April 6, 2013--Toronto FC vs FC Dallas (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday April 6th, 2013 MLS game between Toronto FC and FC Dallas played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................12 Joseph Bendik
16 Darel Russell...6 Gale Agbossoumonde...48 Darren O'Dea (cpt)...27 Richard Eckersley
7 John Bostock...21 Jonathan Osorio...25 Jeremy Hall...19 Reggie Lambe
..........10 Robert Earnshaw...31 Hogan Ephraim

Subs:...24 Stefan Frei (gk)...4 Doneil Henry (def)...5 Ashtone Morgan (def)...8 Kyle Bekker (mid)...11 Luis Silva (fwd)
...17 Justin Braun (fwd)...32 Andrew Wiedeman (fwd)
head coach Ryan Nelsen

FC Dallas (blue socks and shorts, blue shirt backs, blue & white hooped shirt fronts, white names and numbers)

..................1 Raul Fernandez
17 Zach Loyd...14 George John...24 Matt Hedges...5 Jair Benitez
4 Andrew Jacobson...31 Michel...10 David Ferreira (cpt)...33 Kenny Cooper...6 Jackson
.................7 Blas Perez

Subs:...18 Chris Seitz (gk)...11 Fabian Castillo (mid)...13 Bradlee Baladez (mid)...16 Bobby Warshaw (def)...21 London Woodberry (def)
...23 Kellyn Acosta (def)...27 Je-Vaughn Watson (mid)
head coach Schellas Hyndman

Game officials:...referee Ismail Elfath...referee's assistants Kermit Quisenberry and Kevin Klinger...fourth official Mathieu Bourdeau ...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 4:09pm...TFC defends south end on this cold and cloudy day).
2 min...FCD goalie clears ball off charging TFC Earnshaw at 12 yards after defender's poor backpass by FCD Hedges.
4 min...TFC Eckersley 55 yard freekick from left is cleared on edge of box.
6 min...FCD Michel 50 yard freekick from right has FCD Perez pop up ball just outside box and defender clears from 12 yards.
7 min...TFC Agbossoumonde suffers head injury at TFC 25 yard line in jostling with FCD Jackson.
9 min...TFC Bostock cross from 30 yards on far right has FCD Jacobson head ball twice to head ball out left side of box.
9 min...TFC Eckersley low cross from 20 yards on far left has defender clear.
10 min...FCD Loyd crosses in after run up right sideline from 30 yards and FCD Jackson heads ball from 8 yards on left wide left of post.
12 min...TFC YELLOW card...Russell earns it for sliding tackle from behind on FCD Jackson at TFC 50 yards near right sideline.
15 min...TFC Earnshaw gets cross in from right and goalie leaps to catch ball in front of TFC Earnshaw at 8 yards.
16 min...TFC Russell 35 yard chip from right is caught by goalie.
18 min...TFC Lambe low cross from 22 yards on left is cleared by defender.
19 min...FCD Jackson pass to FCD Benitez who crosses from 22 yards from far left and TFC O'Dea flies at 7 yards in middle of box to head ball away.
20 min...FCD YELLOW card...Benitez earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Bostock at FCD 45 yard right sideline.
21 min...TFC Russell 50 yard freekick from right is cleared by defender heading away on edge of box.
22 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from right has FCD John jump at 7 yards on right and head ball away. TFC Bostock taps ball back to TFC Hall and defender checks charging TFC Hall off ball at 12 yards.
22 min...There's a pushing incident between TFC Hall and FCD Perez near right cornerflag and FCD wins a freekick.
24 min...FCD Jackson dekes TFC Russell on left and touches pass to FCD Ferreira who shoots roller wide right from 15 yards.
27 min...FCD Perez is touched pass from FCD Cooper and his 25 yard shot is partially blocked by sliding defender and ball bounces to goalie.
29 min...After a long FCD possession FCD Jacobson is given short pass by FCD Ferreira from left and his 30 yard shot from the right dips down and hits the top of the bar.
30 min...TFC Ephraim wins freekick when he's knocked over by FCD Loyd.
31 min...TFC Osorio 30 yard freeekick from left has defender pop up header at 10 yards and goalie catches ball in traffic.
33 min...FCD Andrew Jacobson GOAL...FCD Michel 40 yard freekick from right has FCD Cooper in crowd of players at 8 yards in middle flick header across across box and Jacobson on left boots 8 yard shot into top right corner of net beyond goalie Joe Bendik.
35 min...FCD Jackson and FCD Perez on run push ball too far forward that TFC Russell can then pass back for TFC goalie to clear.
36 min...FCD Jackson shot on edge of box is headed down (not on a handball from TFC Agbossoumonde at 10 yards) and cleared.
37 min...FCD Michel chips 45 yard shot from left that's caught by goalie.
40 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from right is popped up by defender at 6 yards even with right post and goalie catches.
44 min...FCD defender heads ball away after TFC Hall 30 yard chip from left into box.
45 min...TFC YELLOW card...Ephraim earns it for not giving 10 yards on an FCD quick freekick attempt as he stood only 2 yards away to left teammates get back into defensive postions at TFC 45 yards.
46 min...FCD Michel cornerkick from right has goalie punch ball away on right post. FCD Michel blasts recross from 20 yards on extreme right and ball hits head of FCD John knocking him over at 7 yards and ball deflects over net.
47 min...half ends 4:57pm.

