May 17, 2014 MLS--Toronto FC vs New York Red Bulls (by Rocket Robin)

..............................................

Result of the Saturday May 17, 2014, MLS game between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:30pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

......................12 Joseph Bendik
28 Mark Bloom...13 Steven Caldwell (cpt)...17 Nick Hagglund...2 Justin Morrow
23 Alvaro Rey...8 Kyle Bekker...16 Bradley Orr...21 Jonathan Osorio
..............9 Gilberto...18 Jermain Defoe

Subs:...1 Chris Konopka (gk)...5 Ashtone Morgan (def)...14 Dwayne De Rosario (fwd)...15 Doneil Henry (def)...25 Jeremy Hall (mid)
...27 Luke Moore (fwd)...35 Daniel Lovitz (mid)
team official:...head coach Ryan Nelsen

New York Red Bulls (Navy socks and shirts, yellow shorts, names and numbers)

.......................31 Luis Robles
27 Kosuke Kimura...4 Jameson Olave...5 Armando...15 Bobby Convey
10 Lloyd Sam...11 Dax McCarty...12 Eric Alexander...22 Jonny Steele
..........14 Thierry Henry (cpt)...99 Bradley Wright-Phillips

Subs:...18 Ryan Meara (gk)...2 Richard Eckersley (def)...9 Andre Akpan (fwd)...16 Connor Lade (def)...21 Ruben Bover (fwd)
...25 Chris Duvall (def)...32 Ibrahim Sekagya (def)
team official:...head coach Mike Petke

Game officials:...referee Silviu Petrescu...referee's assistants James Conlee and Scott Kachmarik...fourth official Geoff Gamble
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 4:38pm...TFC defends south end on this cool and overcast. The sun would be out for a few minutes before being clouded over again.
1 min...NY goalie slides to left to smother TFC Defoe pass before TFC Osorio can get to it at 12 yards.
2 min...TFC Bekker 55 yard freekick from left has leaping TFC Hagglund head ball wide right from 15 yards.
4 min...NY player's freekick from 45 yards on right is down left and NY Sam crosses from 20 yards on right into box that is headed away from 7 yards by defender.
5 min...NY Steele touched back pass and he curls 18 yard shot that goalie swats from just under bar.
5 min...NY YELLOW card...Henry earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Hagglund near TFC right cornerflag.
6 min...TFC Bekker receives cross from TFC Gilberto and his low shot from 15 yards on left is blocked by defender.
6 min...TFC Bekker skies 15 yard shot from left high and wide right of net.
8 min...TFC Defoe 18 yard shot from left between players that goalie saves on left post. NY Armando clears rebound.
10 min...NY Steele cross from 22 yards on left is headed away in box by TFC Hagglund. NY McCarty follow up shot from 25 yards is low and wide right from left.
11 min...TFC Jermain Defoe GOAL...NY Kosuke Kimura at TFC 50 yard line right sideline centers ball for NY Dax McCarty but TFC Bradley Orr intercepts and rushes down middle to NY 47 yards and feeds pass forward and to right for Defoe at 25 yards who rushes forward and blasts shot from 15 yards eluding defender NY Armando into top right corner of net.
14 min...NY Henry cornerkick from right has TFC Bekker head away at 8 yards even with right post.
15 min...NY Sam cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Bloom step forward and head ball away at 15 yards on left preventing NY player from getting to it.
15 min...TFC Morrow wins freekick on left edge of box near end line as NY Sam bumps him over from behind.
16 min...TFC Bekker rolls low 20 yard freekick through 6 yard box and TFC Gilberto misses tap in on from 3 yards as he slides at right post.
17 min...TFC Rey low cross from 25 yards near right end line bounces to goalie.
18 min...NY Alexander backheel to NY Wright-Phillips broken up by TFC Bloom at 15 yards in TFC box.
20 min...NY Steele cross from 25 yards on left deflects off TFC Bloom for cornerkick.
20 min...NY Henry cornerkick from left has TFC Morrow head away at 6 yards in center of box.
21 min...NY Henry cornerkick from left has TFC Osorio head ball out of box from 7 yards even with left post.
21 min...NY Henry rush on left and crosses from 20 yards on left that TFC Hagglund heads away on left edge of 6 yard box.
23 min...TFC Osorio rolls pass forward from 60 yards through players that charging TFC Defoe races forward with from 40 yards on right and runs to 15 yards where he tries to cut around NY Olave but gets checked off ball as he tries to pass off.
23 min...TFC Rey rolls forward pass from 40 yards on right that NY goalie beats charging TFC Gilberto to smother at 15 yards.
26 min...NY Kimura crosses from 35 yards on right that TFC Caldwell heads away from 12 yards in center of box.
28 min...NY Henry 40 yard freekick from right has TFC Bekker head ball away from edge of box. NY Steele low shot from 25 yards on left bounces to goalie.
30 min...TFC Bloom chip from 30 yards has defender head ball down at 15 yards in box and clear.
30 min...TFC Bekker chips ball forward from 45 yards has TFC Defoe receive ball between defenders shoot over net from 12 yards.
31 min...NY Steele cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Hagglund head away at 12 yards in center of box.
33 min...NY Sam cross from 12 yards on right has goalie step in front of NY Alexander ready for header to swat ball from 4 yards on right post over to left and NY Henry chips 15 yard cross from left that goalie steps forward to catch at 3 yards.
35 min...TFC Rey chip from 25 yards on right into box has NY Olave chest ball down at 8 yards and NY McCarty runs ball out of box.
36 min...TFC Gilberto rush on left pushes ball over end line when jostled by NY Kimura.
37 min...TFC Rey cross from 30 yards on right after short rush is caught by goalie.
39 min...TFC Rey chips cross from 30 yards on right is over players in box.
40 min...NY Sam pressured by two defenders on right edge box cut shot that deflects off TFC Osorio and ball deflects for TFC goalie to step wide right of net and pick it up on end line.
41 min...NY YELLOW card...Olave earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Gilberto at NY 35 yard line.
42 min...TFC Bekker 40 yard freekick from left bounces through players for goalie to grab.
44 min...TFC Bekker freekick from 45 yards on left has defender head away on edge of box.
44 min...TFC YELLOW card...Morrow earns it for pulling down NY Henry breaking out at NY 40 yard line.
45 min...half ends 5:23pm.

