Result of the Wednesday July 29, 2009 CONCACAF League Qualifier between Toronto FC and Puerto Rico Islanders of USL-1 played at BMO Field in Toronto at 8:00.
Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)
........................24 Stefan Frei
16 Marvell Wynne...6 Nick Garcia...32 Emmanuel Gomez...11 Jim Brennan (cpt)
14 Dwayne DeRosario...33 Carl Robinson...2 Sam Cronin...8 Pablo Vitti
................19 Chad Barrett...10 Ali Gerba
Subs:...18 Brian Edwards (gk)...4 Marco Velez (def)...9 Danny Dichio (fwd)...15 Adrian Serioux (def)...17 O'Brian White (fwd)...27 Gabe Gala (def)
team officials:...head coach Chris Cummins
Puerto Rico Islanders (orange socks, white shorts and shirts, black names and numbers)
...........................1 Bill Gaudette
26 Cristian Arrieta...12 John Krause...4 Nigel Henry...2 Scott Jones
22 Jonathan Steele...15 Sandy Gbandi...24 Dan Gargan...3 James Marcelin...5 Noah Delgado (cpt)
...................23 Kendall Jagdeosingh
Subs:...25 Michael Behonick (gk)...6 Alexis Rivera (def)...10 Petter Villegas (mid)...11 Nicholas Addlery (fwd)...13 Fabrice Noel (fwd)...16 Kyle Veris (def)...Josh Hansen (fwd)
team officials:...assistant head coach Adrian Whitbread (Colin Clark their head coach was serving a suspension)
Game officials:...referee Hugo Cruz....referee's assistants Alejandro Azofeifa and Marvin Ramirez...fourth official Sylviu Petrescu...(neon green shirts, black shorts and socks)
There is no national anthems played and a rapid intro of the starters of both teams starting with TFC. The fans start singing the Canadian national anthem anyway. I read on message boards later that was all preplanned. The usual ads on the video board were different than the usual ones we see.
1st Half:...game starts 8:06pm...TFC defend south end on this warm, mostly overcast evening.
30 sec...PRI Gbandi 30 yard freekick from left is partially cleared by TFC Robinson. PRI player shoots at 25 yard partial clearance that deflects off defender and PRI Jagdeosingh turns and blasts 15 yard shot wide left of net but offside flag was up.
1 min...PRI Steele 35 yard freekick from left is over to PRI Arrieta standing outside box on right crosses into box and TFC Gomez pops up header from 3 yards near right post has goalie catch, drop, and pick up ball.
2 min...TFC Gerba blasts 25 yard shot from left that deflects off PRI Krause and bounces towards just wide left of net but goalie bats down so it won't be a cornerkick.
4 min...PRI Steele 45 yard freekick from right has PRI Gargan head ball from left over net from 10 yards.
5 min...TFC DeRosario 40 yard freekick from right is knocked around and ends with TFC Cronin shooting partial clearance tap back by TFC Gerba wide left of net from 22 yards.
7 min...TFC DeRosario 40 yard freekick from left has defender head ball on pop up on edge of box and another defender kicks away.
12 min...TFC DeRosario cross from 35 yards on left too far forward for TFC Gerba and goalie catches on bounce.
17 min...TFC Gomez 60 yard cross bounces through players to goalie.
18 min...PRI player's 45 yard freekick from left has ball headed by PRI Steele down near edge of box but defender clears ball away.
19 min...PRI Steele on long rush up middle taps ball over on edge of TFC box and PRI Jagdeosingh shoots wide left from 8 yards.
20 min...PRI Marcelin as he's being checked from behind sends 40 yard chip up middle that's caught wide of net by goalie.
22 min...PRI Gargan 40 yard cross from left bounces through box far wide right for goalkick.
24 min...A cross from 40 yards by TFC Barrett on left has TFC DeRosario on far right head cross from 15 yards on right.
26 min...TFC DeRosario cross from 30 yards on extreme right has defender head ball out of box.
27 min...TFC Brennan 50 yard shot from left is caught by goalie.
28 min...TFC DeRosario 50 yard freekick from right is caught by goalie.
30 min...TFC DeRosario and TFC Gerba earn cornerkick on give and go up middle when defender clears behind own end line.
31 min...TFC Cronin short cornerkick on left to TFC Brennan who crosses from near left sideline and defender clears it out of box.
31 min...TFC Wynne pass forward on right to TFC DeRosario wins cornerkick on deflection of low cross.
32 min...TFC Cronin and TFC Brennan cornerkick rolled back for TFC Robinson who sends in roller from 25 yards on right and wins another cornerkick on deflection.
32 min...TFC Brennan another short cornerkick when TFC Cronin passes back to Brennan who's called offside.
34 min...TFC DeRosario cross just ahead of TFC Gerba but wins throw-in on left when TFC Barrett cross from left deflects off defender.
