outside right corner of W box and defender heads it away before TFC players can play it.
70 min...TFC Barrett trips over W defender Watson who's slid to poke ball away after TFC pressure.
71 min...W Espinoza 25 yard blast from left is well over net.
72 min..W sub...Gomez replaces Watson.
72 min...W Besler 40 yard cross from left is easily caught by TFC goalie.
73 min...W Hirsig low 25 yard shot from left is wide right of net.
74 min...TFC Guevara passes to right and TFC Barrett who beat offside trap kicks 20 yard shot into outside webbing of net.
75 min...W YELLOW card...Arnaud draws delayed card for body check on TFC Guevara at TFC 45 yard line that referee had allowed to play on with TFC advantage for a full minute.
76 min...W Conrad heads ball back to goalie ahead of TFC Dichio.
77 min...TFC Vitti rolls cross along edge of W box but ball cleared.
77min...W Espinoza turns and shoots 18 yard roller wide right of net.
78 min...W sub...Kraus replaces Lopez.
.............T sub...Harmse replaces Guevara.
78 min...TFC Vitti gets run up middle on give and go with TFC Dichio through defenders but shoots 15 yarder well over net.
80 min...TFC Vitti gets run up middle and retains possession until edge of W box and low 15 yard shot has W goalie make point blank sprawling save. TFC Cronin receives short tap back from Vitti who recovered ball from end line and he crosses to left where sliding TFC Barrett pops up 8 yard shot over net. Barrett cramps up. TFC Barrett waves off stretcher and walks off field behind line line.
82 min...TFC goalie leaps on right side of box to catch high bouncing ball.
83 min...TFC sub...Ricketts replaces injured Barrett.
...........W sub...Thompson replaces Hohlbein.
83 min...W Gomez cornerkick from right has TFC Robinson head ball behind own net on right.
83 min...W Gomez cornerkick from right has TFC Dichio head ball wide to left sideline on leap.
83 min...W Bezler long throw-in from left has player pop up header and ball cleared from box.
85 min...W Lopez 40 yard freekick has TFC Velez clear ball with header in box.
85 min...W Arnaud pops up 35 yard blast and goalie catches when it drops.
86 min...TFC Ricketts rolls ball from left to TFC Dichio who taps ball back and TFC Vitti shoots low shot wide left of net from 22 yards.
86 min...W Gomez low 25 yard shot through crowd of players is stopped by goalie.
87 min...W Gomez eludes sliding tackle and his low 20 yard shot is saved by sprawling goalie who covers for no rebound.
90 min...W Lopez 20 yard blast from left and TFC goalie gets hand to it to tip it just over bar.
90 min...W cornerkick is cleared from crowd in box.
91 min...TFC Velez ensures that W Thompson can't get control of ball into TFC box and bounces for goalkick.
91 min...TFC sub...Attakora-Gyan replaces Vitti.
92 min...TFC Attakora-Gyan run on right rolls pass to two charging players but W defender Harrington kicks behind own net.
92 min...TFC Ricketts cornerkick from right to take short one to stall with TFC Attakora-Gyan to waste time.
93 min...W Lopez chip from 30 yards up middle into TFC box has W player pop up header and goalie come out to block shot. Referee awards TFC goalkick.
94 min...game ends 6:58pm.
Final Score:.......Toronto FC.......1..........Kansas City Wizards..........0...........
Attendance was not announced but the league showed 20056. The crowd eventually built up but there were plenty of empty seats at the start of the game. The afternoon was cool and not as windy for this game.
TFC warmed up on the south west side of the field this game so it was tougher for me to see the starters up close.
The TFC starters were exactly the same as the midweek game with even the substitution list being the same as the last game. The final result was the same as that game too. TFC again used a 4-3-3 system which worked well for the team to get many chances but this game finished more nailbiting as the Wizards had some late game chances and almost earned the tie. TFC should easily have had a much larger lead and much of the pressure would have been off. Keeping the Wizards in the game risked another hand ball call.
TFC were agains missing midfielder Dwayne DeRosario due to a hamstring pull. He may be back next week..
Chris Cummins was on the bench tonight after the surprise resignation of head coach John Carver earlier in the week. Various reasons were given for the change but it appears something for Carver's distaste for the officiating in MLS games and an order from MLSE (the team owners) that Carver had to take his place on the bench rather than watching and giving orders from a private box high in the stands. An announcement will be made later this week naming at least an interim coach. I think Cummins made a good move when he brought in young defender Nana Attakora-Gyan in injury time to replace tired forward Pablo Vitti. TFC may have pressed for another goal but it made sense to protect their slim lead as surrendering late goals has been a problem in two games this year and many from last year.
The Carlsberg Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was forward Pablo Vitti. He had chances to score but his shots were off target or he was offside. He hasn't scored all season. I would have given the award to Danny Dichio who at least scored the one goal of the game on fewer chances than Vitti had.
A gift on the way out was a box of pasta. I went out the wrong gate and didn't realize they were being given out. I'm sure I didn't use my box from last year. Next game they want fans to bring food for a food drive so they may be getting many of those boxes back.
Next up for TFC is another home game. This one is Saturday May 2nd against Columbus Crew. TFC earned a 1-1 tie against them in their second game of the season although being badly outplayed.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
Kansas City Wizards (3-3-1) vs. Toronto FC (3-2-2) April 26, 2009 -- BMO Field Scoring Summary: TOR -- Danny Dichio 1 (Sam Cronin 1, Marvell Wynne 1) 54 Kansas City Wizards -- Kevin Hartman, Lance Watson (Herculez Gomez 73), Jimmy Conrad, Aaron Hohlbein (Abe Thompson 84), Matt Besler, Michael Harrington, Davy Arnaud, Santiago Hirsig, Roger Espinoza (Michael Kraus 78), Josh Wolff, Claudio Lopez. Substitutes Not Used: Rauwshan McKenzie, Kurt Morsink, Boris Pardo, Kevin Souter Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Marvell Wynne, Adrian Serioux, Marco Velez, Jim Brennan, Pablo Vitti (Nana Attakora-Gyan 91+), Amado Guevara (Kevin Harmse 79), Carl Robinson, Sam Cronin, Chad Barrett (Rohan Ricketts 83), Danny Dichio, Substitutes Not Used: Emmanuel Gomez, Fuad Ibrahim, Johann Smith, Greg Sutton Toronto FC Kansas City Wizards total shots: 12 (Chad Barrett 4, Pablo Vitti 4) 11 (Davy Arnaud 3) shots on goal: 5 (Chad Barrett 2) 5 (Herculez Gomez 2) fouls: 13 (Danny Dichio 4) 6 (Josh Wolff 3) offsides: 5 (Danny Dichio 2, Pablo Vitti 2) 1 (Claudio Lopez 1) corner kicks: 3 (Amado Guevara 2) 9 (Claudio Lopez 6) saves: 5 (Stefan Frei 5) 4 (Kevin Hartman 4) Misconduct Summary: TOR -- Pablo Vitti (caution; Shirt Removal) 52 KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Dissent) 76 referee: Paul Ward Referee's Assistants: Thomas Supple; Craig Lowry 4th official: Silviu Petrescu time of game: 1:53 attendance: 20,056 weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 50 degrees All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
TFC starters
Wizards starters
TFC defender starts rush.
TFC Carl Robinson heads away Wizard's corner.
TFC Academy players do a halftime walkabout.
TFC's Pablo Vitti deep in the Wizards goalmouth.
TFC rush crosses center line.
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