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

2nd Half:...half starts 5:12pm. The weather is now a hazy sun out in the west.
halftime subs:...FCD Woodberry replaces John.
................TFC Silva replaces Osorio.
46 min...TFC O'Dea suffers head injury in collision with TFC Agbossoumonde leaping for header over FCD Perez at TFC 35 yards.
48 min...FCD Loyd crosses 35 yard shot from right that goalie flies wide left of net to catch in front of FCD Jackson on left end line.
51 min...TFC Bostock low 33 yard shot down middle bounces for goalie to smother.
51 min...TFC Eckersley cross from near left end line has charging TFC Earnshaw at 15 yards on left flick header into middle of box but FCD Benitez able to clear.
53 min...TFC Lambe cross from 35 yards on right has FCD Hedges in middle of box at 12 yards kick ball over end line for cornerkick.
53 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right has FCD Loyd head ball for another cornerkick.
53 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right is over players in box and bounces wide left for goalkick.
54 min...FCD Perez and TFC Hall are told off by the referee at FCD 45 yards for collision.
57 min...TFC YELLOW card...Silva earns it for pulling down FCD Ferreira on rush at TFC 45 yards.
57 min...FCD Michel 50 yard freekick has FCD Woodberry in crowd of players leap and head 10 yarder tha bounces to goalie who then throws ball forward to start quick TFC breakout.
58 min...FCD Blas Perez GOAL...FCD Jair Benitez steps forward at center line to break up quick TFC breakout led by John Bostock and taps pass to FCD Jackson who from 55 yards sends long pass to charging Perez in open cutting in from left and he gets to ball and blasts low 12 yard shot from left into center of net beyond sprawling goalie at 7 yards.
60 min...FCD Michel 45 yard freekick from left has FCD player on right edge of box head ball across box but defenders clear.
61 min...TFC Bostock 40 yard freekick from right bends for goalie at 3 yards to knock ball forward and survive bump by charging TFC Earnshaw and then pick up at 10 yards.
62 min...TFC Ephraim sends low cross from 20 yards on left that FCD Hedges concedes cornerkick.
62 min...TFC Eckersley high cornerkick from left has goalie catch ball on right post.
63 min...FCD Jackson long run on left and cuts over to middle at 25 yards and sends 22 yard shot high and wide right of net.
67 min...FCD Hedges makes key block on edge of box on TFC Bostock that makes TFC Earnshaw offside when he runs to ball.
70 min...TFC Eckersley low 30 yard shot on left is through crowd of players and bounces to goalie.
71 min...FCD sub...Castillo replaces Cooper.
72 min...TFC sub...Braun replaces Bostock.
73 min...TFC Eckersley wins freekick when he's squeezed on run on left between FCD Jackson and FCD Loyd.
73 min...TFC Silva 25 yard freekick from left is cleared out of box by FCD Perez. Ball sent back to left edge of box and TFC Ephraim backheels pass to TFC Silva who shoots 15 yard shot that goalie sprawls at 3 yards to block and defenders work ball downfield.
75 min...FCD Woodberry loses his shoe.
75 min...FCD goalie catches high sky ball that FCD Benitez makes when trying to clear ball in box.
76 min...TFC goalie slides forward to smother through ball at 15 yards ahead of charging FCD Castillo that was sent in from FCD Ferreira from 30 yards up middle.
76 min...TFC Earnshaw blasts low 30 yarder up middle wide right of net.
77 min...TFC Braun rolls centering cross from 20 yards that defender clears.
78 min...FCD Castillo wins cornerkick on 15 yard cross near left end line that hits TFC Russell.
79 min...FCD Ferreira cornerkick from left has TFC Eckersley on left head ball through box.
82 min...TFC Earnshaw shoots 20 yarder down middle over net after gaining control of ball from TFC O'Dea long kick from 80 yards.
83 min...FCD YELLOW card...Castillo earns it for complaining about play before and FCD Benitez throw-in.
84 min...TFC Justin Braun GOAL...TFC Richard Eckersley rolls pass from 40 yards in middle to TFC Hogan Ephraim on left sideline and he crosses from 35 yards that has FCD Matt Hedges leaps and pops up header at 6 yards over goalie charging out and ball blows towards net and Braun outjumps Hedges and chests 2 yarder into net with FCD Benitez already behind goalline.
85 min...FCD YELLOW card...Jacobson earns it for knocking down TFC Braun at FCD 50 yards.
85 min...TFC Eckersley 50 yard freekick down middle has TFC O'Dea back into FCD Jacobson pulling him over as he fell in box. FCD Castillo has long run down left and takes 12 yard low shot from left just wide right of post.
86 min...FCD sub...Warshaw replaces Benitez.
87 min...TFC Silva 25 yard freekick cross from near right sideline has TFC Agbossoumonde pop up header at 12 yards in middle and TFC Russell heads down at 8 yards and TFC O'Dea flicks low shot with back to goal from 7 yards that FCD goalie dives to swat away on right post and defenders clear ball from box.
89 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from left has defender clear from box.
89 min...TFC Daryl Russell GOAL...TFC Jeremy Hall short throw-in on left from FCD 22 yard line has TFC Justin Braun control ball and cross from 25 yards high and over to left for Russell who taps ball down with foot at 22 yards on right and blasts shot off inside of left goalpost beyond flying goalie Raul Fernandez.
90 min...TFC Eckersley is injured before play resumes.
90 min...TFC sub...Morgan replaces Eckersley.
92 min...FCD Jackson is checked off ball on left edge of box near end line by TFC Agbossoumonde.
93 min...TFC goalie dives on ball that FCD Castillo was breaking through into box.
93 min...TFC YELLOW card...Braun earns it for injurying FCD Loyd at FCD 30 yard line.
95 min...game ends 6:02pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......2..........FC Dallas...........2........