Halftime Entertainment:...Not as much activity as the last league game. Rachel Bonnetta introduced the winners of Scott's lawn care products special seats in the north end. Then some staffer presented a travel bag to today's season ticket holder winner. Rachel drew a lucky row for Drumstick ice cream cones then she threw to the video board for an upcoming Adam Sandler movie. A contest for what TFC teammates look like celebrities. Julio Cesar looks most like Buzz Lightyear. The Second Kicks charity was promoted that were collecting used soccer equipment.

2nd Half:...half starts 5:39pm.
45 min...TFC Osorio taps ball to TFC Bekker and his 18 yard shot is blocked by defender.
47 min...NY sub...Duvall replaces Kimura.
49 min...NY Henry 30 yard freekick from right is palmed wide left of post by leaping goalie.
50 min...NY Henry cornerkick from left has leaping defender head away in crowd of players at 5 yards.
51 min...NY Steele shot from 20 yards on left deflects off NY Henry for goalkick after TFC Bekker had been stripped off ball.
52 min...NY Sam cross from 20 yards on right has TFC Caldwell head away from 10 yards after TFC Orr intercpted.
54 min...NY Henry cross into box from 25 yards on right has TFC Caldwell get back to clear at 5 yards.
55 min...TFC sub...Moore replaces Gilberto.
56 min...NY player's 40 yard freekick from right has NY get plenty of chances including NY Steele getting two 22 yard chances; one blocked at 15 yards by TFC Caldwell and the rebound chipped to right where NY Henry wins cornerkick as his low 8 yard shot from near right end line deflects off defender.
56 min...NY Henry cornerkick from right has NY Sam connect on 12 yard shot on right that deflects off TFC Osorio for another cornerkick.
57 min...NY Henry cornerkick from right has NY player head ball wide right from 10 yards.
59 min...NY Henry chips ball from 25 yards on left after run and ball bounces wide right for goalkick.
60 min...TFC Rey cross from 25 yards on right has defender head away from 10 yards.
61 min...NY Henry rush on left and low cross from 18 yards into 6 yard box has goalie dive forward to palm ball through box but charging NY Wright-Phillips misses clear 6 yard shot to open net on right shooting high over net. TFC goalie is injured on play as sliding NY Sam crashes into him.
64 min...NY Wright-Phillips cross from right is into box and TFC Caldwell boots clearance from 10 yards.
64 min...NY Henry shot off face of sliding TFC Caldwell at 6 yards.
65 min...TFC Moore rush from left edge of box towards goal has defender concede cornerkick.
65 min...TFC Osorio cornerkick from left has ball popped up by header and goalie leaps in crowd of players to catch at 7 yards.
66 min...NY Henry 25 yard shot down middle is wide left.
67 min...TFC sub...Lovitz replaces Rey.
68 min...TFC Osorio rolls pass up right wing from 40 yards for charging TFC Bloom who sends low cross from 10 yards near end line over diving goalie at 3 yards and ball rolls through box for TFC Lovitz shoots tap-in shot from 8 yards on left as NY Olave slides to knock away at 1 yard in center of net and NY Steele clears out of box.
72 min...TFC Bekker 55 yard freekick from left is caught by goalie at 6 yards.
76 min...TFC Lovitz cross from 22 yards on left wins cornerkick on right as NY Armando heads ball across box and over end line.
77 min...TFC Osorio cornerkick from right has TFC Hagglund leaping header from 10 yards downwards and defender clears from 4 yards.
80 min...NY sub...Bover replaces Convey.
80 min...NY Sam low cross from 18 yards on right has TFC Hagglund slide at 8 yards and give up cornerkick.
