June 29, 2013 MLS--Toronto FC vs Real Salt Lake (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday June 29th, 2013 MLS game between Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake played at BMO Field in Toronto at 1:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................12 Joseph Bendik
33 Ryan Richter...13 Steven Caldwell...4 Doneil Henry...48 Darren O'Dea (cpt)
21 Jonathan Osorio...25 Jeremy Hall...20 Matias Laba...15 Bobby Convey
...........22 Jeremy Brockie...14 Danny Koevermans

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...5 Ashtone Morgan (def)...6 Gale Agbossoumonde (def)...11 Luis Silva (fwd)...16 Darel Russell (def)
...17 Justin Braun (fwd)...19 Reggie Lambe (mid)
team official:...head coach Ryan Nelsen

Real Salt Lake (all white, red names and numbers, navy stripe on right side)

....................18 Nick Rimando
2 Tony Beltran...4 Aaron Maund...6 Nat Borchers...7 Lovel Palmer
14 Yordany Alvarez...8 Joao Plata...5 Kyle Beckerman (cpt)...11 Javier Morales
.............13 Olmes Garcia...49 Devon Sandoval

Subs:...45 Josh Saunders (gk)...10 Robbie Findley (fwd)...16 Carlos Salcedo (def)...20 Ned Grabavoy (mid)...23 Khari Stephenson (mid)
...26 Sebastian Velasquez (mid)...29 Abdoulie Mansally (def)
team official:...head coach Jason Kreis

Game officials:...referee Chris Penso...referee's assistants Peter Manikowski and Matthew Nelson...fourth official Mark Kadlecik ...(neon yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...starts 1:09pm...TFC defends north end on this warm, overcast afternoon with the sun coming out a few times during the game.
1 min...RSL Sandoval low cross from 25 yards on right is cleared just inside box by TFC Caldwell.
1 min...TFC Osario cuts in from right and rolls 22 yard shot wide right of net.
7 min...RSL Morales rescues ball on left end line and kicks ball into box and RSL Garcia sticks foot forward and shoots 10 yard shot over net.
8 min...RSL Garcia low 25 yard kick from right rolls wide left of net.
9 min...TFC Osario 28 yard cross from right is high and drifts behind net.
9 min...RSL goalie eludes sliding TFC Brockie at 8 yards to kick clearance after receiving pass back after taking short goalkick.
10 min...TFC Osario rolls ball forward and RSL goalie slides out to smother through ball in front of TFC Hall.
12 min...TFC Koevermans pokes pass from right to charging TFC Convey who first touches ball into box then shoots 10 yarder down middle wide left of net when pressured by RSL Maund.
16 min...RSL Morales 20 yard shot from left has goalie lean right and punch ball away to right.
17 min...RSL Plata rolls pass from left and RSL Maund whiff on 15 yard that is blocked by sliding defender.
19 min...TFC Richter cross from 25 yards on right has RSL Maund kick ball away out right side of box for throw-in.
20 min...TFC Osario 22 yard shot up middle pops up off defender and 18 yards and RSL goalie outjumps TFC Brockie to catch ball at 8 yards on left.
22 min...RSL Morales cornerkick from left has goalie at 5 yards punch ball out right side of box. RSL Beckerman rescues ball on right side line and wins throw-in from TFC Henry blocking cross.
23 min...RSL Garcia low shot down middle from 35 yards is smothered by goalie on bounce.
24 min...RSL YELLOW card...Garcia earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Laba at RSL 50 yards.
25 min...TFC O'Dea 55 yard freekick from left has TFC Richter at 22 yards flick header forward but defender heads it away from edge of box.
26 min...TFC Convey cross from 55 yards on left has goalie catch on right ahead of TFC Koevermans.
28 min...TFC goalie clearance ia almost intercepted by RSL Palmer at 25 yards after backpass.
28 min...TFC Richter crosses low from 25 yards on right that has TFC Koevermans closely watched by RSL Borchers flub 12 yard shot in middle that rolls to goalie.
30 min...TFC Richter gets low cross from 20 yards on right has TFC Koevermans at 12 yards in middle miss and defender clear away from box.
32 min...RSL Morales freekick from TFC 40 yards on right has RSL Beltran rush on right to cross from 25 yards has TFC O'Dea head ball over and through 6 yard box and TFC Richter rescues ball on left end line.
33 min...RSL YELLOW card...Palmer earns it for body check on TFC Convey at TFC 45 yard line.
34 min...TFC Hall at 25 yards on left rolls ball forward to TFC Brockie but it hits him on the back of the boots and defender clears ball at 14 yards.
34 min...TFC Richter in middle has ball bounce at 35 yards and hit him on the elbow but TFC Laba runs forward with it and taps pass from 22 yards over to TFC Convey who rolls cross from 12 yards across box and TFC Brockie slides and misses 6 yard tap-in.
35 min...TFC Osario rolls cross from 12 yards from left along 3 yards and no one is there for a tap-in as ball rolls out right side of box.
36 min...TFC YELLOW card...Koevermans earns it for grabbing RSL Morales at TFC 45 yards.
38 min...TFC Brockie gets to bad freekick and rush from center line on right and 30 yard cross is caught by goalie.
40 min...TFC Convey can't win Penalty kick when he falls over RSL Palmer on rush up right into box.
40 min...RSL Garcia is checked off ball after dribbling into right side of TFC box.
41 min...RSL Garcia cross from near right cornerflag after long run near sideline has TFC Richter head away from edge of TFC box.
41 min...TFC Brockie can't win Penalty kick on rush up right into box and bumps into RSL Borchers.
42 min...RSL Plata rush on left and cuts to middle and pushes pass from 18 yards down middle as he falls wide right for goalie to stop roll with his foot.
44 min...RSL Morales and Plata work out short cornerkick from left that then has Morales cross over box and TFC Henry heads ball out right side of box.
44 min...RSL Yordany Alvarez GOAL...RSL Tony Beltran at 8 yard line on right edge of box rolls pass back and to middle where RSL Olmes Garcia touches pass back from 15 yards in middle over to RSL Alvarez who bends 20 yard shot from right into left side of net in screened shot with big crowd of players in box. TFC goalie Joe Bendik couldn't see ball and is left standing on the right side of the net.
46 min...half ends 1:55pm.

