March 9, 2013--Toronto FC vs Sporting Kansas City (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday March 9th, 2013 MLS game between Toronto FC and Sporting Kansas City played at The Rogers Centre in Toronto at 1:30pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................12 Joseph Bendik
27 Richard Eckersley...3 Danny Califf...48 Darren O'Dea (cpt)...5 Ashtone Morgan
7 John Bostock...23 Terry Dunfield...25 Jeremy Hall...19 Reggie Lambe
.............31 Hogan Ephraim...10 Robert Earnshaw

Subs:...24 Stefan Frei (gk)...6 Gale Agbossoumonde (def)...8 Kyle Bekker (mid)...9 Emery Welshman (fwd)...16 Darel Russell (mid)
...21 Jonathan Osorio (mid)....32 Andrew Wiedeman (fwd)
head coach Ryan Nelsen

Sporting Kansas City (all sky blue, navy names and numbers)

.................1 Jimmy Nielsen (cpt)
7 Chance Myers...78 Aurelien Collin...5 Matt Besler...15 Seth Sinovic
8 Graham Zusi...10 Benny Feilhaber...20 Oriol Rosell...11 Bobby Convey...6 Paulo Nagamura
..........................16 Claudio Bieler

Subs:...18 Eric Kronberg (gk)...3 Ike Opara (def)...13 Lawrence Olum (def)...17 C J Sapong (fwd)...19 Peterson Joseph (mid)
22 Soony Saad (fwd)...31 Josh Gardner (mid)
head coach Peter Vermes

Game officials:...referee Fotis Bazakos...referee's assistants Peter Manikowski and Corey Parker...fourth official Silviu Petrescu ...(neon yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

The two teams came in from opposite ends of the field. After the National anthems there was a short indoor fireworks display.

1st Half:...game starts 1:40pm...TFC defends south end with the dome left closed at this time of year.
1 min...TFC Eckersley 55 yard freekick from right has ball headed into center of box by TFC O'Dea jumping for ball on left side of box and ball bounces for TFC Dunfield to take 20 yard shot up middle which goalie catches.
2 min...TFC Robert Earnshaw GOAL...SKC Aurelien Collin rolls pass from middle near edge of box to SKC Matt Besler on right who rolls return pass along to Collin but charging Earnshaw breaks up pass on edge of box and eludes Collin sticking out his foot and quickly steps forward and takes low 12 yard shot from right to left side of net beyond diving goalie at 6 yards.
3 min...SKC Convey receives short headed pass from left from SKC Beiler and chips 22 yard shot down middle over net.
4 min...SKC Zusi receives pass near left sideline at 30 yards and rolls pass to charging SKC Myers who rolls centering pass from 10 yards back to SKC Feilhaber who shoots 8 yarder that misses just high and wide of top right corner of net.
6 min...TFC Lambe rush on left sideline has cross towards box headed out of bounds by SKC Collin.
7 min...TFC Ephraim cornerkick from left has goalie swat ball forward and out of box through crowd of players. TFC Lambe bounces pass forward and TFC Ephraim receives on left just outside box but is flagged offside.
8 min...SKC Besler is injured at SKC 45 yards.
10 min...SKC Zusi 55 yard freekick from left has TFC Califf head ball out of box from 6 yard line and when long cross is sent in by Zusi from the left, SKC Besler can't control it at 8 yards on right and rolls it over end line.
11 min...TFC goalie 85 yard freekick bounces to SKC goalie.
15 min...TFC Dunfield 40 yard freekick down middle has goalie catch and survive crash with TFC Califf who puts his arm up on jump and TFC O'Dea who's injured on play.
19 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from left is cleared from TFC box by TFC O'Dea's header.
19 min...TFC Bostock earns Penalty kick when he's tackled in box on run up middle while dribbling through defenders and appeared to be SKC Nagamura who put his foot in to trip him up.
20 min...TFC Robert Earnshaw GOAL...Earnshaw rolls Penalty kick to low left side of net after he stuttersteps and goalie Jimmy Nielsen shuffles right before collapsing wrong way.
22 min...SKC Zusi 35 yard freekick from right has SKC Besler volley shot wide right from 15 yards in crowd of players on left.
23 min...SKC YELLOW card...Nagamura earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Ephraim in center circle.
31 min...TFC Lambe gets pass up right from TFC Bostock and 15 yard shot from tough angle is wide left of net as TFC Earnshaw was waiting for pass in middle of box.
31 min...TFC Dunfield cross from 30 yards on left has TFC Ephraim leap but not able to knock it down at 15 yards inside right side of box.
32 min...TFC Lambe heads ball beyond end line for cornerkick to break up play that had SKC Myers rushing to 10 yards on right side to attempt header.
33 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from right is cleared from box without a shot.
35 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from left has SKC Collin on right leap and head ball wide right from 6 yards.
38 min...SKC YELLOW card...Collin earns it for hand ball preventing TFC Ephraim rush break-in at SKC 50 yards.
41 min...TFC Eckersley wins cornerkick on sliding tackle poke-check by SKC Nagamura after Eckersley ran into right side of box to 8 yards.
42 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right is caught by goalie.
44 min...SKC Feilhaber 35 yard freekick from right is flagged offside at 8 yards on charge into box with SKC Collin heading ball wide left of net.
45 min...TFC Bostock can't win Penalty kick on charge on right into SKC box and collision with SKC Besler.
47 min...TFC Ephraim cornerkick from left is short and pass back to him takes long cross over players in box.
47 min...half ends 2:27pm.

