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Result of the Saturday April 14th, 2012 MLS game between Toronto FC and Chivas USA Crew played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:30pm.

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

........................30 Milos Kocic
27 Richard Eckersley (cpt)...12 Adrian Cann...3 Miguel Aceval...5 Ashtone Morgan
.........19 Reggie Lambe...23 Terry Dunfield...11 Luis Silva
........14 Danny Koevermans...7 Joao Plata...9 Ryan Johnson

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...4 Doneil Henry (def)...6 Julian de Guzman (mid)...8 Eric Avila (mid)...11 Luis Silva (mid) 15 Matt Stinson (mid)...22 Torsten Frings (mid)
team officials:...head coach Aron Winter

Chivas USA (white socks, shorts, names and numbers, navy shirts)

........................1 Dan Kennedy
7 James Riley...4 Rauwshan McKenzie...3 Heath Pearce...13 Ante Jazic
17 Miller Bolanos...21 Ben Zemanski...10 Nick LaBrocca...8 Oswaldo Minda...22 Ryan Smith
.......................15 Alejandro Moreno (cpt)

Subs:...28 Tim Melia (gk)...2 Scott Gordon (def)...5 John Valencia (def)...14 Casey Townsend (fwd) ...16 Laurent Courtois (mid)...58 Cesar Romero (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Robin Fraser