Halftime Entertainment:...A Tim Horton Timbits game between children took place for less than three minutes in the center circle after waiting 10 minutes before coming on to the field. Like the last home game here when they had a mini-game, every kid was chasing the ball. The Benny Hill theme was played as background music to get the crowd laughing. This one was worse as Rachel (the TFC co-ordinator) interviewed the early goal scorer while the game was still going on and that kid just wanted to get back to playing.

2nd Half:...starts 7:13pm.
46 min...RSL Palmer rush on left and crosses from 25 yards over players in box and ball cleared.
47 min...TFC Laba trips up RSL Garcia injurying him at TFC 40 yards on right.
48 min...RSL Morales 45 yard freekick from right has TFC Richter at 10 yards in crowd of players head ball out of box for throw-in on left.
49 min...TFC Henry 70 yard chip up middle bounces to goalie.
50 min...RSL Morales 45 yard freekick from right has RSL player fly to head ball down at 15 yards but ball is cleared.
50 min...TFC Convey low cross from 25 yards on left is caught on bounce by goalie diving forward to 6 yards in front of TFC players.
51 min...TFC O'Dea low cross from 22 yards on left is caught by goalie at 5 yards in front of charging TFC Brockie.
52 min...RSL Morales pushes give and go pass too far forward for RSL Garcia and goalie picks up ball wide right of net.
53 min...RSL Morales is injured when he and TFC Henry both slide for ball at TFC 30 yards but play carries on with RSL still on rush.
53 min...TFC Convey is touched pass back on left by TFC O'Dea and chips ball forward from 25 yards but ball bounces over end line well wide left of net.
53 min...TFC sub...Silva replaces Koevermans.
55 min...TFC Richter cross from 35 yards on right is just step ahead of charging TFC Silva on edge of box and sliding defender clears ball from box.
56 min...RSL Morales 30 yard freekick on right is knocked down in crowd of players at 10 yards but ball is cleared.
58 min...TFC sub...Braun replaces Hall.
59 min...TFC Convey 30 yard freekick from right has RSL Beckerman as nearest defender head ball away from right side of box.
59 min...TFC YELLOW card...Richter earns it for tripping up RSL Plata on rush up left at center line.
60 min...RSL goalie charges forward to clear through ball pass ahead of TFC Braun.
61 min...RSL sub...Grabavoy replaces Plata.
62 min...TFC Henry checks RSL Sandoval off ball just inside box on left when pushed pass.
62 min...RSL Grabavoy receives short pass forward by RSL Morales on left and takes low 10 yard shot is stopped by goalie sprawling goalie on left post ahead of RSL Sandoval sliding up around TFC Henry trying to get feet to ball at 3 yards.
63 min...TFC Osario low cross from 28 yards on right has RSL Maund slide at 8 yards to keep TFC Braun from getting a shot in middle of box.
64 min...TFC Silva cross from 22 yards on right has flying goalie punch ball away at 4 yards.
64 min...RSL Beltran cross to middle and flubs shot off TFC O'Dea on edge of box and wins cornerkick on right.
65 min...RSL Morales cornerkick from right has defender head away in crowd of players and RSL Palmer blasts shot up middle well over net from 30 yards.
68 min...RSL Morales 25 yard freekick from right has RSL Grabavoy on edge of box in middle roll pass left for RSL Beckerman who crosses from 18 yards and RSL Sandoval even with left post pops header from 8 yards heads over net.
68 min...RSL sub...Findley replaces Garcia.
69 min...TFC Henry chips ball forward from 35 yards and TFC Silva heads ball on right from 15 yards across box but RSL Borchers heads ball up and RSL Beltran heads ball out of box.
70 min...TFC Convey cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Brockie head shot over net from 12 yards.