Halftime entertainment:...There was no halftime entertainment.

2nd Half:...half starts 2:44pm.
halftime sub:...SKC Sapong replaces Convey.
48 min...TFC goalie dives on ball to break up play on deflection into box.
48 min...TFC goalie charges to edge of box to catch TFC Dunfield's header back to him.
50 min...SKC Zusi cross from near right endline is over box. SKC Sapong recovers on left edge of box and TFC Eckersley gets leg in to concede cornerkick when Sapong turns and cuts back into box.
50 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from left is over box and SKC player on right edge of 6 yard box can't turn header. SKC Feilhaber cross from 25 yards on right sideline crosses over net for goalkick.
51 min...TFC Lambe ends TFC play with midair shot from 12 yards down middle that's over net after he received cross tip from TFC Morgan that tips off defender on left side and bounces in front of Lambe.
53 min...SKC Zusi 30 yard freekick from extreme left has SKC Myers glance header from 8 yards on left side just wide right of net.
55 min...TFC Eckersley makes key block of SKC Sinovic rolling cross from left across box from left after long SKC rush.
57 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from left has TFC Dunfield pop ball high over box and out right side. SKC Feilhaber gets ball and takes low 20 yard shot from right that TFC Califf clears at 10 yards.
58 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from left has TFC Dunfield head ball clear at 12 yards inside middle of box.
59 min...SKC Zusi low cornerkick from left is rolled out and SKC Sinovic cross into box headed down by SKC player at 6 yards but TFC Eckersley clears away from box.
60 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from right has TFC O'Dea pop up header at 8 yards cleared for box.
60 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from left has SKC Sapong head ball from 8 yards on right that hits bar and TFC Eckersley tracks pop up and clears ball midair from 5 yards on left just beating SKC Bieler from shot.
61 min...SKC Sinovic rush on left and rolls cross which TFC Dunfield clears on edge of box.
62 min...SKC Myers rolls ball over end line on right on pass forward to charging SKC Nagamura.
63 min...TFC Bostock rushes over right end line for goalkick on short rush after receiving short throw-in.
64 min...TFC Morgan pulls down KFC Sapong on right edge of TFC box.
65 min...SKC Zusi rolls freekick ball across box but TFC players break it up before SKC Sinovic can get away kick.
66 min...SKC Zusi cross from 25 yards on left bounces through box as SKC Sapong falls off play running into TFC Morgan.
67 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from left has SKC Myers leap to head 6 yarder over net.
68 min...TFC Califf knocks over SKC Feilhaber at TFC 22 yards. Referee signals for freekick and pushing match breaks out.
70 min...SKC Zusi 22 yard freekick up middle is blocked by head in TFC player wall.
71 min...SKC Sinovic rush on left has 25 yard cross caught by goalie flying forward.
72 min...TFC goalie catches SKC Myers cross from 20 yards on right in crowd of players at 6 yards. TFC Califf is injured on play when goalie crashes into him.
74 min...SKC YELLOW card...Sinovic earns it for elbow on TFC Bostock rush down right sideline at 30 yards.
75 min...TFC Bostock 35 yard freekick from right sideline has SKC player head ball away in crowd of players at 10 yards and play whistled down just outside box on TFC Eckersley handball.
75 min...TFC YELLOW card...Califf earns it for pushing SKC Bieler after whistle.
