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Result of the Saturday March 26th, 2011 MLS game between Toronto FC and Portland Timbers played at BMO Field in Toronto at 2:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, black shoulders and sleeves, white names and numbers)

..............24 Stefan Frei
8 Dan Gargan...20 Ty Harden...12 Adrian Cann...19 Mikael Yourassowsky
......23 Jacob Peterson...11 Nathan Sturgis...14 Dwayne De Rosario (cpt)
......33 Javier Martina...29 Maicon Santos...21 Alan Gordon

Subs:...30 Milos Kocic (gk)...4 Doneil Henry (def)...5 Ashtone Morgan (def)...10 Alen Stevanovic (mid)...13 Keith Makubuya (fwd) ...16 Oscar Cordon (mid)...28 Gianluca Zavarise (mid)
head coach Aron Winter

Portland Timbers (all dark green, white names and numbers)

Subs:...20 Jake Gleeson (gk)...7 Sal Zizzo (fwd)...11 Kalif Alhassan (mid)...12 David Horst (def)...14 James Marcelin (mid) ...26 Brian Umony (fwd)...28 Freddie Braun (mid)
head coach John Spencer

Game officials:...referee Silviu Petrescu...referee's assistants Daniel Belleau and Eric Proctor...fourth official Geoff Gamble...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 2:10pm...TFC defend south end on this very cold day. A bright sun is in the south.
25 sec...PT defender heads ball across edge of box and TFC Santos midair 15 yard blast from right is wide right of net.
3 min...TFC Gordon high chip from right edge of box has PT defender head ball out of box and TFC Sturgis on edge of box heads ball across to TFC Yourassowsky who shoots ball high and wide left from 18 yards.
8 min...TFC De Rosario runs along 20 yard line cutting towards middle but has shot blocked by defender.
8 min...TFC Cann low 30 yard shot up middle is wide left of net.
10 min...PT Cooper is flagged offside charging to try to connect to head ball from 10 yards over his head on left.
11 min...TFC De Rosario pushes ball too far ahead on left and goalie dives out to smother it.
13 min...TFC Javier Martina GOAL...TFC Jacob Peterson at center line pushes short pass to TFC Maicon Santos who runs to 40 yards and threads ball forward to charging TFC Dwayne De Rosario who is ridden off by defender at 10 yards on right but he taps ball back for charging Martina to run in on right and shoot low 10 yard shot to left side of net beyond goalie Adin Brown diving at 5 yards.
15 min...PT Cooper cornerkick from left has leaping goalie palm ball through box as he falls and PT Goldthwaite is cut down just wide right of box by sliding TFC Gordon for freekick call.
16 min...PT Jewsbury 22 yard freekick on extreme right has TFC Sturgis head ball down and kick clearance at 10 yards on right.
18 min...TFC De Rosario 35 yard chip from left over players into box bounces for goalie to grab.
20 min...PT Cooper 30 yard freekick from right is blocked low in wall and PT Lowry rechip ran down wide left of net by goalie.
22 min...PT Jewsbury 30 yard freekick from right has goalie punch ball wide left in crowd of players for throw-in. PT Perlaza is injured in the melee in box.
23 min...PT player's long throw-in from left has TFC Harden block PT Cooper and ball is cleared.
23 min...PT Pore rushes in from right towards center and blasts 22 yard shot well over net.
24 min...PT Purdy rolls cross on rush at 12 yards that has TFC DeRosario block and concede cornerkick.
25 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from right has PT Goldthwaite fall back and heads ball backwards on left at 12 yards. PT Lowry recross and wins cornerkick on right as leaping TFC Gordon heads it wide.
26 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from right has TFC goalie catches popped up ball when PT player charges forward on right to flick up ball with foot.
27 min...PT Hall run wins cornerkick on right when he sends in low cross from end line that TFC Sturgis tips behind net.
28 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from right has TFC Cann partially clear and PT Lowry on edge of box flub shot.
28 min...PT Jewsbury sends in low cross from 22 yards on right but defender clears.
29 min...TFC goalie steps forward to gather up through ball pass on left.
32 min...TFC De Rosario 30 yard freekick from left has PT defender leap and head ball out of box from 10 yards.
32 min...Pushing match ensues before throw-in can be taken.
34 min...TFC Gargan long throw-in from right 25 yard line has TFC Cann flick header across box from 18 yards but defender clears.
34 min...PT Brunner long cross from 35 yards near right sideline has TFC goalie step forward to catch ball on edge of 6 yard box in front of PT player.
35 min...TFC Gargan crosses from 35 yards on right is bounced in box and defender clears.
36 min...PT Jewsbury 28 yard shot up middle is over net after cross from right is knocked down.
37 min...PT Jewsbury 35 yard freekick from right has goalie hold back on punch and let go over end line on left for goalkick.
38 min...PT Wallace cross from left 25 yards after rush has PT Perlaza pop header over net from 8 yards.
40 min...PT Brunner 40 yard shot down middle is just over net.
40 min...TFC Yourassowsky long run on left and low cross near end line is cleared by defender.
41 min...TFC defenders break up two PT rushes on edge of TFC box.
44 min...TFC Martina wins cornerkick after long run up right side and low cross deflects over end line.
46 min...PT Cooper eludes sliding tackle of TFC Cann on run on right takes 28 yard shot from right that snakes over net.
47 min...half ends 2:57pm.

