September 28, 2013 MLS--Toronto FC vs D C United (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday September 28th, 2013 MLS game between Toronto FC and D C United played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:00pm.

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

.....................12 Joseph Bendik (cpt)
28 Mark Bloom...6 Gale Agbossoumonde...4 Doneil Henry...5 Ashtone Morgan
15 Bobby Convey...16 Darel Russell...25 Jeremy Hall...23 Alvaro Rey
...........7 Bright Dike...32 Andrew Wiedeman

Subs:...24 Stefan Frei (gk)...3 Jonas Elmer (def)...8 Kyle Bekker (mid)...17 Justin Braun (fwd)...19 Reggie Lambe (mid)
...27 Richard Eckersley (def)...33 Ryan Richter (def)
team official:...acting coach Jim Brennan

D C United (all black, white names and numbers, red trim)

....................31 Joe Willis
27 Sainey Nyassi...17 Conor Shanosky...21 Daniel Woolard...33 Taylor Kemp
11 Marcelo Saragosa...32 Collin Martin...25 Jared Jeffrey...19 Kyle Porter
...........26 Lionard Pajoy...29 Michael Seaton

Subs:...50 Andrew Dykstra (gk)...3 Dennis Iapichino (def)...12 Luis Silva (fwd)...16 Casey Townsend (fwd)...30 Conor Doyle (fwd)
team official:...head coach Ben Olsen

Game officials:...referee Ted Unkel...referee's assistants Adam Garner and Philippe Briere...fourth official Silviu Petrescu
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 1:09pm...TFC defends south end on this warm day with a bright sun in the south and a breeze from the east.
1 min...TFC Weideman running down middle to 40 yards taps pass over to TFC Convey on left and he runs to 20 yards on far left and sends in low cross that deflects off DCU Jeffrey at 10 yards for cornerkick.
2 min...TFC Rey cornerkick from left has ball popped up by foot of TFC Henry at 6 yards and TFC Dike swings and has shot deflect wide right for cornerkick.
2 min...TFC Convey cornerkick from right has goalie catch at 6 yards on right between crowd of players.
4 min...TFC Convey low cross from 25 yards on right has defender at 15 yards in middle clear ball.
4 min...DCU goalie catches TFC Agbossoumonde skyball chip blown in from 20 yards.
6 min...TFC Rey chips pass forward and to middle from 45 yards on left but ball bounces too far forward for charging TFC Wiedeman at 18 yards and ends up wide left for goalkick.
10 min...DCU player pushes 25 yard pass up middle but too far forward and ball bounces for goalkick.
10 min...TFC Russell 35 yard blast down middle is well wide right of net.
12 min...DCU Seaton taps centering pass to DCU Nyassi who blasts 25 yarder down middle that's caught by goalie.
14 min...DCU Jared Jeffrey GOAL...DCU Taylor Kemp crosses in from 28 yards on far left has TFC Doneil Henry twist header from 8 yards out of box. Jeffery blasts 30 yarder down middle around TFC Darel Russell at 25 yards and ball bends around goalie Joseph Bendik into top left corner of net.
16 min...TFC Dike steals ball off backpass meant for DCU Saragosa who slips at 30 yard line on right but then Dike slips on right edge of DCU box and a retreating DCU Woolard boots out for throw-in.
17 min...TFC Bloom throw-in from right has TFC Dike stop and twist shot from 10 yards on right that tips off defender for a cornerkick.
17 min...TFC Convey cornerkick from right has leaping DCU defender at 6 yards in middle head ball through and out left side of box.
17 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from left is over players on near side of box and one bounces to DCU goalie at 3 yards.
18 min...TFC Dike chases ball to near right end line and crosses from 20 yards that has DCU Nyassi at 15 yards in middle stop and rush out of box.
20 min...TFC Morgan sends in cross from 28 yards on left and DCU defender heads away from 12 yards.
22 min...TFC Convey 55 yard freekick down middle has defender head ball away on edge of box as whistle blown for bump.
24 min...TFC Morgan wins freekick on far left as DCU Nyassi bumps him over.
24 min...TFC Darel Russell GOAL...TFC Alvaro Rey 25 yard freekick near left endline from left bounces through box. TFC Bobby Convey shoots 18 yarder that deflects off foot of defender and pops high. Russell chests down ball and spins and boots 8 yarder from right into low left side of net.
26 min...DCU Kemp 45 yard freekick down middle has defender stop on edge of box.
32 min...TFC Wiedeman at 30 yards on right crosses to edge of box and TFC Dike in middle misses tapping down ball and TFC Rey at 22 yards on left shanks shot and defender heads away from edge of box.
33 min...TFC Rey cross from 22 yards on far left has TFC Convey jump and shoot 12 yarder that goalie saves on sprawl to right post.
34 min...DCU Porter wins freekick when pushed over near left edge of box on check by TFC Agbossoumonde.
34 min...DCU Kemp low 25 yard freekick from left is deflected high and to right on defender's slide. DCU Seaton runs out of box for ball that defender had poked away from him. He taps pass to DCU Jeffrey on right but has ball checked off him before he gets away shot from 22 yards.
36 min...TFC Convey rush up middle and 30 yard shot is tipped off defender's foot and bounces to goalie.
36 min...DCU YELLOW card...Martin earns it for sliding tackle at DCU 40 yard line on TFC Rey near left sideline.
37 min...TFC Convey 45 yard freekick from left has ball deflected over to TFC Russell who can't get away shot from 18 yards on right and defender clears.
37 min...TFC Convey sends pass forward up left wing to TFC Wiedeman and his 33 yard low shot from left bounces to goalie.
43 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from right has TFC Agbossoumonde in crowd of player head ball wide right from 5 yards for goalkick.
44 min...TFC YELLOW card...Dike earns it for tackle on DCU Woolard after Woolard had kicked away ball at DCU 22 yard line and followed through into Dike.
46 min...half ends 1:55pm.