76 min...SKC Claudio Bieler GOAL...SKC goalie's 90 yard freekick has SKC C J Sapong head ball forward from 30 yards and Bieler rush down middle to bouncing ball and kick 15 yarder into left side of net past goalie Joseph Bendik.
77 min...SKC YELLOW card...Feilhaber earns it for complaining about freekick whistle just after restart in center circle after scoring play.
78 min...SKC Zusi 50 yard freekick down middle has SKC Collin pop up header at 12 yards on right that goalie catches.
79 min...TFC Eckersley 55 yard freekick has goalie leap to catch ball over head of TFC forward.
79 min...SKC Sinovic low cross from left 25 yards on left has TFC Califf clear in middle of box.
80 min...SKC Nagamura low cross from 22 yards on left has TFC Califf clear after KFC Sapong knocks ball forward from 15 yards inside center of box.
81 min...TFC sub...Osorio replaces Dunfield.
.........SKC sub...Saad replaces Feilhaber.
82 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from right has TFC O'Dea pop up header and SKC Sapong whiff shot on left side of box with TFC Califf blocking him and TFC Eckersley makes clearance.
83 min...SKC Collin chips 40 yard pass forward down middle that bounces ahead of SKC Sapong charging to left end line and out of play.
84 min...TFC sub...Russell replaces Bostock.
84 min...SKC Sinovic low cross from 22 yards on left is blocked by TFC Eckersley.
85 min...TFC YELLOW card...Eckersley earns it for tackle on SKC Saad at TFC 40 yards.
85 min...SKC Zusi 45 yard freekick from left has SKC Besler pop up ball on header at 20 yards over crowd of players and goalie makes catch.
86 min...TFC sub...Bekker replaces Ephraim.
87 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from left has SKC Beiler blast 20 yarder through crowd of players that goalie blocks at 3 yards and defender clears.
88 min...TFC Russell heads freekick forward wide right of net that goalie rushes wide to pick up and clear.
90 min...SKC Saad taps ball over to charging SKC Zusi who shoots 25 yarder down middle just wide right of post. TFC O'Dea is injured on play.
92 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from right is cleared on left but SKC win freekick when SKC Sapong is pushed over by TFC Osoraio just outside left side of box.
93 min...SKC Zusi 25 yard freekick from left is just over leaping players and goalie leaps and swats ball wide right of net.
93 min...SKC Zusi cornerkick from right is over players and bounces to SKC Saad just outside box and he settles ball and blasts 20 yarder down middle well high and right of net.
94 min...TFC YELLOW card...O'Dea earns it for tackle on SKC Zusi breaking out on rush at TFC 50 yard line.
95 min...SKC Zusi 45 yard chips freekick down middle and ball headed forward wide left of post by SKC Collin on header from 15 yards.
96 min...game ends 3:34pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......2..........Sporting Kansas City...........1........

Attendance was announced as 25991. This is a new home record for league game but smaller than the few times they've played here before. Attendance was greater for last year's CONCACAF Championship semi-final match against Los Angeles Galaxy and the friendly game against Liverpool, both last season. The MLS season started earlier than ever this year because for the expected interruptions for World Cup qualifying and the Gold Cup and it would be too cold to play at BMO Field this time of year. The day actually was warmer outside than any other this week and I've been to games as cold as it was in past seasons, 5 degrees Celsius, but there wouldn't have been a way to predict this at the time of scheduling. Most of the empty seats were in the far away and cheapest 500 section. 47K was the record TFC attendance against the Galaxy.

