April 13, 2011 MLS--TFC Begins Home Stand Against LA (from MLSsoccer.com)
TFC Begins Home Stand Against LA
Reds at BMO Field for three straight starting with the Galaxy.
MLSsoccer.com
April 13, 2011
Alan Gordon will face former teammates Los Angeles on Wednesday. Toronto FC return home to kick off a long stretch at BMO Field by playing host to an LA Galaxy team that is in the middle of a long Eastern road swing. Toronto FC are unbeaten in three in a row after last weekend’s 1-1 draw in San Jose. The Galaxy were seconds away from a win at D.C. United before a last-minute penalty kick left them in a 1-1 draw. TFC and LA have played to scoreless draws in each of their last two meetings. TORONTO FC Toronto FC extended their unbeaten streak to three games, playing to a draw for the second consecutive match, this time a 1-1 result with the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday evening. TFC has 5 points from 4 games on the season, in a four-way tie for third place in the Eastern Conference. LAST MATCH * The visitors took the lead after 27 minutes. Toronto defender Danleigh Borman saw his cross from the endline blocked, then Sam Cronin tried to clear in front of goalkeeper Jon Busch. But it looped right into the goalmouth where Alan Gordon knocked it home. * The Quakes pulled even just 11 minutes later. Simon Dawkins played a nifty one-two with Chris Wondolowski at the top of the box before racing into the area and jabbing a shot past TFC ‘keeper Stefan Frei. * TFC head coach Aron Winter maintained the same team that came back for a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA at BMO Field. * TORONTO FC (4-2-1-3): Stefan Frei – Ty Harden, Nana Attakora (Julian de Guzman 46'), Adrian Cann, Danleigh Borman - Jacob Peterson, Tony Tchani - Maicon Santos (Joao Plata 65') - Javier Martina, Alan Gordon, Alen Stevanovic (Gianluca Zavarise 63'). LOS ANGELES GALAXY The LA Galaxy started their three-game Eastern road swing by settling for a late draw, D.C. United getting a penalty kick in the final minute for a 1-1 draw Saturday at RFK Stadium. The Galaxy have 8 points from 5 games on the season, sitting in second place in the Western Conference. LAST MATCH * The Galaxy took the lead in the 12th minute when David Beckham’s curling corner from the left was nodded home by Mike Magee. * But United pulled level again through some late heroics by Charlie Davies. After Davies was knocked over by Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez as he tried to push past in the left of the area in the 89th minute, referee Abbey Okujala pointed to the spot and Davies converted with a cheeky chip down the center of the goal. * Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0 at The Home Depot Center. Landon Donovan remained home and Chris Birchall was suspended,meaning A.J. DeLaGarza and Mike Magee both came back into the team. * LA GALAXY (4-4-1-1): Donovan Ricketts – A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Leonardo, Todd Dunivant - Sean Franklin, Juninho, David Beckham (Jovan Kirovski 80; sent off 95'+), Mike Magee - Miguel Lopez (Paolo Cardozo 75') - Juan Pablo Angel (Chad Barrett 90') REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Eric Boria; JAR (opposite): Corey Parker; 4th: Geoff Gamble MLS Career: 139 games; fouls called/game: 28.5; yellow cards/game: 3.8; red cards: 45; penalties: 44 INJURY REPORT: TORONTO FC – OUT: MF Elbekay Bouchiba (knee sprain) ... LA GALAXY – OUT: DF Gregg Berhalter (L knee MCL sprain); FW Adam Cristman (L knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Landon Donovan (R knee inflammation); MF Hector Jimenez (R wrist surgery) INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none SUSPENDED: none WARNINGS: SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: David Beckham SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: none HEAD-TO-HEAD ALL-TIME (8 meetings): LA Galaxy 3 wins, 8 goals ... Toronto FC 2 wins, 7 goals ... Ties 3 AT BMO FIELD (4 meetings): Toronto FC 1 win, 3 goals ... LA Galaxy 1 win, 2 goals ... Ties 2 RETURN MATCH: June 11: LA Galaxy v. Toronto FC, 10:30 p.m. ET (GOL TV Canada) LAST YEAR (2010 MLS): May 15: Los Angeles 0-0 Toronto ... June 26: Toronto 0-0 Los Angeles * Toronto FC have not scored a goal against the Galaxy in 296 minutes, since a 2-1 LA victory, June 6, 2009. * The teams played to a pair of scoreless draws last season. Three of the eight lifetime meetings have ended in scoreless draws, including two of the four at BMO Field. Coaches records: Bruce Arena v TOR: P7 W4 L1 D2 ... Aron Winter vs. LA: first game
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