Halftime Entertainment:...The winner of last week's contest of kicking the ball furthest was invited back for one kick from 60 yards away to shoot at a hole in a sign board stretching the entire width and height of the net. There may have been enough space to tuck in three balls but I doubt even a professional could do it in one try. TFC's Robert Earnshaw was supposed to have trained him. Last week the contestant barely reached over the halfway line--maybe a bare 65 yards. Today his ball was not quite straight but short by a good 15 yards. Titan Homes got off with a lot of publicity for almost no chance of someone winning the prize. The consulation prize was an oversize cheque for $10,000 and a bag of prizes that I didn't catch what was inside.

2nd Half:...half starts 2:12pm.
halftime sub:...DCU Doyle replaces Woolard.
46 min...DCU Pajoy rolls low 40 yard shot down middle just wide left of net.
47 min...TFC Dike has DCU Saragosa check him and Saragosa then blocks his shot from 10 yards in right side of box.
48 min...DCU Shanosky is injured flying over TFC Dike in center circle.
51 min...TFC Bloom at 22 yards on right centers ball to TFC Rey who bends cross to 7 yards in box where TFC Dike pops up header that defender clears. TFC Morgan wins cornerkick on deflection on DCU Doyle.
52 min...TFC Rey cornerkick from left has nearest defender head ball away for throw-in.
53 min...TFC Rey 30 yard freekick from far left has defender head ball through box for throw-in on right.
53 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from right has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players at 7 yards on right.
54 min...TFC Wiedeman bends cross from 35 yards on left that bounces wide right for goalkick.
56 min...TFC Rey cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Henry and DCU Nyassi both injured when they crash into end boards on left as they're falling over.
58 min...DCU Nyassi is injured in collision with TFC Morgan at TFC 30 yards.
60 min...TFC Wiedeman shanks midair 15 yard shot sideways to right after behing pushed pass into box on left.
61 min...TFC YELLOW card...Convey earns it for sliding tackle on DCU Seaton at TFC 50 yards.
62 min...DCU Kemp 50 yard freekick from right is flick headed into box and cleared by defender. DCU Korb on right corner of box volleys 22 yard shot well over net.
63 min...TFC Convey 50 yard freekick from right is cleared by defender running to right side of box.
63 min...TFC Hall long throw-in from right has defender head away from box at 7 yards near right post.
64 min...DCU Martin 35 yard cross from right has defender clear just inside center of box.
65 min...TFC Dike on left taps centering pass to TFC Russell who steps around defender to shoot 22 yarder down middle that goalie catches on left post.
66 min...TFC Bright Dike GOAL...TFC Andrew Wiedeman runs down right wing to get to long high ball but he's pulled down by DCU Marcelo Saragosa at 25 yard line right sideline. TFC Mark Bloom races in to carry on rush in alone on right and crosses into box where Dike takes midair side volley from 8 yards that diving goalie gets a piece of on right but ball deflects under him.
.....DCU YELLOW card...Marcelo Saragosa earns delayed card for tackle of TFC Wiedeman.
68 min...DCU sub...Iapichino replaces Jeffrey.
70 min...TFC (Conor Shanosky own goal) GOAL...TFC Bright Dike at center line taps pass to right for TFC Bobby Convey who runs down middle from 50 yards and taps pass forward for TFC Alvaro Rey at 30 yards who continues to 10 yards on right near end line where he kicks low cross that deflects off foot of DCU Shanosky at 4 yards near right post and ball pops up and over goalie and bounces into center of net where charging TFC Bright Dike pounds ball into net although ball had already crossed line.
73 min...DCU Martin 22 yard shot is blocked by defender and ball trickles through for goalie to pick up.
74 min...TFC Rey cross attempt from 20 yards on right is well wide right.