Game officials:...referee Mark Geiger...referee's assistants Joe Fletcher and Steven Taylor...fourth official Silviu Petrescu... (all gray shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 2:09pm...TFC defend north end on this cool and overcast with a strong wind from the south.
25 sec...TFC Lambe cornerkick from right is whistled down in box although defender in middle of box had headed ball away.
1 min...Chiv LaBrocca blocks clearance by TFC Plata and chips 30 yarder down middle that's caught by goalie.
4 min...Chiv Smith injured near center line on tackle by TFC Eckersley.
5 min...Chiv YELLOW card...Smith earns it for stompng ankle tackle on TFC Eckersley at TFC 45 yards.
6 min...TFC Lambe cross from 22 yards on right has ball land for TFC Johnson to swipe at kick as he falls and center it from left but three defenders check ball off TFC Plata at 15 yards up middle.
8 min...TFC Johnson makes centering pass from 25 yards on left to TFC Koevermans at 12 yards who taps ball back to TFC Plata who'd stepped in front of TFC Silva and shoots ball down middle wide right from 15 yards.
8 min...Chiv Bolanos receives pass on right and runs towards end line with TFC Morgan shadowing him, he centers low from 20 yards and TFC Aceval kicks ball out of box.
9 min...Chiv LaBrocca receives backheel pass at 20 yards and low shot blocked by sliding TFC Aceval deflects ball for throw-in.
9 min...TFC Dunfield chips cross from left and Chiv goalie charges toward edge of box to pick ball up before TFC Plata can get to it up middle.
10 min...Chiv Bolanos chips 25 yarder from right after short cornerkick and goalie catches shot on dive at 5 yards in front of Chiv McKenzie.
12 min...Chiv Zemanski heads 22 yarder that TFC goalie catches wide right of net after goalie's clearance kick is caught in the wind.
14 min...Chiv Bolanos 45 yard chip from left has TFC Aceval try to boot midair clearance at 18 yards and ball flies backwards and just misses right side of post.
15 min...Chiv Smith cornerkick from right is short and eventually Chiv Riley chips cross into box that Chiv Minda flicks down from 18 yards but defenders clear ball.
15 min...TFC Plata long run up left and 25 yard cross is headed away at 12 yards by Chiv Pearce.
16 min...Chiv goalie dives out at 15 yards to make save on TFC Silva charge for ball.
19 min...TFC Johnson chips cross for TFC Koevermans to pop up header from right at 12 yards and goalie charge to left to catch ball on bounce and prevent TFC Johnson from getting to it at 6 yards on left.
19 min...Chiv Smith 35 yard blast down middle has flying TFC Aceval at 20 yards head ball backwards that flying goalie pushes wide right of net.
20 min...Chiv player's cornerkick from right has TFC Aceval in middle head ball across to right along 6 yard box but defender clears.
24 min...Chiv Riley runs across field from right along 35 yard line and rolls pass forward to Chiv Bolanos but ball is behind him and TFC Eckersley at 10 yards on left takes ball away.
25 min...Chiv Smith from right takes 40 yard shot over players and shot is well wide left of net.
25 min...TFC Dunfield is injured in head at TFC 45 yards with Chiv LaBrocca making midair shot.
27 min...Chiv Bolanos low cross from 20 yards on right has TFC Aceval concede cornerkick.
28 min...Chiv Bolanos cornerkick from right has Chiv player miss scissor kick at 15 yards and ball is cleared from box.
28 min...Chiv Smith chips cross from 30 yards on left that leaping Chiv McKenzie heads downward at 12 yards and ball bounces wide right for goalkick.
29 min...TFC Aceval 35 yard freekick from right is over players in box and caught by goalie.
30 min...Chiv Moreno at 15 yards on right rolls centering pass that Chiv Riley slips at 6 yards on right and miss and charging Chiv Smith takes 6 yard shot that's deflected wide right off sliding TFC Eckersley.
30 min...Chiv Oswaldo Minda GOAL...Chiv Miller Bolanos cornerkick from right has leaping Minda at 8 yards on right head ball in crowd of players in box that bounces at 3 yards near right post and fly up between sprawling goalie Milos Kocic and TFC Terry Dunfield guarding right post and ball bounces into the top right of net.
32 min...Chiv Zemanski is injured deep in TFC end.
34 min...Chiv Bolanos low cross from 30 yards on run up right is through box unplayed.
34 min...TFC Johnson chip cross from 40 yards on left has TFC Koevermans head ball towards left from 10 yards and Chiv McKenzie kicks ball behind end line for cornerkick.
35 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from left has charging Chiv LaBrocca head ball away at 15 yards. TFC Dunfield recovers at 22 yards on left and taps pass wider left for TFC Plata. His recross from 25 yards on left is headed away and cleared by Chiv defenders.
35 min...Chiv goalie beats TFC Plata to pick up ball on Chiv defender's backward header from 22 yards.
39 min...Chiv Jazic slides poke ball away from TFC Lambe at 8 yards on right but concede cornerkick.
39 min...TFC Lambe cornerkick from right has ball over players in box but defender kicks ball out right side of box for throw-in.
39 min...TFC Morgan 40 yard high cross from left has goalie catch in front of TFC Koevermans at 10 yards.
41 min...Chiv Moreno eludes sliding TFC Aceval at 30 yards on right sideline and cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Cann at 6 yards head ball away from box.
41 min...TFC Plata cross from 12 yards on left hits high outside of left post and deflects for goalkick.
43 min...TFC Eckersley charges down right wing and cross from 35 yards near sideline bounces left of Chiv net.
43 min...Chiv Zemanski blast from 30 yards down middle has flying goalie at 8 yards push ball wide right.
44 min...Chiv Bolanos cornerkick from right has Chiv player at 8 yards twist header in box and TFC Silva kicks ball out of box.
45 min...Chiv Smith low cross from 8 yards along left end line has sliding goalie deflect ball wide left for cornerkick.
45 min...Chiv Bolanos cornerkick from left is short to Chiv Smith and tapped back to him. Bolanos 25 yard cross from left is cleared in box by defender.
46 min...half ends 5:27pm.

Halftime entertainment:...there was no halftime entertainment.