71 min...RSL Morales 30 yard freekick from right bends shot around four man wall and goalie push ball wide right of post for cornerkick.
72 min...RSL short cornerkick wasted when pushed over end line.
72 min...TFC Braun crosses ball from 22 yards on left that RSL Beckerman heads away from 8 yards in middle of box.
72 min...TFC Richter chips pass forward from 40 yards on right over end line missing charging TFC Convey.
74 min...TFC O'Dea crosses ball from 28 yards on left has TFC Silva knock ball down with back to goal then bicycle kick from 16 yards wins cornerkick on deflection.
74 min...TFC Osario cornerkick from left has RSL Grabavoy kick away on left edge of 6 yard box. TFC Osario get ball back on left and charges past Grabavoy and roll 15 yarder across box but defender boots it away.
74 min...TFC O'Dea pops forward header from 20 yards on left that TFC Silva pops up header across box but defender heads away from 10 yards in middle.
77 min...RSL Beltran pushes over TFC Silva from behind as Silva passes away ball at RSL 50 yards and Silva kicks him on the way down. Beltran pushes down Silva again when he gets up and then TFC Henry charges over and shoves Beltran from behind knocking him over. RSL Findley pushes Henry with Henry facing him and a multi player pushing match ensues after whistle is blown.
78 min...RSL RED card...Tony Beltran earns it for his part in pushing match.
.........TFC RED card...Doneil Henry earns it for his part in the pushing match.
.........RSL YELLOW card...Findley earns it for his part in pushing match.
79 min...TFC O'Dea 55 yard freekick is flagged offside.
80 min...RSL sub...Mansally replaces Sandoval.
81 min...TFC O'Dea crosses from 40 yards on left over to TFC Richter at 25 yards on far right who heads centering pass and TFC Braun covered by RSL Borchers at 12 yards knocks ball down, turns and shoots wide left as he falls.
84 min...TFC Silva 40 yard freekick from left is headed away from just inside box.
85 min...TFC sub...Lambe replaces Convey.
86 min...TFC Richter long throw-in from right has play whistled down in box after ball was headed around. RSL Alvarez was injured in box on play as TFC Brockie attempts bicycle kick and kicks him in stomach.
91 min...TFC Richter low cross from 20 yards on right has RSL Maund kick ball from 10 yards behind end line.
91 min...TFC Silva cornerkick from right has TFC O'Dea at 7 yards in crowd of players fly forward and head ball over net.
92 min...TFC Braun is tapped back pass from TFC Laba and crosses from 20 yards on left that deflects off RSL Palmer at 10 yards popping up and charging TFC Brockie at 6 yards on left flicks header forward and RSL goalie bats ball down on the goal line and RSL Maund boots ball away.
92 min...TFC Caldwell makes stop on RSL Findley leading 2 on 1 break.
92 min...TFC YELLOW card...Caldwell earns it for knock down from behind on RSL Morales at TFC 40 yards.
93 min...RSL Morales wins cornerkick when TFC O'Dea checks him off ball at 15 yards near right end line.
93 min...RSL players walk out cornerkick on right to waste time.
94 min...TFC O'Dea 80 yard chip forward bounces on edge of RSL box and charging TFC Brockie at 8 yards over goalie's hands and RSL Borchers at 2 yards clears ball for cornerkick.
95 min...TFC Silva cornerkick from left has nearest defender RSL Grabavoy head ball away from left edge of 6 yard box.
95 min...TFC Lambe chips ball from 35 yards into box but wide left but defender heads ball over end line to prevent TFC Silva getting to it.
95 min...TFC Silva cornerkick from left has TFC O'Dea in crowd of players flick header across box from left past RSL Findley and TFC Caldwell slides at 4 yards on right post and shot has goalie block on his dive to center of net. RSL Findley clears ball to right and RSL Mansally clears from box.
96 min...game ends 3:02pm.