74 min...DCU Doyle low 25 yard shot up middle through players is wide left of net.
75 min...TFC Wiedeman low 30 yard shot after cutting to middle is smothered by goalie.
78 min...DCU sub...Townsend replaces Porter.
79 min...DCU Kemp low pass from left near center line finds DCU Doyle who turns and shoots 35 yard shot down middle wide right of net.
80 min...TFC sub...Braun replaces Dike.
80 min...TFC Rey 45 yard freekick from right has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players at 7 yards.
81 min...TFC Convey at 45 yards passes forward to TFC Wiedeman at 22 yards on right and he shoots 18 yarder just over top right corner of goal.
82 min...TFC Rey 35 yard freekick from left has defender clear at 6 yards on header.
83 min...TFC Lambe replaces Convey.
85 min...DCU Nyassi long throw-in from right is cleared awayon header at 15 yards by TFC defender.
86 min...TFC Alvaro Rey GOAL...TFC Justin Braun rush up right side from own side of center line and pushes pass forward and further right from 30 yards as he cuts towards center for Rey on right edge of box. Rey runs to 12 yards and cuts around retreating DCU Casey Townsend at 10 yards then around DCU Marcelo Saragosa at 8 yards and rolls 8 yard shot past jumping TFC Andrew Wiedeman and through legs of DCU Conor Shanosky into left corner of net with goalie trapped on short side of net.
87 min...TFC Morgan injured at TFC 45 yard line in collision.
88 min...DCU Martin cornerkick from left has nearest defender flick ball up and ball is cleared on right.
89 min...DCU Martin cross from 40 yards on left has DCU Seaton at 8 yards on right not able to turn header and ball is wide right for goalkick.
90 min...TFC Rey loses possession on right and ball rolls over end line.
91 min...TFC sub...Bekker replaces Wiedeman.
92 min...game ends 2:59pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......4..........D C United...........1........

Attendance was announced as 15879. This was over 3000 more than saw the rain drenched game last week but still a drop from the 18000-20000 that they were drawing earlier this season. It was a mild day too--I noticed that my face had sunburned when I looked in a mirror at home. I was surprised that there were so many empty seats and can now understand the concern expressed at today's President's Breakfast (details below). It was as expressed at the meeting that this is their last chance to get it right because the team is in trouble.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Darel Russell. That's his second game in a row. He scored Toronto's opening goal. I can't complain about this choice. It appeared Alvaro Rey scored two goals but one was officially credited as an own goal. Rey looked good on crosses and passes. Bright Dike scored the winner and looked good bashing up the middle. He played the first 80 minutes and didn't looked like he had any slowdown in playing only his third game of the season.

This was TFC's highest scoring game of the year. It was their first home win against DCU since 2009. DCU really had no good scoring chances for the entire second half.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month many of the players on both teams wore pink shoelaces. TFC goalie Joseph Bendik wore an all pink kit. The month is actually October but TFC only have one home game in October when the month is almost over so it is better to publicize this now.

DC United rested some first liners this game in preparation for the US Open Cup final against Real Salt Lake on Tuesday. This is their only chance to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League next year as they can't make the MLS League Championship nor the Supporter's Shield. I was surprised to see their roster later that they'd only brought five substitutes to sit on the bench. We didn't get to see DCU's Canadians Dwayne De Rosario nor Dejan Jakovic. We did get to see Toronto's own Kyle Porter play 78 minutes.

