- July 27, 2011 CONCACAF Qualifying--Toronto FC vs Real Esteli FC (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Wednesday July 27th, 2011 game between Toronto FC and Real Esteli FC Dallas played at BMO Field in Toronto at 8:00pm. This was the first game of a two game qualification for a berth in the Concacaf Championship group round games.

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

........................30 Milos Kocic
27 Richard Eckersley...4 Doneil Henry...3 Andy Iro...5 Ashtone Morgan
.......15 Matt Stinson...22 Torsten Frings (cpt)...28 Gianluca Zavarise
.......18 Nick Soolsma...9 Ryan Johnson...14 Danny Koevermans

Subs:...24 Stefan Frei (gk)...6 Julian de Guzman (def)...7 Joao Plata (fwd)...20 Ty Harden (def)...25 Danleigh Borman (mid) ...33 Javior Martina (fwd)...55 Eddie Viator (def)
head coach Aron Winter

Real Esteli FC (white socks, shorts, and hard to see hollow numbers, red and white striped shirts)

.....................25 Carlos Mendieta
2 Jaime Ruiz...17 Eliud Zeledon...23 Salvador Garcia...14 Francisco Lopez
21 Felix Rodriguez...12 Elmer Mejia (cpt)...15 Franklin Lopez...7 Manuel Rosas
..........24 Jose Flores...10 Samuel Wilson

Subs:...1 Justo Lorente (gk)...8 Wilbur Sanchez (fwd)...9 David Martinez (fwd)...11 Rudel Calero (fwd)...16 Elvis Figuero (mid)...27 Marlon Medina (mid)
head coach Ramon Oloniel Olivas

Game officials:...referee Ricardo Salazar...referee's assistants Kermit Quisenberry and Eric Boria...fourth official Edwin Jurisevic... all from USA...(green shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 8:07pm...TFC defend north end.
3 min...TFC Eckersley rolls ball from right 25 yards and second REFC defender clears from 8 yards.
3 min...REFC Rodriguez injured in box on header with TFC Koevermans at 12 yards.
4 min...TFC Zavarise cross from left after run has defender on left post at 5 yards head ball away in front of TFC Koevermans.
4 min...TFC Morgan cross from 35 yards on left has TFC Johnson head 8 yarder on right that goalie catches.
6 min...TFC Johnson crosses in from 30 yards on right and TFC Koevermans flick heads 12 yarder over bar.
7 min...TFC Morgan 30 yard cross from left has TFC Johnson leap and head well over net from 10 yards.
8 min...REFC Rodriguez wins freekick when injured by TFC Morgan check.
9 min...REFC Wilson shoots 35 yard freekick from right over net.
11 min...TFC Soolsma cross after run down left sideline to 22 yards is into REFC box and TFC Stinson pops up header at 15 yards on left and ball bounces back to ground and is cleared.
12 min...TFC Morgan cross from near left cornerflag is well behind net.
14 min...REFC Flores holds off TFC Iro to ball on left wing and rolls centering pass to REFC Franklin Lopez who shanks weak 18 yard roller wide right and goalie picks it up 15 yards wide over near end line.
16 min...REFC Mejia blasts low 28 yarder from right well left of net.
17 min...TFC Eckersley rush on right and cross from 22 yards has defender head away from inside 6 yard box.
18 min...TFC Morgan cross from left has TFC Zavarise fly for header at 15 yards on left with defender covering him and heads well wide left.
19 min...TFC Stinson blasts roller from 30 yards up middle wide left.
21 min...TFC Stinson 25 yard low shot up middle blocked by sliding defender on edge of box.
23 min...TFC Soolsma dekes by two defenders cutting in from right and rolls cross to center but TFC Koevermans misses kick on slip up at 10 yards.
24 min...REFC Wilson on left crosses from near corner flag and TFC goalie misses ball on dive forward but ball bounces out of box on right side.
25 min...REFC Franklin Lopez 30 yard freekick from left is well high and wide right of net for a throw-in!.
26 min...TFC Soolsma cross from right on run has TFC Koevermans duck and head ball across box from 15 yards back out right side.
27 min...REFC Wilson cornerkick from right is low and TFC Frings clears it on kick near right post.
28 min...TFC goalie to right near edge of box to catch and prevent through ball.
31 min...REFC Rosas 20 yard cross from left has TFC Henry clear behind own net.
31 min...TFC goalie catches REFC player's cornerkick from left behind crowd of players and punts ball quickly downfield.
32 min...TFC Morgan cross from left has TFC Koevermans not able to head ball from 10 yards as ball was just over his head.
33 min...TFC Soolsma rush diagonal but 25 yard low shot is wide right.
34 min...TFC Soolsma cross has TFC Johnson head 7 yarder that goalie palms over net.
34 min...TFC Frings cornerkick from right has ball partially cleared and TFC Stinson chest down and mid air 18 yard shot down middle is well over net.
37 min...TFC Soolsma crosses from 35 yards on right and TFC Zavarise charging in on left jumps and kicks 10 yard shot well wide right.
38 min...REFC Flores blasts 30 yard shot from left that's tipped off TFC Morgan at 25 yards and ball pops up for goalie to make easy catch.
42 min...REFC Wilson cornerkick from right has goalie catch on right side of box and he quickly punts downfield.
42 min...TFC Zavarise 10 yard shot from left is blocked by sliding defender, ball is still in play and Zavarise passes out of box to TFC Morgan who has cross blocked on edge of box.
42 min...TFC Johnson crosses low from 10 yards on right and TFC Soolsma slides and pokes 7 yard shot with foot when he falls.
44 min...TFC Soolmas dekes defender on right sideline but cross into box has defender block ball before TFC Koevermans can get to it at 5 yards.
45 min...TFC YELLOW card...Zavarise earns it for trip on REFC Rodriguez breaking out at REFC 40 yards.
45 min...half ends 8:52pm.

