May 14, 2011 MLS--Toronto Lets Chicago Slip Away (from TorontoFC.ca)
Toronto Lets Chicago Slip Away Asif Hossain BMO Field Toronto, ON - May 14, 2011 Defining Moment As rain fell down on BMO Field, Toronto FC let two points slip away against visiting Chicago Fire on Orr Barouch's 76th minute unmarked equalizer that leveled - and at final whistle cemented - the match at 2-2. Toronto had taken a 2-0 lead through Joao Plata and Maicon Santos and looked likely to increase the margin inside the first hour. Although Chicago had more possession, TFC looked steady and threatened to run up the score with energetic and unwavering fast breaks. However, the match turned shortly following the substitution of 19-year old Plata at the 61st minute. Marco Pappa made it 2-1 on a free kick (earned by Barouch at the top of the Toronto area) two minutes after Plata's exit, and another 13 minutes of relentless Chicago pressure passed before they registered their second. Pitch Battles Head coach Aron Winter made some choices that looked inspired for the first hour when the Reds had the game well in hand. Dan Gargan started at left fullback and often broke up advances from Chicago, while frequently searching out Plata on that side of attack. Though it wasn't Gargan, but Nick Soolsma that found the Ecuador U-20 international in space from where Plata sweetly struck the opening goal to put the Reds ahead 1-0 after just nine minutes. Toronto's second goal came from the foot of Maicon, though with some help from former Toronto keeper Jon Conway. Plata picked out the Toronto captain two minutes after the intermission and from distance Maicon challenged Conway to handle a laser blast in the wet, slippery conditions. The Chicago keeper flubbed the volley allowing Maicon to put Toronto up 2-0. Man of the Match It's a toss up between Plata and Stefan Frei. While Plata set the tempo when he was on the pitch, Frei was instrumental in the Reds escaping with a point after his superb 83rd minute save that should be hard to beat for MLS Save of the Week. Other Toronto players that stood out includes Jacob Peterson, Tony Tchani and Nick Soolsma - who is becoming a workhorse, making it more difficult for Javier Martina to win his place back in the starting lineup. When Toronto took their collective foot off the gas shortly after the hour mark, it was Chicago's Barouch that inspired their comeback. Unfortunately for the Reds, he is worth a mention in this space. Starting XI Toronto - Stefan Frei; Dan Gargan, Dicoy Williams, Adrian Cann, Richard Eckersley; Tony Tchani, Julian de Guzman, Jacob Peterson; Joao Plata (Alen Stevanovic 61'), Maicon Santos (Javier Martina 84'), Nick Soolsma (Matt Gold 87') ... Substitutes not used: Milos Kocic, Ty Harden, Oscar Cordon, Nathan Sturgis ... Goals: Plata 9' Maicon 47' ... Caution: de Guzman 25' (misses match v. Colorado - May 22). Chicago - Jon Conway; Jalil Anibaba, Cory Gibbs, Yamith Cuesta, Gonzalo Segares, Marco Pappa, Corben Bone, Gaston Puerari (Orr Barouch 58'), Dan Paladini, Dominic Oduro (Bratislav Ristic 89'), Diego Chaves (Baggio Husidic 89') ... Substitutes Not Used: Alec Dufty, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Josip Mikulic, Dasan Robinson ... Goals: Pappa 63' Barouch 76' ... Caution: Segares 19' Paladini 28' Following Fixture NCC Final - 1st Leg Wednesday, May 18 Rogers Sportsnet 10 p.m. ET For three years this NCC fixture was between an MLS club and a lower light, but that's not the case any longer. Vancouver not only is an MLS team now, they've already beaten Toronto at home this season in league play. The Whitecaps have never lifted the NCC trophy and are eager to take the Canadian spot in the 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto will host the return leg at BMO Field on May 25. Preki Post Game This outcome may feel like a loss for Toronto but it certainly wasn't uneventful. There were a total of 38 attempts on goal, with Chicago taking 20. Each team had eight shots on target but the visitors, playing from behind, dominated possession (65%) and total passes 538-294. The sizable margin in the latter statistic paints a picture that Toronto stopped playing when it felt far too comfortable with its lead. In Their Words "I think in the second half we didn’t want to play anymore. That’s why I think we lost (the points), because in the first half we were chasing up and pushing up and putting pressure in the front. Then in the second half after the second goal we didn’t do that anymore, and that’s why I think we have given away 2 points." - Head coach Aron Winter "I think we sat back after the first two goals after the first hour, then we gave away a reckless foul which I don’t know was clearly won on top of the box. That’s when they were able to get back into the game, and after that we just sat back too deep, and we weren’t the same as we were in the first half." - Midfielder Julian de Guzman "In general, after about 60 minutes we packed it in and thought the game was over. Offensively and defensively we got lazy. We didn’t show for the ball anymore, didn’t go for runs, didn’t cover each other defensively, just those extra things. We thought it was 2-0, the game is winding down, now I hope everybody knows that the game in 90 minutes, not 60." - Goalkeeper Stefan Frei
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