Attendance was announced as 16111. That was down over 2000 from last week's BMO Field home opener. The weather was cold but still this was a game against the first place team in the Western Conference. There were probably a lot less than the official numbers who actually showed up today. TFC's comeback was lost on many fans who were heading to the exits after 60 minutes. TFC maintains their unbeaten streak at home this season with one win and two ties.

Budweiser Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as defender Richard Eckersley. He played on defence but was allowed to make long offensive runs on the wing and took a lot of the freekicks.

TFC didn't play well until the last 30 minutes of the game. I didn't count a TFC shot until the 61 minute mark. Although this was another tie just like last week, this game will make the team feel a lot better by making the incredible comeback rather than giving up the lead.

TFC Daryl Russell became a hero in this game with his late goal after being blamed for letting Los Angeles Galaxy score their injury time tieing goal when he headed a Galaxy cross back into the box for the late score last week.

Justin Braun played his first minutes for TFC today after a concussion injury kept him out of their first games. He entered the game at 72 minutes and proved very effective scoring after just 12 minutes of play.

TFC midfielder Terry Dunfield suffered a knee injury and did not play today. Defender Danny Califf missed the game today with the flu. Danny Kouvermans is still out recovering with the ACL injury he suffered last year. The team is still waiting to bring in two Argentinian players including one young designated player. Dallas had six players listed as injured although Victor Ulloa played in the Reserves game later in the evening.

Most of the cardboard tickets for this year's games have pictures of TFC fans in workplaces and stores staring back at the camera probably to cut down on the embarrassment each year of having 25% of the tickets being for players traded or leaving the team before the game takes place but among the few that have a player on them, today's game was midfielder Torsten Frings who announced his retirement after the tickets were sent away to be printed.

TFC plays next week in Philadelphia before their next home game on Saturday April 27th at 4:00pm against the other Texas team--Houston Dynamo who are in the Eastern Conference and meet three times this season.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.co Major Events Goals and Assists DAL 34' Andrew Jacobson (Kenny Cooper, Michel) DAL 59' Blas Pérez (Jackson) TOR 85' Justin Braun TOR 90' Darel Russell (Luis Silva) Match Info Referee: Ismail Elfath Attendance: 16111 Disciplinary TOR 14' Darel Russell Foul YELLOW card DAL 21' Jair Benitez Foul YELLOW card TOR 46' Hogan Ephraim Encroachment YELLOW card TOR 58' Luis Silva Foul YELLOW card DAL 84' Fabian Castillo Dissent YELLOW card DAL 86' Andrew Jacobson Foul YELLOW card TOR 94' Justin Braun Foul YELLOW card Match Stats Toronto FC FC Dallas 9 Attempts on Goal 12 6 Shots on Target 3 3 Shots off Target 7 0 Blocked Shots 2 3 Corner Kicks 2 12 Fouls 15 21 Open Play Crosses 3 1 Offsides 0 4 First Yellow Cards 3 0 Second Yellow Cards 0 0 Red Cards 0 53 Duels Won 49 51% Duels Won % 48% 436 Total Pass 382 78% Passing Accuracy % 75% 54.3% Possession 45.7%

Lineups Toronto FC – Joe Bendik; Darel Russell, Richard Eckersley (Ashtone Morgan 89), Gale Agbossoumonde, Darren O’Dea ©; John Bostock (Justin Braun 73), Reggie Lambe, Jonathan Osorio (Luis Silva 45), Jeremy Hall; Hogan Ephraim, Robert Earnshaw Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Doneil Henry, Andrew Wiedeman, Kyle Bekker

FC Dalls – Raul Fernandez; George John (London Woodberry 45), Jair Benitez (Bobby Warshaw 86), Zach Loyd, Matt Hedges; Andrew Jacobson, Jackson, Michel, David Ferreira (cpt), Kenny Cooper (Fabian Castillo 72); Blas Perez

Substitutes not used: Chris Seitz, Breadlle Baladez, Kellyn Acosta, Je-Vaughn Watson

TFC starters