Toronto FC was doing without the suspended Steven Caldwell (defence), head coach Ryan Nelson, assistant coach Fran Healey, and injured forward Robert Earnshaw. Richard Eckersley one again was on the bench and his place was taken by the inexpensive Mark Bloom. Kyle Bekker saw even less playing time than last week coming in at 90 minutes.

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Earlier in the day I attended the President's Breakfast at the Real Sports Bar & Grill near Union Station with other TFC season ticket holders. It was a question and answer session with MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, new TFC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, and TFC Head Coach Ryan Nelson. Some of the issues dealt with were Leiweke saying MLSE are lokking at ways to put a roof on BMO Field, and a promise there'd be no artificial turf installed on any renovation of BMO.

Leiweke went through how they had to straighten out the salary cap problems they were under. He answered point blank the question from a young kid about why they got rid of Darren O'Dea--he was a salary cap hit more than any superstar players (he was not a designated player). Nelson answered why they got rid of Maximiliano Urruti. They received salary allocation in the trade and a 1st rounder in the 2015 draft and a good player for right now--Bright Dike. New designated players mean they won't need Urruti and he'd require maturing for a year or two and by that time they Canadian kids will be better. Nelson had earlier answered the Canadian players aren't good enough to play any more than they do.

Leiweke promised that ticket prices won't go up until the team starts winning and fans won't be the ones paying for BMO reservations.

Their was a promise to a fan thet they knew goalie Stefan Frei is the longest serving player on the team and there would be some special recognition in TFC's last home game against Montreal next month. It has been implied from a lot of sources that the team won't be inviting Frei back for next season with his high salary.

There will also be another meeting with season ticket holders in January.
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Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
 
Major Events

Goals and Assists
DC  15' Jared Jeffrey  
TOR 25' Darel Russell  
TOR 67' Bright Dike    (Mark Bloom) 
DC  71' Conor Shanosky (OG)  
TOR 87' Álvaro Rey     (Justin Braun) 

Disciplinary
DC  37' Collin Martin   Foul                YELLOW
TOR 45' Bright Dike     Foul                YELLOW
TOR 62' Darel Russell   Foul                YELLOW
DC  68' Marcelo Saragosa Off the ball foul  YELLOW  

Match Info
Referee: Ted Unkel
Attendance: 15879

Match Stats
Toronto FC              D.C. United
 12    Attempts on Goal        7 
  6    Shots on Target         2 
  3    Shots off Target        4 
  3    Blocked Shots           1 
  4    Corner Kicks            1 
  8    Fouls                  14 
 23    Open Play Crosses       5 
  0    Offsides                0 
  2    First Yellow Cards      2 
  0    Second Yellow Cards     0 
  0    Red Cards               0 
 53    Duels Won              36 
 59%   Duels Won %            40% 
254    Total Pass            312 
 71%   Passing Accuracy %     73% 
 46.5% Possession             53.5% 

Scoring Summary
DCU – Jared Jeffrey 15’
TFC – Darel Russell 25’
TFC – Bright Dike 67’ (Mark Bloom)
TFC – Conor Shanosky (OG) 71’
TFC – Alvaro Rey 87’ (Justin Braun)

Misconduct Summary
DCU – Collin Martin (caution) 37’
TFC – Bright Dike (caution) 45’
TFC – Darel Russell (caution) 62’
DCU – Marcelo Saragosa (caution) 68’

TORONTO FC RECORD: 5-15-11   26 POINTS

D.C. UNITED RECORD: 3-21-6   15 POINTS

Lineups

Toronto FC – Joe Bendik; 
Mark Bloom, Gale Agbossoumonde, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan; 
Alvaro Rey, Darel Russell, Jeremy Hall, Bobby Convey (Reggie Lambe 84’); 
Bright Dike (Justin Braun 81’), Andrew Wiedeman (Kyle Bekker 90’+2)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Jonas Elmer, Ryan Richter, Richard Eckersley

D.C. United – Joe Willis; 
Daniel Woolard (Conor Doyle 45’), Conor Shanosky, Sainey Nyassi, Taylor Kemp; 
Jared Jeffrey (Dennis Iapichino 69’), Kyle Porter (Casey Townsend 79’), Marcelo Saragosa, Collin Martin; 
Michael Seaton, Lionard Pajoy

Subsitutes Not Used: Andrew Dykstra, Luis Silva

Toronto FC starters