35 min...PRI player crosses low from left of TFC box after long breakout run by PRI players. PRI Jagdeosingh knocks it back out of box to left and defenders clear.
36 min...TFC Wynne cross from 25 yards had goalie catch on leap in crowd of players after PRI defender popped up header at 10 yards.
39 min...PRI Delgado 7 yard blast from left when TFC players Wynne and Gomez slip and he charges along left side. TFC Robinson stops near left post on his sharp angle shot.
40 min...TFC Wynne cross from right has TFC players not able to get away shot. TFC Barrett cross from 30 yards on left is caught by goalie then TFC Gerba slams into him.
44 min...TFC Barrett quick throw-in from left has TFC DeRosario run into box but runs ball over end line as TFC Gerba knocked over in box not near ball.
48 min...TFC Barrett cross from 25 yards on left has PRI Henry clear on header from 7 yards.
48 min...half ends 8:54pm.
Halftime entertainment...There is no halftime entertainment for this game.
2nd Half:...starts 9:10pm.
45 min...TFC Cronin long cross from 30 yards on right sideline which defender heads behind end line but play flagged down for PRI freekick because TFC Barrett pushes him.
46 min...TFC Gerba bursts through middle and 22 yard blast from left well high and right of net.
46 min...PRI Delgado 25 yard blast over net after cutting in from left.
49 min...PRI Henry hurt when he leaps for header at PRI 40 yard line and TFC Gerba cuts under him to flip him over.
50 min...TFC Brennan 35 yard shot from left is well wide left.
51 min...TFC Barrett blast through crowd of players and deflects off PRI Gargan's chest wide left of net.
52 min...TFC Cronin cornerkick from left is headed away by defender. TFC DeRosario eventually gets ball on right but rolls cross back into center of box and defender clears.
53 min...PRI Gbandi 40 yard freekick from left has goalie catch ball in crowd of players.
53 min...TFC Cronin heads ball from 20 yards on right across box to TFC Gerba on left and his 3 yard shot has goalie slap wide left.
54 min...TFC Cronin cornerkick from left has defender head away. Eventually TFC Cronin crosses ball in from left has TFC Vitti pop 12 yard header high and wide left of net. TFC Gomez is injured on edge of PRI box.
56 min...TFC Cronin cornerkick from left has defender head ball away. TFC Barrett pushes ball forward to TFC Cronin but he's checked off ball in box.
60 min...TFC Cronin touched pass and 16 yard shot from right is curled just wide left of net.
62 min...TFC Wynne cross from 35 yards on right is wide left of net.
63 min...TFC Barrett wins cornerkick when ball is poked away from him on left line.
63 min...TFC Cronin short cornerkick from left to TFC Robinson who blasts 22 yarder well wide and high right.
64 min...TFC Gerba bursts upfield for bouncer up right and defender PRI Henry concedes cornerkick.
65 min...TFC Cronin short cornerkick from right has TFC Brennan cross into box and TFC Vitti twists header wide right from 12 yards but wins cornerkick.
65 min...TFC DeRosario receives short cornerkick from TFC Brennan from right and blasts shot wide and high left from 20 yards.
66 min...PRI Kendall Jagdeosingh GOAL...PRI Jonathan Steele 55 yard freekick down middle has PRI Arrieta on right end line at 12 yards head ball across box and TFC goalie Stefan Frei charges 5 yards to right and dives to gather up ball but is even with Jagdeosingh and he turns and blasts sharp angled 12 yarder near end line into top left corner of net.
68 min...TFC Barrett cross from left has defender head ball away in front of TFC Gerba.
68 min...TFC DeRosario 35 yard freekick from right is headed away by nearest defender.
70 min...TFC Gerba touches ball back to TFC Cronin who blasts 30 yarder over net.
71 min...PRI Jagdeosingh injured in collision at PRI 40 yards jumping for header.
72 min...TFC Vitti checked off ball in PRI box.
73 min...TFC sub...White replaces Barrett.
............PRI sub...Addlery replaces Jagdeosingh although he'd returned to the field after his injury before this sub.
74 min...TFC Brennan cross deflects off PRI Arrieta for cornerkick.
74 min...TFC Cronin cornerkick from left has defender head away.
75 min...PRI defenders head ball away that TFC DeRosario has crossed into box from 20 yards on right.
75 min...TFC Gerba gets around fallen goalie and kicks ball into left corner behind defender guarding line. The goal is disallowed on an offside call.
76 min...TFC White rolls cross forward and TFC DeRosario kicks goalie when he dives on ball.
78 min...PRI YELLOW card...goalie Guadette earns it for time wasting taking a goalie's kick (he ordered a new pair of gloves).
79 min...TFC DeRosario slips when he turns in PRI box to get to pass sent in by TFC Wynne.
