May 23, 2015 MLS--Toronto FC vs Portland Timbers (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday May 23, 2015 MLS game between Toronto FC and Portland Timbers played at BMO Field in Toronto at 5:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

............1 Chris Konopka
2 Justin Morrow...24 Damien Perquis...15 Eriq Zavaleta...5 Ashtone Morgan
26 Collen Warner...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...8 Benoit Cheyrou...21 Jonathan Osorio
...........27 Luke Moore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...3 Warren Creavalle (mid)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...11 Jackson (mid)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)
...19 Daniel Lovitz (mid)...22 Jordan Hamilton (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Portland Timbers (green socks and shirts, white shorts, names and numbers)

.......................12 Adam Kwarasey
2 Alvas Powell...7 Nat Borchers...24 Liam Ridgewell (cpt)...19 Jorge Villafana
6 Darlingtron Nagbe...21 Diego Chara...13 Jack Jewsbury...22 Rodney Wallace
............8 Diego Valeri...9 Fanendo Adi

Subs:...33 Andrew Weber (gk)...4 Will Johnson (mid)...10 Gaston Fernandez (fwd)...11 Dairon Asprilla (mid)...18 Ishmael Yartey (mid)
...23 Norberto Paparatto (def)...37 Maximiliano Urruti (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Caleb Porter

Game officials:...referee Jorge Gonzalez...referee's assistants Brian Dunn and Kathryn Nesbitt...fourth official Alex Chilowicz
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

Before the game there was a video congratulations from former TFC defender Doneil Henry who paid tribute to fellow defender Ashton Morgan for playing his 100th game for TFC last week. After the player intros, Morgan was presented with his 100th game jersey mounted on a plaque.

1st Half:...game starts 5:08pm...TFC defend south end on this mild late afternoon with a bright sun in the west.
45 sec...PT Valeri low 35 yard freekick is cleared just inside edge of box by TFC Bradley.
3 min...PT Nagbe long run up right from own side of half then rolls ball forward at 30 yards and PT Valeri takes low shot from 15 yards on right that's stopped by diving goalie on short right side.
4 min...TFC Sebastian Giovinci GOAL...Michael Bradley at 45 yards gets the ball back on pass from TFC Jonathan Osorio and short centering pass to TFC Luke Moore at 35 yards who sends tapped pass up the middle for Giovinco who runs forward and takes 25 yard shot down middle that bends into right corner of net past flying goalie Adam Kwarasey.
5 min...PT Powell gets cross in from right cornerflag and TFC Cheyrou knocks down with foot at 8 yards in middle of box and TFC Bradley clears.
8 min...TFC Bradley low blast up middle from 28 yards caught by diving goalie in center of goal.
10 min...TFC Giovinco rush up left pushing off defender but checked off ball at 10 yards by another two defenders.
11 min...TFC Giovinco checked off ball on left edge of PT box by PT Powell.
12 min...TFC Giovinco chips cross from 20 yards along left end line. PT Villafana heads it behind endline on right.
13 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has TFC Perquis in middle head 10 yarder wide left.
14 min...TFC Morrow long cross from 25 yards on far right has PT Powell chest ball behind left end line to keep TFC Osorio away from it at 6 yards on left.
15 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left is over box. TFC Zavaleta chips high cross from right end line at 12 yards and goalie catches on right post.
16 min...PT Wallace passes from 30 yards on left. PT Valeri chests ball down and forward on edge of box and and pops up kick at 12 yards on left over TFC net.
17 min...TFC Morgan run down left to PT end line and cross from 20 yards has PT Jewsbury clearing kick at 10 yards on left side of box.
19 min...PT Villafana gets by two defenders on left but his low cross from 25 yards is stopped by TFC Perquis at 12 yards on left side of TFC box.
20 min...PT Valeri is injured near center line on trying late challenge on TFC Cheyrou. He had been favoured his leg earlier.
24 min...PT sub...Fernandez replaces still injured Valeri who'd fallen again.
26 min...TFC Bradley at 28 yards in middle threads pass to TFC Giovinco on left who runs forward and sidesteps sliding PT Borchers and takes 6 yard blast that's right of goalie but tips off shoulder of TFC Osorio at 4 yards and deflects over net on left post.
26 min...TFC Moore turns and fires 25 yard shot down middle that bounces off top webbing of the net.
29 min...PT Chara low pass from right has PT Adi in middle not able to control ball so doesn't get away 8 yard shot.
30 min...TFC Giovinco rush on left and low cross is just step ahead of charging TFC Moore at 10 yards.
32 min...PT Villafana on give and go with PT Nagbe who can't win Penalty kick in box on knock with TFC Perquis on left side of box.
34 min...PT Villafana cross from 30 yards on left bounces through box unplayed.
35 min...TFC Giovinco ends passing plays including tap over from TFC Bradley with 20 yard shot up middle that flying goalie pushes wide right of post.
35 min...TFC player's cornerkick from right is pushed over right end line by TFC player for goalkick.
37 min...PT Wallace 30 yard shot up left deflects off defender and bounces for goalie to smother near left post.
37 min...PT Wallace cross from 20 yards on left has TFC Morgan leap to head ball away wide right of net.
38 min...PT Powell cross from 45 yards on right has TFC goalie catch on right side of box behind crowd of players.
40 min...TFC Moore steals ball at center line and runs downfield but blasts 20 yarder off other PT Borchers for cornerkick.
40 min...TFC player's long throw-in from right is headed away in middle of box.
41 min...TFC Bradley freekick from 35 yards on right is headed in box over to left and TFC Giovinco low cross from 8 yards through 6 yard box and PT Borchers at 5 yards boots ball over net to prevent TFC Osorio from 3 yard shot on right post.
42 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has PT Adi at 5 yards heads ball over net.
42 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has goalie jump to catch on right post.
43 min...PT Villafana cross from 20 yards on left has PT Adi at 10 yards on right and heads ball just right of post.
44 min...TFC Giovinco is checked off ball by PT Powell at 8 yards on left side of box.
45 min...TFC Giovinco cross from 22 yards on right has PT Charo head ball over end line from 15 yards. There's no time for cornerkick.
46 min...half ends 5:54pm.