The halftime entertainment was Carlsberg Soccer Pong which was two team of two throwing throw-ins of soccer balls into garbage cans. That was the same as last year. Something different though was local rap star Kardinal Offishall coming out onto the field waving a scarf and singing his song 'The Anthem'. I've seen the (very Toronto-centric) video on MuchMusic and it was played on the scoreboard as he sang. He was well received. He left the field to hug fans in the north end stands while still rapping.

2nd Half:...starts 3:14pm...they were about a minute slow starting the scoreboard clock.
halftime subs:...PT Gleeson replaces Brown (in goal).
................TFC Stevanovic replaces Sturgis.
47 min...PT Wallace blasts shot from 20 yards that deflects off TFC Gargan for cornerkick on left.
47 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from left has TFC Santos head ball on right away from box.
48 min...TFC Gordon receives pass from TFC De Rosario and taps over breakaway pass at 30 yards up middle to TFC Santos and he runs and takes low 21 yard shot up middle that goalie blocks on dive at 7 yards and defender clears.
48 min...PT Wallace run down left sideline to receive pass and cross near end line tips off TFC Gargan for cornerkick.
49 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from left has TFC goalie swat ball through box and out right side.
50 min...PT Hall given pass from PT Cooper in middle at 25 yards and steps up and takes 12 yard shot that's pushed wide right of post by flying goalie.
50 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from right has TFC Stevanovic as closest player clear ball out of box.
51 min...TFC De Rosario on left rolls pass to TFC Yourassowsky who pushes ball too far forward then rolls cross that defender concedes cornerkick.
52 min...TFC De Rosario cornerkick from left has leaping goalie punch out and injure himself, TFC Harden and PT Brunner who is hurt most of all. PT awarded freekick.
53 min...PT Jewsbury receives cross from right in middle and has his 20 yard shot blocked point blank by defender on edge of box.
55 min...TFC YELLOW card...Yourassowsky earns it for pusing over PT Purdy at PT 25 yard line on right.
56 min...PT Jewsbury 30 yard freekick is partially cleared from edge of box but PT Wallace low 28 yard shot deflects off PT Cooper who was offside at 15 yards.
57 min...PT Wallace checked out off ball on left side before getting in cross near end line.
61 min...PT Perlaza cross from 20 yards on right has TFC Harden head out of box from 12 yards.
62 min...PT Hall chips pass from 30 yards just over head of PT Cooper waiting at 18 yards up middle.
64 min...TFC Gordon rush up left wing and rolls 12 yard shot that tips off defender for goalie to grab.
64 min...TFC Santos kicks low 30 yard shot up middle is saved by sprawling goalie and then TFC Santos falls over lame.
65 min...PT sub...Zizzo replaces Pore.
66 min...TFC Cann clears ball for at 15 yards just step ahead of PT Zizzo for throw-in.
67 min...TFC Martina rush on right crosses near edge of box but PT defender chests down and clears.
68 min...TFC sub...Zavarise replaces Santos who's still limping.
68 min...PT Hall taps pass forward on left for TFC Wallace to shoot 10 yard shot into side webbing of net but he's awarded cornerkick.
69 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from left is caught in crowd by goalie.