There is no halftime entertainment.

2nd Half:...starts 9:08pm.
45 min...TFC goalie catches shot on bounce from kickoff.
46 min...TFC Soolsma cross from 30 yards on right partially cleared from box by defender at 8 yards on left. TFC Stinson takes 18 yard shot down middle that another defender blocks at 12 yards and ball is cleared.
48 min...TFC sub...Plata replaces Zavarise who limps off.
50 min...TFC Plata pushes ball behind left end line while cutting toward net along end line.
51 min...TFC Plata cross from 30 yards on left has TFC Johnson poke at 10 yard shot but step ahead of him connecting and diving goalie stops on right post.
52 min...REFC Mejia slides in on TFC Frings near center line but advantage played until TFC Morgan saw injury.
54 min...TFC Morgan 40 yard cross from left bounces through box and TFC Soolsma heads from 8 yards on right that lands on top of net.
55 min...TFC Joao Plata GOAL...Plata receives popped up header from defender blocking long cross from TFC Soolsma sent in from right and dribbles from 10 yards on left forward to end line deking REFC Rodriguez at 7 yards and continues to left end line and shot from 4 yards is before sliding REFC Ruiz can connect and under sliding goalie Carlos Mendieta at 2 yards and ball is low into right side of net.
57 min...REFC Mijia Rosas checked off ball on run down middle and ball deflects low to TFC goalie from 25 yards.
58 min...REFC YELLOW card...Ruiz earns it for tripping TFC Johnson at REFC 45 yards.
59 min...TFC Frings 45 yard freekick down middle is headed away from inside box.
60 min...TFC Soolsma cross along right end line 25 yards has defender clear from 12 yards inside box.
61 min...REFC sub...Calero replaces Flores.
61 min...TFC Frings 40 yard freekick from right is whistled down in box before goalie catches ball wide left of net.
62 min...TFC Soolsma rolls ball forward from 22 yards and REFC Ruiz slides to prevent TFC Johnson from getting to it at 12 yards on right. Goalie picks up loose ball at 6 yards.
63 min...TFC Eckersley cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Johnson leap and head 10 yarder up middle that flying goalie catches. REFC Mejia is injured on the play.
65 min...TFC Morgan 45 yard cross from left has goalie palm over top right corner of net.
66 min...TFC Frings cornerkick from right has TFC Johnson head down and across box at 8 yards but defender on right clears.
68 min...REFC Franklin Lopez cornerkick from left has TFC Stinson head ball away and REFC Francisco Lopez player shoots well high and wide right of net from 22 yards.
69 min...REFC Calero skips 25 yard shot that bounces for goalie to smother.
70 min...REFC YELLOW card...Francisco Lopez earns it for pulling down TFC Stinson at REFC 25 yards. Stinson is injured on play.
71 min...TFC Joao Plata GOAL...Plata bends 25 yard freekick up the middle into top right corner of net beyond flying goalie.
72 min...TFC sub...de Guzman replaces Stinson.
72 min...REFC Calero flicks 18 yard header behind him that goalie picks up wide right of net.
74 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from left is tapped out to TFC Frings who rolls ball back and TFC Plata crosses and TFC Soolsma takes backwards header from 6 yards that's caught by goalie.
74 min...TFC YELLOW card...Frings earns it for sliding tackle from behind at REFC 40 yards on REFC Franklin Lopez.
76 min...TFC Morgan 40 yard shot from left has goalie catch.
77 min...TFC sub...Martina replaces Johnson.
77 min...TFC Soolsma cross from right 20 yards near right end line has flying goalie in crowd of players palm ball forward through box.
78 min...REFC goalie picks up bouncer from left that TFC Plata shot from 25 yards that deflected off defender on edge of box.
79 min...TFC Koevermans cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Soolsma at 12 yards make diving header up middle that goalie catches on bounce.
79 min...REFC Rudel Calero GOAL...TFC goalie fumbles on a ball he dived for well wide left of net in mix up with TFC Eckersley who was shielding ball waiting for it to rolls across endline and Rudel Calero who'd pushed ball too far from 25 yards gets to it and rolls 10 yard sharp angle shot into open net inside right post. Eckersley had been chesting ball along.
82 min...TFC Frings recovers REFC partial clearance and blasts 22 yarder down middle one-touch well over net on short cross from right.
83 min...TFC Soolsma cross from 22 yards on right has goalie leap to catch in from of TFC Koevermans at 5 yards.
84 min...TFC Martina has ball near left end line and sends 6 yard rolling cross that deflects off TFC Koevermans at 6 yards and shot blocked by defender and cleared from inside REFC box.
84 min...TFC Morgan crosses from 30 yards on left and TFC Koevermans pops 12 yard header down middle well over net.
84 min...REFC Ruiz is injured and had been down for a good one minute.
86 min...TFC Soolsma chips 25 yarder from right that defender heads ball from 10 yards in middle of box cornerkick.
86 min...TFC Frings cornerkick from right is headed down by TFC Henry at 7 yards and defender clears.
87 min...REFC sub...Medina replaces still injured Ruiz.
87 min...REFC Francisco Lopez weak 25 yard shot from right is cleared.
88 min...TFC Henry blasts 30 yarder from right well wide left of net.
89 min...TFC Koevermans gets ball back up middle and his 12 yard shot is over net with defender sliding back.
90 min...REFC sub...Sanchez replaces Wilson.
90 min...REFC Francisco Lopez is injured in REFC box making sliding block on TFC Martina at 10 yards.
91 min...TFC Soolsma cross from right has goalie bobble over head of TFC Plata at 3 yards and pick up on bounce left of box.
92 min...TFC Martina cross from right 22 yards has TFC Plata get to it and shoot 18 yarder up middle over net.
94 min...game ends 9:57pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........2..........Real Esteli FC.......1...........