Halftime entertainment: MC Shari Leavitt presents the Fan of the Match. There's a Rogers text for tickets contest, ice cream drumsticks giveaway, a BMO Field shirt giveaway (nowhere near our section), and Pioneer Energy giving $10,000 to Mt Hamilton SC and some fan a year of free gass for a year.

2nd Half:...starts 6:11pm.
halftime sub:...Creavalle replaces Warner.
45 min...PT Villafana low 35 yard blast from left is smothered by goalie.
46 min...PT Nagbe rolls 25 yard shot from right is wide left of net.
49 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has TFC Perquis charge forward and head 8 yarder from left wide left of post.
51 min...PT Powell on 1 on 2 rush to right cornerflag has cross into box cleared by TFC Creavalle header at 15 yards in middle of box.
52 min...TFC Giovinco cross from left end line has PT Ridgewell outjump TFC Moore to head ball away at 7 yards.
53 min...PT Powell runs on right past two defenders and taps ball across box but TFC Cheyrou recovers ball and clears.
55 min...TFC Creavalle cross from 20 yards on right has TFC Bradley flick header at 20 yards in middle over to TFC Osorio who knocks ball down to control it then has 15 yard shot blocked by PT Borchers and deflect out left side of box.
56 min...TFC Morrow leading three man rush from right has cross from 28 yards land on top of net.
56 min...PT Villafana at 40 yards on left sends high cross well over net.
58 min...PT Villafana long run down left wing and give and go with PT Adi at 20 yards and low cross from 25 yards on left TFC Creavalle weakly clear ball at 10 yards in box and PT Wallace recovers and turns and fires low off balance 15 yard shot that rolls to goalie.
59 min...PT sub...Asprilla replaces Wallace.
60 min...PT Asprilla rolls 15 yarder from right across box but defenders clear.
62 min...PT Asprilla receives pass in open from left and blasts 12 yarder from right high of top right corner of net.
63 min...TFC sub...Jackson replaces Moore.
66 min...PT Fernandez 35 yard freekick from middle is blocked in player wall.
66 min...TFC Giovinco rush on left and cuts into box and cuts 15 yard shot that goalie slides to save and defender clears at 5 yards.
67 min...TFC Bradley 30 yard chip into box is caught by goalie at 10 yards in middle of box.
68 min...PT Fernandez 38 yard freekick from right has TFC Creavalle pop up header at 12 yards in crowd of players and goalie catches near left post.
69 min...TFC Giovinco chips pass too far forward from 22 yards on right for charging TFC Bradley and ball bounces over end line.
70 min...PT Adi can't win Penalty kick in box on right as he backs into TFC Zavaleta and is pulled down.
71 min...PT Villafana wins cornerkick on deflection on cross from 20 yards from left that TFC Perquis boots behind end line at 12 yards.
71 min...PT Villafana cornerkick from left has TFC Cheyrou head away in crowd of players at 10 yards.
71 min...TFC Jackson can't win Penalty kick in box when he runs into PT Powell and falls on left side of box.
75 min...TFC Jackson gets away in middle and launches 25 yard shot high and wide right of net. 75 min...TFC Morgan rolls cross from 15 yards on left through box and PT Borchers clears.
76 min...PT Adi long run on right and cuts in and shoots low 18 yarder wide left of net.
77 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has goalie step forward and leap to catch then starts fast break.
78 min...PT Powell rush on right and low cross from 25 yards has TFC Zavaleta kick away at 15 yards in middle of box.
79 min...TFC Creavalle rush on left and dribble towards center of field and cuts 12 yarder that goalie slides and palms over net from 3 yards.
79 min...PT sub...Urruti replaces Villafana.
80 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has goalie catch near right post.