69 min...TFC Javier Martina GOAL...Martina gets pass on long goalie punt and bounces for one-touch 20 yard shot on right over PT goalie Jake Gleeson and ball tips in off right goalpost.
70 min...PT Wallace cross from 22 yards on left has PT Perlaza header from 10 yards on right caught by goalie.
70 min...TFC YELLOW card...Gordon earns it for sliding tackle on right sideline.
71 min...TFC Gordon on 3 on 2 rush blasts 25 yard shot is well over net rather than passing ball.
72 min...PT sub...Umony replaces Perlaza.
73 min...TFC De Rosario blasts low 12 yard shot that was rolled across box by TFC Marina after run down right. TFC Yourassowky 30 yard rebound is caught by goalie.
73 min...PT Cooper from 15 yards on right rolls shot that's smothered by goalie.
74 min...PT Jewsbury 35 yard freekick from right is tipped to left side of box has PT Hall blasts roller from left just wide left of post from 15 yards.
75 min...PT YELLOW card...Lowry earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Stevanovic at TFC 50 yards.
76 min...TFC De Rosario cornerkick from left is long to TFC Martina who eventually pushes ball over end line before crossing.
78 min...TFC YELLOW card...Gargan earns it for shoving over PT Hall on left sideline.
79 min...PT Lowry 50 yard freekick from left sideline has TFC DeRosario head away ball just inside box.
79 min...TFC Yourassowsky long run on left but checked off ball at 25 yards and is injured.
81 min...PT Jewsbury 35 yard freekick down middle is wide left of top corner of net.
82 min...TFC RED card...Mikael Yourassowsky is given his second Yellow card by referee Silviu Petrescu for time wasting--being too slow coming off the field to be replaced by Ashtone Morgan. That sub can't be made after the ejection.
84 min...PT Wallace crosses from 30 yards near left sideline that has TFC goalie catch.
85 min...PT Zizzo is offside at 8 yards on pass to him on right.
86 min...TFC sub...Morgan replaces Martina.
88 min...PT Jewsbury cornerkick from left is knocked around in box but a PT player's hand ball ends play.
90 min...PT Lowry 50 yard chip bounces into box with goalie letting it roll to waste time.
91 min...TFC goalie catches ball wide right of net that PT Lowry had sent into box on chip from 30 yards.
92 min...PT Hall on left twists header from 12 yards wide left of net.
93 min...game ends 4:02pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......2..........Portland Timbers...........0........

Attendance was announced as 20,086. There were hundreds of seats empty in Section 219 and 227 that I could see which I assume were unsold. There were also empty seats in my own row and section for people who just didn't show up. The weather was extremely cold, comparable with the MLS Final game held here in November. There is a chance that Toronto can have mild weather at the end of March but it can't be relied on. TFC usually starts the season playing their first three or four games on the road in warm climates but often come home with a poor record. Another bad start would hurt ticket sales in their fifth season. The novelty--must have--ticket has worn off after four non play-off seasons. I dressed for the game and my only discomfort was there were a few times where it was tough to write notes while bare handed. Another reason for those absent could have been the announcement that the downtown subway wasn't running because of track repairs. I left earlier than normal because of that warning.