Final Score:...Toronto FC..........0.......Real Salt Lake.......1.......

Attendance was announced as 20841. The corners of the stadium were mostly filled in which meant a large walk up crowd and giveaways to Canadian Forces personnel but the more expensive seats had a lot of no shows from the season ticket holders. This was only the second home game this month so the team hasn't been in the news as much. It had rained in the early morning but the weather was game time kept switching between overcast and sunny but no more rain took place.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Steven Caldwell. I'd agree as he was important in defence as was the rest of the team and even broke up a 2 on 1 break in second half injury time to keep TFC in the game. RSL Kyle Beckerman was the best player I thought laying out passes to teammates no matter which direction he was running.

Today was Danny Koevermans first start in almost a year. He is still as slow as ever. He was subbed out at 55 minutes and his replacement, Luis Silva, was more effective.

Real Salt Lake is the first place team in the Western Conference (and first place overall). TFC's next home game is this Wednesday night against Montreal Impact who is the first place team in the East. RSL had played a US Open Cup game on Wednesday night in a home win against Carolina of the NASL winning 3-0 so may have been tiring out at the end of this game. Montreal played today at home losing 4-3 to Colorado in an injury tie game so they and TFC have a short turn around time until their meeting.

Today was an early afternoon game in the hottest weather so far. The CHIN picnic was playing just west of the stadium but on the CNE grounds. This may help explain the late arrival of spectators. The obstacle course of temporary fencing and grandstand seating for the auto race that will take place next weekend even added to my time to get here.

The video board played a lot of "Happy Canada Day" messages first from TFC coaches then from players. There was a flyover of a Harvard trainer airplane first commissioned in 1938 that taught thousands of Allied pilots to fly in the Second World War. Tickets were given to Canadian Forces personnel.