2nd Half:...starts 5:43pm...a hazy sun has come out.
45 min...TFC Morgan 40 yard cross from left has TFC Lambe flick 28 yard header wide right of net.
46 min...TFC Johnson rush on right and 20 yards shot deflects off Chiv McKenzie shadowing him and ball deflects wide right for cornerkick.
46 min...TFC Lambe cornerkick from right has TFC Johnson in middle of box fly and head ball from 8 yards that bounces and Chiv Bolanos heads off line near right post. TFC Lambe recrosses partial clearance from 20 yards that deflects off Chiv Jazic for another cornerkick.
47 min...TFC Lambe low cornerkick from right has Chiv Jazic roll away clearance from 5 yards on right and TFC Eckersley blasts 25 yarder from right well over net.
48 min...TFC Lambe cross from 22 yards on right has Chiv Riley kick ball behind right end line for another cornerkick.
48 min...TFC player's cornerkick from right has leaping defender head away from 4 yards. TFC Dunfield chips 30 yard shot up middle that goalie catches.
49 min...Chiv Jazic cross from 30 yards on left deflects off defender shadowing him and has TFC goalie leap to knock ball off Chiv player at 6 yards and rushes out to pick up ball on bounce.
50 min...Chiv YELLOW card...Bolanos earns it for diving at 20 yards near edge of TFC box after getting behind TFC Morgan for pass up right wing.
51 min...TFC Lambe low 35 yard roller up middle has goalie smother.
51 min...Chive Moreno runs up left wing and crosses behind TFC Cann near left end line that's over TFC Morgan and Chiv Bolanos gets in one-touch 8 yard shot from right that's low and wide right of net.
53 min...TFC Lambe cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Johnson and Chiv Riley both injured as they crash for ball on left end line. Goal kick is awarded.
54 min...TFC Koevermans cross from 25 yards on right is caught by goalie.
54 min...Chiv Smith pokes 30 yarder forward up left but goalie picks up ball.
55 min...TFC sub...Henry replaces Aceval.
57 min...TFC Plata 60 yard chip from left bounces to goalie.
62 min...TFC Eckersley throw-in from right cornerflag has ball worked at but lost.
63 min...Chiv YELLOW card...Minda earns a delayed card for sliding check on TFC Silva at Chiv 50 yards. TFC Lambe had continued rush upfield and passed over to TFC Johnson who had 20 yard cross from right headed away by defender at 8 yards. Chiv earns freekick on TFC Dunfield hand ball.
65 min...TFC YELLOW card...Lambe earns it fo pulling on Chiv Pearce at Chiv 50 yards who'd just won ball from TFC Koevermans by making sliding tackle to win ball.
65 min...Chiv sub...Romero replaces Bolanos.
66 min...Chiv Romero cornerkick from left has ball cleared by TFC Cann at 6 yards in crowd of players.
68 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from left has Chiv Zamanski head ball away at 8 yards on left side of box.
69 min...TFC Plata holds on to ball on left in battle with Chiv Riley and sends in low cross from 22 yards that has TFC Koevermans backheel shot from 5 yards that is saved by goalie diving forward. Koevermans kicks goalpost in discust.
70 min...TFC Johnson 30 yard chip from right has goalie catch over his head just in front of charging TFC Koevermans at 8 yards.
71 min...TFC sub...Avila replaces Silva.
76 min...Chiv Romero rolls ball back to Chiv Zemanski for low 25 yard shot up middle that's wide left of net.
78 min...TFC Lambe low cornerkick from right has nearest defender Chiv Jazic at 6 yards on right clear from box.
79 min...TFC Avila takes cross from 60 yards on right that's over players and finds TFC Johnson on right and he takes 12 yard shot from left that sliding goalie gets piece of at 3 yards on left side of net and retreating Chiv Pearce saves ball at 2 yards near right post. Chiv Riley on right post boots ball behind end line for cornerkick.
79 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from left has Chiv goalie punch ball upwards and ball blows over net.
79 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from right has defender head ball out of box and TFC Avila rolls 22 yard shot through players wide right and defender shanks clearance further right and TFC Plata crosses 22 yarder near end line that's over players and TFC Avila charges to it but Chiv LaBrocca clears behind net from 10 yards.
80 min...TFC Plata cornerkick from left has Chiv Zemanski head away clearance at 8 yards. TFC Avila heads back in from 20 yards and defender heads back out of box. TFC Plata is given pass on far left and crosses 35 yarder from left that goalie catches on bounce.
81 min...Chiv Smith is injured at center line sideline in clip by TFC Morgan and is treated on sideline as game restarts.
82 min...TFC Morgan 35 yard shot from left sideline is well over net.
82 min...Chiv sub...Gordon replaces still injured Smith.
83 min...TFC Avila cross from 30 yards has charging TFC Johnson on left head ball wide right of post from 6 yards.
87 min...Chiv Riley cuts towards net from right and cross from 8 yards blocked by TFC Morgan shadowing him for cornerkick.
88 min...Chiv Romero cornerkick from right has TFC Henry head ball away from 8 yards in crowd of players.
88 min...TFC Morgan punts ball from 90 yards on left that's over defenders at center line and TFC Koevermans charges forward to 35 yards and heads ball at 35 yards over to TFC Plata on left who sends in low cross from 25 yards on left that has charging TFC Koevermans take low 8 yard shot that sprawling goalie deflect wide left of net. Koeverman punches mesh of net.
89 min...TFC Plata works out short cornerkick from left and touches ball back to TFC Dunfield who blasts down middle but 22 yards but ball blocked by defender on edge of box. TFC Avila chips 25 yarder from left that goalie lets bounce wide right of net for goalkick.
90 min...TFC Lambe crosses from 40 yards on right and diving Chiv McKenzie heads over net from 15 yards.
90 min...TFC player's cornerkick from right has defender clear at 10 yards in box.
90 min...TFC YELLOW card...Koevermans earns it for complaining about whistle in Chiv box.
91 min...TFC goalie 70 yard freekick up middle has TFC Cann with back to net heads backwards wide right from 22 yards.
92 min...Chiv sub...Townsend replaces LaBrocca.
92 min...TFC Henry 70 yard shot from right bounces to goalie who is in no hurry to pick up ball.
93 min...TFC Henry punts 75 yard ball high and downfield that has TFC Avila nod header forward from 40 yards and Chiv goalie beats TFC Koevermans to through ball.
93 min...TFC Henry punts 80 yard ball from left downfield and TFC Koevermans heads ball from 35 yards forward and wide left of net.
94:11 min...game ends 6:32pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......0..........Chivas USA...........1........