Toronto recovered from their loss against expansion team Vancouver Whitecaps with a win over the other expansion team Portland Timbers. Both those teams played in the USL (Division 2) league last year.

TFC started by playing the 'Dutch style' we had been led to expect with the new coaching regime. I could see by the short passes and more movement off the ball. I said they played it for awhile because I noticed the same long passes as last season. Goalie Stefan Frei picked up the ball in the second half and punted it downfield to catch Javier Martina charging downfield to boot a shot from 30 yards that he banked off the left post. I laughed because I felt that Frei got tired of the slow build ups to starting each play. The upfield punts were played once in awhile last year too. I was waiting to read through game reports by the news media to hear that was a planned play and part of the system. They didn't have as much possession as they did in last week's loss but much of that game dominance was playing with the ball in their own end.

TFC new signing (as of the night before) Alen Stevanovic was a second half substitute playing midfield and looked like he was not suffering from jet lag.

The Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was named as double goal scorer Javier Martina.

The field now has moving/flashing advertising boards that change their messages as the game goes on. They were installed covering about half of each end zone and, what I couldn't see until replaying the game at home, the same on the east side stands. A guy in the row in front of me commented that we used to be able to see the sideline but now the boards are higher.

stats from MLS.com

Scoring Summary:

TOR -- Javier Martina 1 (Dwayne De Rosario 1) 14
TOR -- Javier Martina 2 (Stefan Frei 1) 70
Misconduct Summary:

TOR -- Mikael Yourassowsky (caution; Persistent Infringement) 56
TOR -- Alan Gordon (caution; Reckless Tackle) 71
POR -- Peter Lowry (caution; Reckless Tackle) 77
TOR -- Dan Gargan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 79
TOR -- Mikael Yourassowsky (caution; Delaying a Restart) 84
TOR -- Mikael Yourassowsky (ejection; Second Caution) 84

	   TORONTO FC   PORTLAND   
Shots  		   11   16 
Shots on Goal  	    5    4 
Saves 	 	    4    3 
Fouls 	 	   18    8 
Offsides 	    1    5 
Corner Kicks  	    3    9 

Lineups: 

Portland Timbers -- Adin Brown (Jake Gleeson 46), Steve Purdy, Eric Brunner, Kevin Goldthwaite, Rodney Wallace, Ryan Pore (Sal Zizzo 66), 
Peter Lowry, Jack Jewsbury, Jeremy Hall, Jorge Perlaza (Brian Umony 73), Kenny Cooper.
Substitutes Not Used: Kalif Alhassan, Freddie Braun, David Horst, James Marcelin. 

Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Adrian Cann, Ty Harden, Mikael Yourassowsky, Maicon Santos (Gianluca Zavarise 69), 
Nathan Sturgis (Alen Stevanovic 46), Jacob Peterson, Dwayne De Rosario, Alan Gordon, Javier Martina (Ashtone Morgan 87).
Substitutes Not Used: Oscar Cordon, Doneil Henry, Keith Makubuya, Milos Kocic. 
 
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Referee's Assistants: -Daniel Belleau; Eric Proctor
4th Official: Geoff Gamble
Attendance: 20,086
Time of Game: 1:51

TFC starters

Timbers starters

The game is on with TFC Nathan Sturgis playing the ball after the kickoff.

the ball is popped up.

TFC Dan Gargan throws ball back into play.

TFC Jacob Peterson on a rush.

Timbers take a freekick.

Timbers Ryan Pore is beside the ball on this rush.

Timbers Rodney Wallace crosses the ball over TFC Dan Gargan.

Kardinal Offishall sings "The Anthem" at halftime. At a pre-Junos Awards party on television the next day, Offishall said his song will be played at each home game as the players come out of the tunnel.

New signing (the night before) TFC Alen Stavanovic is checked as TFC Dwayne De Rosario waits for a pass.

TFC players came over to the North end to applaud the fans. Dwayne De Rosario wears the banner of fan Rodrigo Novoa who had passed away.

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