Robert Earnshaw missed the game with a calf injury. I think he could have put a few of the TFC chances away today.

Doneil Henry earned a Red card for a push against Tony Beltron who had pushed down Luis Silva. He will miss the next game anyway because he's been called up to the Canadian National team along with fellow defender Ashtone Morgan, and midfielders Kyle Bekker and Jonathan Osario. Of these only Henry and Osario are actual starters in the last month. Still this will leave TFC with a thin roster. They cut defender Logan Emory earlier this week to have more roster spots available for the summer transfer window.

RSL did without Luis Gill today as he would be on his way back from the USA U-20 World Cup team who were knocked out in the last group round match against Ghana.

RSL had never scored on TFC here in a league game before today (they scored once in a CONCACAF Championship game 1-1 tie) and that meant they've never beaten TFC before today. (The new staggered schedule since last year meant RSL were not in Toronto in 2012).

Nick Rimando earned the shutout for RSL having to make a few key saves and getting help by his defenders on a few line clearances.

Joao Plata returned to BMO Field today in an RSL jersey after two seasons playing for TFC. He was mostly cheered when he was introduced and again when he was subbed out. He always won a lot of freekicks for TFC when he'd get bumped over with his 5'2" statue. Today he didn't draw fouls--it was teammates who were winning RSL freekicks. Defender Aaron Maund was unrecognized today but he played for TFC in 2012.

Game day programs were available today. My ticket rep admitted there was a problem with the printers getting programs to the stadium in time for the last game but that was the first time in seven years that I've seen none available.

I was too late leaving the stadium and missed out on getting a package of pasta for Primo today's game day sponser.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca


Major Events

Goals and Assists
RSL 45' Yordany Alvarez (Olmes García, Tony Beltran) 

Disciplinary
RSL 25' Olmes García Foul  
RSL 34' Lovel Palmer Foul  
TOR 37' Danny Koevermans Foul  
TOR 60' Ryan Richter Foul  
RSL 79' Robbie Findley Argument  
RSL 79' Tony Beltran Fight  
TOR 79' Doneil Henry Fight  
TOR 93' Steven Caldwell Foul  

Match Info
Referee: Chris Penso
Attendance: 20841

Match Stats

Toronto FC             Real Salt Lake
 11    Attempts on Goal       11 
  4    Shots on Target         4 
  5    Shots off Target        4 
  2    Blocked Shots           3 
  4    Corner Kicks            4 
 18    Fouls                   9 
 25    Open Play Crosses      11 
  1    Offsides                0 
  3    First Yellow Cards      3 
  0    Second Yellow Cards     0 
  1    Red Cards               1 
 56    Duels Won              55 
 50%   Duels Won %            49% 
360    Total Pass            446 
 74%   Passing Accuracy %     81% 
 45.8% Possession             54.2% 

TORONTO FC RECORD: 2-8-6   12 POINTS
REAL SALT LAKE RECORD: 10-5-3  33 POINTS

Lineups

Toronto FC – Joe Bendik; 
Ryan Richter, Steven Caldwell, Doneil Henry, Darren O’Dea ©; 
Jonathan Osorio, Jeremy Hall (Justin Braun 59’), Matias Laba, Bobby Convey (Reggie Lambe 86’); 
Jeremy Brockie, Danny Koevermans (Luis Silva 55’)

Substitutes not used: Quillan Roberts, Ashtone Morgan, Gale Agbossoumonde, Darel Russell

Real Salt Lake – Nick Rimando; 
Lovel Palmer, Nat Borchers, Aaron Maund, Tony Beltran; 
Kyle Beckerman ©, Yordany Alvarez, Javier Morales; 
Joao Plata (Ned Grabavoy 62’), Olmes Garcia (Robbie Findley 69’), Devon Sandoval (Kenny Mansally 82’)

Subsitutes Not Used: Josh Saunders, Carlos Salcedo, Sebastian Velasquez, Khari Stephenson

TFC starters