The game was played on the artificial turf (no installing grass like the Liverpool game) and the ball rolled fast and caused a few plays of both teams to roll out of bounds.

Budweiser (new sponser) Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as forward Robert Earnshaw. He scored both the TFC goals. Both times he celebrated with a handless front somersault. More dangerous than the Galaxy's Robbie Keane's goal celebration! His goals were breaking up an SKC pass between defenders finishing with a clear shot on goal and a stutter-step Penalty kick.

The team is off to a better start than last year's MLS season which opened with an 0-9 run. They continue to sign new players with winger John Bostock signed earlier this week to play along with forward Robert Earnshaw who was just signed last week. Bostock drew the Penalty kick call when he was tripped up in the box after dribbling through a few players.

Sporting Kansas City were the first place team in the Eastern Conference last year and head beaten TFC in their three league games. They had won their opener on the road 3-1 after falling behind against Philadelphia Union last week. They were unbeaten in all MLS regular season games since last July while TFC hadn't won a regular season game since last July.

The crowd was nervous for TFC to hold on to their lead. They groaned when SKC scored their goal and again when added time was announced as 5 minutes. TFC were hanging on at the end--being outshot 16 to 1 in the second half.

Tonight's win should be a tremendous boost of confidence to the team and their fans. TFC set a league record in conceding late goals last season.

Fourth official was Sylviu Petrescu was the only Canadian in the referee crew but he was the MLS Official of the Year in 2012 and refereed the MLS Cup Champtionship game just last December.

TFC next game is on Saturday on the road against Montreal Impact who later in the day won their second of the season on a West coast swing to start the season 2-0. The week after is a bye week. First home game is March 30th, 2:00pm, at BMO Field against Los Angeles Galaxy.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com Major Events Goals and Assists TOR 3' Robert Earnshaw TOR 21' Robert Earnshaw on Penalty kick KC 77' Claudio Bieler (C.J. Sapong) Match Info Referee: Fotis Bazakos Attendance: 25991 Scoring Summary TFC – Robert Earnshaw 3’ TFC – Robert Earnshaw 21’ (Penalty) SKC – Claudio Bieler 77’ Misconduct Summary SKC – Paulo Nagamura 24’ (caution) foul SKC – Aurelien Collin 39’ (caution) hand SKC – Seth Sinovic 75’ (caution) foul TFC – Danny Califf 77’ (caution) dissent SKC – Benny Feilhaber 78’ (caution) foul TFC – Richard Eckersley 86’ (caution) foul TFC – Darren O’Dea 95’ (caution) foul

Match Stats Toronto FC Sporting Kansas City 5 Attempts on Goal 16 3 Shots on Target 1 2 Shots off Target 10 0 Blocked Shots 5 3 Corner Kicks 9 19 Fouls 15 5 Open Play Crosses 25 4 Offsides 2 3 First Yellow Cards 4 0 Second Yellow Cards 0 0 Red Cards 0 66 Duels Won 74 47% Duels Won % 52% 212 Total Pass 457 60% Passing Accuracy % 81% 31.8% Possession 68.2%

Lineups

Toronto FC – Joe Bendik; Richard Eckersley, Danny Califf, Darren O’Dea ©, Ashtone Morgan; John Bostock (Darel Russell 85’), Jeremy Hall, Terry Dunfield (Jonathan Osorio 82’), Reggie Lambe; Hogan Ephraim (Kyle Bekker 87’), Robert Earnshaw Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Gale Agbossoumonde, Andrew Wiedeman, Emery Welshman

Sporting KC – Jimmy Nielsen ©; Seth Sinovic, Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler, Chance Myers; Paulo Nagamura, Oriol Rosell, Benny Feilhaber (Soony Saad 82’), Bobby Convey (C.J. Sapong 46’), Graham Zusi; Claudio Bieler Substitutes not used: Eric Kronberg, Ike Opara, Lawrence Olum, Peterson Joseph, Josh Gardner

TFC starters