81 min...NY Alexander low cornerkick from right stopped by TFC Osorio and his 20 yard recross is well wide right behind net.
82 min...TFC Lovitz rush on left and rolls cross through 6 yard box and NY Armando slides and kicks ball over own net.
83 min...TFC Osorio rolls short cornerkick from left to TFC Defoe who taps back to him but he's checked off ball on left edge of box.
84 min...TFC Hagglund is injured at TFC 25 yard line on right in clash of heads.
85 min...NY Sam cross from 20 yards on right has NY Henry tap ball from 6 yards on left back to NY McCarty but ball cleared before he can connect.
87 min...TFC YELLOW card...Defoe earns it at NY 30 yard line away from ball in clash.
.........NY YELLOW card...Armando earns it at 30 yard line away from ball in clash.
89 min...NY McCarty rolls ball forward from 30 yards on left that TFC goalie picks up at 7 yards ahead of charging NY Steele.
91 min...TFC Moore in middle feeds ball forward from 25 yards and TFC Bekker shoots wide right from 18 yards.
91 min...NY Steele rescues ball on left end line and chips cross from 10 yards that goalie steps forward to catch.
94 min...TFC Luke Moore GOAL...TFC goalie Joe Bendik picks up ball and punts it downfield from 15 yards. Ball bounces at 25 yards and NY goalie Luis Robles flattens NY Chris Duvall on edge of box as they crash together and both fall. Moore gets to ball at 12 yards on right and shoots 3 yarder into empty net.
95 min...game ends 6:29pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......2..........New York Red Bulls...........0........

Attendance was announced as a sellout at 22591, their fifth (all games this year). I'm sure everyone didn't show up today for this game which was like the others--played in a cool temperature with the threat of rain. I'm glad I wore my parka.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as forward Jermain Defoe which was an easy choice with him scoring the winning goal. He had enough chances to score at least one more.

TFC had not beaten Red Bulls for the last ten games with three ties and seven losses during that run.

The recap on the video board during the pregame warm up showed the Vancouver game for the semi-final of the Amway Canadian Championship showed Issey Nakajima-Farran scoring the winning Penalty kick in the shootout. TFC then traded him midweek (on his 30th birthday!) to Montreal Impact for midfielder Collen Warner. Also since the last home game TFC traded unused defender Gale Agbossoumonde to Colorado Rapids for forward Luke Moore.

TFC played the game without midfielder Michael Bradley (USA) and goalie Julio Cesar (Brazil) [later his absence today was explained as him having the flu] who were called up by their countries for the World Cup. Forward Jermain Defoe was not called up for England team although he was named as a reserve so will only be called if there is an injury. That may have motivated him for today's game. Red Bulls were missing midfielder Tim Cahill (Australia) and defender Roy Miller (Costa Rica) who were called up by their countries for the tourney.

Red Bulls Bradley Wright-Phillips missed a clear chance at 61 minutes when the ball deflected over to him all alone at 8 yards but he shot high and wide right. He is the MLS leading scorer with nine goals in ten games with eight goals in the last four games. He'd scored at least one goal during those four games including two hattricks.

Red Bulls controlled the second half. Their record has them not being good defensively by allowing 17 goals in 11 games while scoring 18 for a 3-3-5 record until today.