Attendance was announced as 18476. The weather looked like it would rain but it didn't. It was cool and overcast although a hazy sun came out for some of the second half. The biggest weather factor was the gusty wind from the south. I felt that Chivas USA would need more than their one goal in the first half to win this game.

Man of the Match (which is always a TFC player) was announced as defender Adrian Cann who was playing in his first game of the season after missing almost a year with injury. I would have given the award to goalie Milos Kocic who made some key saves to keep TFC in the game. Strange that on the TFC website the next day, Kocic wasn't even a choice of the five non-goal scorers offered.

TFC made some changes from their last game. Defender Lagan Emory had been Red carded in the game in Montreal so he was not an option. Miguel Aceval had recovered from injury so he was a starter. Adrian Cann had been injured since last year and this was his first game back. Since he had only played two partial Reserves games in the last weeks so I was somewhat surprised that he played the full 90 minutes. Defender Ty Harden who'd been blamed for some defensive miscues in the last few games was confined as a substitute. Midfielder Julian de Guzman was also confined to the bench. He is one of the team's three designated players. Newly signed Academy goalie Quillan Roberts was on the bench with the team sending back MLS pool goalie Brian Rowe.

Richard Eckersley was the TFC captain for today's game. Still injured Torsten Frings couldn't be chosen and goalie Stefan Frei will be out injured even longer. Julian de Guzman was not a starter so Eckersley got the armband.

I wasn't sure what was up when the warm up clock started for 25 minutes and Chivas USA players were on the pitch but TFC was nowhere to be seen. TFC goalies finally appeared at 20 minutes and the remaining players were out at 18 minutes. Did they not want to feel tired out by gametime or were they getting lectured on the importance of this game?

There was a minute of silence for Italian Serie B player Piermario Morosini who died earlier in the day playing in a game for Livorna of a heart attack. It was nice to hear just for a moment an interruption from the usual chanting.