Attendance was 9241 on this evening. This game was sold separately from the season tickets package so less than half of those people opted for tickets to this midweek game against a team that few knew who they were. It was a very pro-Canadian crowd with a minimum of Nicaraguan fans.

Tonight was the first game of a home and away series for one spot in the Group C Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

TFC Academy grads Ashtone Morgan and Matt Stinson made their first starts this season. Goalie Milos Kocic also got his first start this season.

TFC got in a lot of crosses into the REFC box and maintained the lion's share of possession.

Both TFC goals were from Joao Plata who came on at 48 minutes to replace the limping Gianluca Zavarise. The first was from close in at 55 minutes and the second was a direct freekick at 71 minutes.

Away goals count double so REFC goal could be trouble. The goal was just a mistake with ten minutes to go that at worst would have been called as a back pass or rolled out for a cornerkick. The ball was just left near the end line as goalie Milos Kocic and defender Richard Eckersley took themselves out of the play leaving Rudel Calero with a sharp angled tap in for the goal.

stats from concacafchampions.com

Toronto  2 - 1  Real Estelí

Official statistics
Half-time:0 - 0
Full-time:2 - 1
Date July 27, 2011
Venue: BMO Field Toronto, Ontario 
Attendance:9241

Referee: R. Salazar 
Assistants:K. Quisenberry and E. Boria
Fourth official:E. Jurisevic

General Game Stats

Toronto FC starters:
30 M. Kocic(GK) 
3  A. Iro
27 R. Eckersley
4  D. Henry
5  A. Morgan
22 T. Frings
28 G. Zavarise
15 M. Stinson
14 D. Koevermans
9  R. Johnson
18 N. Soolsma
Coach:A. Winter

Real Esteli starters:
25 C. Mendieta (GK) 
17 F. Zeledón
2  J. Ruiz
14 Francisco López
23 S. Garcia
12 E. Mejía
15 Franklin López
21 F. Rodríguez
7  M. Rosas
10 S. Wilson
24 J. Flores
Coach:R. Olivas

Toronto FC substitutions:
48'    7 J. Plata for G. Zavarise
71'    6 J. de Guzmán for M. Stinson 
77'   33 J. Martina for R. Johnson  

Real Esteli substitutions:
62'   11  R. Calero for J. Flores 
87'   27  M. Medina for J. Ruiz 
90'    8  W. Sánchez for S. Wilson 

               Toronto   Real Estelí
Shots on goal      2            1
Shots wide         6            4
Fouls              7            2
Corner Kicks       3            3
Offsides           0            0
Possession        73%          27%


Toronto FC starters


Real Esteli FC starters


TFC Danny Koevermans (14) and TFC Ryan Johnson (9) start game with TFC Matt Stinson (15) on edge of circle.


REFC Samuel Wilson freekick.


TFC Ashtone Morgan leaps for ball.


TFC Danny Koevermans is covered.


TFC Ashtone Morgan leaps for header.


TFC Richard Eckersley throw-in to TFC Torsten Frings.


TFC Joao Plata scores on this freekick (yeah it's blurry).

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