80 min...TFC Brennan cross from 15 yards on left is headed out of bounds for throw-in.
80 min...TFC players can't get away shot on edge of PRI box and ball is cleared.
81 min...PRI players on a 3 on 2 rush push pass offside.
82 min...PRI sub...Veris replaces Steele.
83 min...PRI player's cross from left is over players charging into box.
84 min...TFC DeRosario tapped over freekick by TFC Robinson and blasts 25 yarder up middle that sails over net.
83 min...TFC YELLOW card...Robinson for unsportsmanlike conduct. (I don't know what happened and it wasn't announced at the stadium or on TV).
84 min...TFC sub...Dichio replaces Robinson.
85 min...PRI Gbandi pushed pass and 10 yard roller along TFC end line screened by TFC Garcia is picked up by goalie.
86 min...TFC Wynne 25 yard shot through crowd of players up middle is wide left.
88 min...TFC DeRosario 45 yard freekick from right has TFC Dichio push defender out of way and TFC Brennan 15 yard blast has goalie fly to push ball out of box.
88 min...TFC DeRosario chips 30 yard ball from right that goalie gets to ahead of TFC White.
89 min...TFC Brennan 45 yard cross from left sideline has defender in box head ball out of box.
89 min...TFC Cronin cornerkick from right has TFC Dichio head ball while on ground that goalie pushes wide left.
89 min...TFC DeRosario chips pass from 20 yards on right has TFC Dichio dive with defender draped over him and head 7 yarder wide that goalie dives to push ball wide left of post.
90 min...TFC Dichio leaps for header in box but play whistled down for his pushing defender out of the way.
91 min...PRI sub...Rivera replaces Gbandi.
92 min...PRI Yellow card...Jones for timewasting on throw-in at TFC 35 yards.
93 min...TFC Gerba falls over inside PRI box heading ball away from goal.
93 min...TFC DeRosario gets bouncer on left and on chip try has PRI Jones charge to block and the ball comes off his arm for freekick call.
93 min...TFC DeRosario 25 yard freekick from right has ball go off head in one man wall and another defender on edge of box clear ball.
94 min...TFC Gerba pops up 22 yard kick high and TFC Dichio levels goalie when ball sent into box at 1 yard.
94 min...game ends 9:59pm.
Final Score:..........Toronto FC.........0............Puerto Rico Islanders..........1......
Attendance was announced as 20758. There are temporary stands erected in the north end which usually just has a beer garden. These are only to stay until the friendly game against Real Madrid is over then they will be taken down. The game started with the stands only half full but the seats gradually filled as the game wore on.
The Islanders play in the USL-1 league which includes the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps who TFC had to beat to win the Canadian championship to get this far. I remember watching the Islanders play the Toronto Lynx when they were in this league before TFC was here. This was the first time we were able to see Canadian international Ali Gerba play for TFC. (Gerba when his name was Ali Ngon used to play for the Lynx). Lynx alumni also includes TFC's Dwayne DeRosario and Adrian Serioux and the Islanders defender Nigel Henry.
With the Islanders wearing all white but orange socks, they reminded me of ducks. Islanders rested some players in their league game against Vancouver Whitecaps on the weekend and took the loss 4-2. Other than that they were on quite a shutout run.
This game was 'free' for we season ticket holders. I had to print my ticket as it was not part of my ticket package. I think TFC organizers were afraid the game wouldn't sell well because fans would look down on a USL-1 team. Montreal and Vancouver could be worked in from the patriotic angle but Islanders have no rivalry here.
TFC had the edge in cornerkicks 11-0 in this game. TFC 'worked out' a lot of these chances having two men at the flag to rush out and then cross a moving ball into the box. These chances seemed to be the least effective. As mentioned on message boards later, some of the fans through streamers at the TFC players taking corners which interfered with their concentration.
There was no announcement of a 'Player of the Game' tonight. With the loss it would have been hard to pick out a TFC member. For the Islanders it was obviously Bill Gaudette who made some key saves to help the Islanders hold on for the win. The team was holding on for the win at the end taking two delay of game Yellow cards.
TFC are now in trouble losing 1-0 tonight as they have to play the Islanders in Puerto Rico on Tuesday August 4th after a tough Saturday night MLS league game on the road against New England. Players and staff of TFC have said to the media that they had to win tonight and score goals as momentum to play in the expected hot and humid climate next week. Fans must be dreaming of another game like that against Montreal Impact although it was Vancouver who got nudged out of the Canadian championship as Impact put in a reserve team as they were out of the competition.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
TFC starters
Islanders starters
Islanders start the game.
Islanders Sandy Gbandi takes freekick.
Islanders on first half rush.
Islanders Kendall Jagdeosingh gets to ball.
popped up ball.
TFC Carl Robinson freekick.
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