I was expecting Chivas USA would need more than their one goal scored in the first half to win this game as the wind would help TFC for the second half. TFC did have plenty of chances from 79 minutes onward but the one time they beat goalie Dan Kennedy, defender Heath Pearce had gotten in behind him and saved Ryan Johnson's shot. Danny Koevermans became so frustrated on two chances he missed that he kicked and punched the post and net mesh. A little more of that desparate play started earlier might have saved the game and earned them their first league points this year.

Good news for TFC as their defence wasn't getting burned this game.

The chorus of boos that rang out after the game shouldn't be ignored. Three home games and no goals scored! TFC can't bring in two more designated players like they did last year to try to turn their season around so their publicity is trumpeting the return of Torsten Frings from injury by maybe next week. He was on the subs bench today but media interviews with TFC head coach Aron Winter says he was just put their for a psychological lift.

TFC starts off with their worst record ever--five straight losses--beating their expansion year 2007 start of 0-0-4. Next opponent is Chicago Fire who was the first team they ever beat in franchise history. A web site that I consult www.sportsclubstats.com now drops the TFC chances of making this year's playoffs to only 3.8%. One of their problems the last few years was holding on to a lead--but we don't know if that will be a problem this year as they've never had a lead to hold onto.

Chivas USA earned their third road win for a perfect record yet at home they have lost all three games. Four goals for-four goals against so a low scoring game should not have been unexpected. The game program certainly brought up the 'disappointing' season so far for Chivas but ignored the TFC record of two goals for and now ten goals against. It is still praising their CONCACAF Championships run.

My old notes reveal that today's goal scorer Oswaldo Minda was in the international friendly held here on June 1st, 2011 between Canada and Ecuador and came on as a substitute at 76 minutes.

Before the game dozens of children walked to the center of the field to lay out a huge banner for the BMO Bank in the center circle. All was going well until the south end sprinkler came on and soaked half the kids. That's exactly wrote for the Columbus game--but why did the stadium crew let that happen for the second game in a row?

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com

Major Events

Scoring Summary 31' Chivas - Minda

Misconduct Summary 6' Chivas - Smith 51' Chivas - Bolanos 65' Chivas - Minda 66' Toronto - Lambe 90+1' Toronto - Koevermans

Lineups Toronto - Milos Kocic; Richard Eckersley, Adrian Cann, Miguel Aceval (Doneil Henry 56'), Ashtone Morgan; Reggie Lambe, Terry Dunfield, Luis Silva (Eric Avila 71'); Ryan Johnson, Danny Koevermans, Joao Plata ...Substitutes not used: Quillan Roberts; Ty Harden, Matt Stinson, Julian de Guzman, Torsten Frings

Chivas - Dan Kennedy; James Riley, Rauwshan McKenzie, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic; Oswaldo Minda, Nick LaBrocca (Casey Townsend 90+3'), Miller Bolanos (Cesar Romero 66'), Ryan Smith (Scott Gordon 84'); Ben Zemanski, Alejandro Moreno ...Substitutes not used: Tim Melia; John Valencia, Laurent Courtois

Match Stats Toronto FC Chivas USA 14 Attempts on Goal 9 5 Shots on Target 4 5 Shots off Target 4 4 Blocked Shots 1 13 Corner Kicks 9 17 Fouls 9 28 Open Play Crosses 14 1 Offsides 0 2 Yellow Cards 3 0 Red Cards 0 29 Duels Won 37 43% Duels Won % 54% 348 Total Pass 414 69% Passing Accuracy % 78% 47.1% Possession 52.9%


TFC starters


Chivas USA starters


TFC Danny Koevermans (14) and Luis Silva (11) line up to take opening kickoff.


TFC Ryan Johnson gets ready to cross ball into box.


TFC Danny Koevermans heads ball to TFC Joao Plata.


TFC Miguel Aceval gets ready to make freekick cross.


Chivas USA Miller Bolanos (17) and Alejandro Moreno (15) get ready to start second half.


TFC Doneil Henry ducks to head away the cornerkick.


From left, TFC Richard Eckersley, goalie Milos Kocic, and still injured Torsten Frings applaud the fans after the game.

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