Gilberto was subbed at 55 minutes after missing more chances like he has all year. Luke Moore who was acquired last week subbed in and he scored with a walk-in goal. He scored his Penalty kick during the shootout midweek against Vancouver. While he was brought in as backup for the expected departure of Jermain Defoe for the World Cup, Moore could find minutes replacing Gilberto or even starting in his place.

Kyle Bekker had a good game for TFC and took most of the freekicks and cornerkick now that Michael Bradley isn't here.

Bradley Orr got the start in midfield (replacing Michael Bradley) rather than his usual defender position and he made a non-fatal giveaway. Orr played as a holding midfielder so it could be said it was Nick Hagglund who directly had Doneil Henry's spot.

Defender Steven Caldwell made some key clearances and blocks in the TFC box while covering Thierry Henry. It was a real captain vs captain battle. Thierry Henry still has great skills for a 36 year old with his smooth passing.

Daniel Lovitz had some chances and sent in some good crcosses. He was TFCs second round draft choice this year and started his season on loan to affiliate Wilmington Hammerheads of the US Pro League. His first action was in Wednesday's Canadian Championship game coming in as a sub against Vancouver.

Joe Bendik earned the shutout. He did not have to make the tough saves like in the two games against Vancouver. There is no rush for Julio Cesar to come back. After the World Cup it wouldn't surprise me if Cesar went away to Europe to play--possibly with his last team Queens Park Rangers who have a fair chance of being promoted back to the English Premier League after a one year absence.

Former TFC midfielder Bobby Convey started as a defender and played 80 minutes before being subbed off for a forward. Former TFC defender Richard Eckersley was listed as a sub but did not come into the game.

The PA system now has incorporated Depeche Mode's song "Just Can't Get Enough" into their playlist which fans in the south end have been singing on their own since last year. That group was letting off red smoke flares again during this game.

TFC's record improves to 4 wins and 4 losses with between two to four games in hand on their rivals. There record also looks good as the only team in the league that doesn't have a tie.

This was a premier priced ticket listed as $101.00 but I'm sure I didn't pay that much.

The next home game for TFC is Wednesday May 28th at 7:30pm against Montreal Impact in the first game of the final for the Amway Canadian Championship. The Impact are last years Canadian champions but they have looked good in neither MLS competition (one win this season) nor the semi-final against FC Edmonton of the lower division NASL which they just squeeked by with a late penalty goal.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com

BOX SCORE:
New York Red Bulls 0, Toronto FC 2

May 17, 2014

MLS Regular Season

BMO Field – Toronto, ON

Scoring Summary:
• TOR: Jermain Defoe 4 (Bradley Orr 1) 12’
• TOR: Luke Moore 1 (Joe Bendik 1 ) 95’+

Disciplinary Summary:
• NY: Thierry Henry (caution)   6’  foul
• NY: Jamison Olave (caution)  42’  foul 
• TOR: Justin Morrow (caution) 45’  foul
• NY: Armando        (caution) 88’  unsporting behaviour
• TOR: Jermain Defoe (caution) 88’  argument 

Toronto FC (4-4-0, 12 pts.): Joe Bendik, 
Mark Bloom, Steven Caldwell, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow, 
Alvaro Rey (Daniel Lovitz 68’), Kyle Bekker, Bradley Orr, Jonathan Osorio, 
Jermain Defoe, Gilberto (Luke Moore 56’)

Substitutes not used: Chris Konopka, Ashtone Morgan, Doneil Henry, Jeremy Hall, Dwayne De Rosario

New York Red Bulls (3-3-5, 14 pts.): Luis Robles, 
Kosuke Kimura (Chris Duvall 48’), Armando, Jamison Olave, Bobby Convey (Ruben Bover 81’), 
Lloyd Sam, Dax McCarty, Eric Alexander, Jonny Steele, 
Bradley Wright-Phillips, Thierry Henry

Substitutes not used: Ryan Meara, Connor Lade, Richard Eckersley, Ibrahim Sekagya, Andre Akpan

Attendance: 22,591

Stats:

TOR                       NER
11    Shots                 8
 4    Shots On Goal         1 
 5    Off Target            4
 2    Blocked               3      
12    Fouls                13 
 3    Corner Kicks          7 
40.6% Time of Possession  59.4% 
325   Total Passes        464
 70%  Accuracy             76%
 2    Yellow Card           3 
 0    Red Cards             0 
 3    Offside               6  

OFFICIALS
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Referee’s Assistants: James Conlee, Scott Kachmarik
4th Referee: Geoff Gamble

Toronto FC starters