80 min...PT Urruti can't win Penalty kick when tripped by goalie diving for ball at 8 yards on left. Goalie then gets up first and smothers ball.
81 min...TFC Zavaleta is injured on edge of TFC box.
82 min...TFC sub...Hagglund replaces Osorio.
82 min...PT Asprilla blasts shot up middle from 30 yards through players and goalie dives and pushes ball wide right. PT Urruti blasts 6 yard shot that now standing goalie saves on right post deflecting it for cornerkick.
83 min...PT Fernandez cornerkick from right drifts behind net.
86 min...PT Jewsbury 40 yard freekick down middle is cleared on edge of box.
87 min...TFC Giovinco rush on right and rolls pass to TFC Bradley on left who shoots 12 yarder that goalie on left palms over net.
87 min...TFC Bradley rolls short cornerkick to TFC Giovinco who is checked off ball but wins freekick.
88 min...TFC Giovinco and TFC Jackson are checked off freekick on tap around near left sideline and PT break out after quick throw-in.
88 min...TFC YELLOW card...Morgan receives it on a delayed call for upending PT player at PT 30 yard line rushing out on fast break.
89 min...PT Jewsbury 50 yard freekick from right has goalie punch ball away from 15 yards in crowd of players.
90 min...PT Jewsbury 40 yard freekick from right has PT Borchers on left head ball across box and ball cleared.
90 min...PT Powell chips ball from 25 yards down middle that TFC goalie catches ball in crowd of players at 8 yards.
92 min...PT YELLOW card...Chara earns it for pushing over TFC Jackson on center line sideline.
93 min...game ends 6:59pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......1..........Portland Timbers...........0........

Attendance was announced as 23569. That was considerably less that the 30000+ announced for the home opener. The weather was mild so hard to say if the novelty has worn off so soon.

The Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Sebastian Giovinco who's already left the field and doesn't take a walk to the corner with the other players. TFC Michael Bradley was doing an interview for a television crew. Giovinco looked brilliant in the first half.

TFC had beaten Timbers 3-2 last season in a game where Timbers Canadian international midfielder Will Johnson broke his leg and he hasn't played an MLS game since. He was on the bench today but saw no action.

All the scoring was over by 4 minutes although TFC had chances to score again and ease the pressure. The defence looked better than previous seasons in hanging on to the lead.

Timbers could have done with more accurate shooting having only limited shots but TFC goalie Chris Konopka aggressively coming into crowds of players to catch cornerkicks. The Timbers goalie also had to be great to keep his team in the game.

Michael Bradley played a more forward role and must have been given permission to run right into the Timbers box if he saw a play or shot opportunity.

It was announced a few times this afternoon that TFC II would play after today's main game. 8:00pm starting time. I stayed for that game. They play one more game here next month before their stadium is completed up at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan.

The subway wasn't running on my line so it made me take a few detours to get home--over two hours.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
 5'   Sebastian Giovinco               Assisted By: Luke Moore, Michael Bradley 

Disciplinary
90'   Ashtone Morgan                   Reason: Off the ball foul 
90'+2' Diego Chara                     Reason: Foul 

Portland Timbers (3-5-4, 13pts) at Toronto FC (4-5-1, 13pts) 

May 23, 2015 – BMO Field (Toronto)

Goals by Half               1st        2nd        Fin
Portland Timbers             0          0          0
Toronto FC                   1          0          1        

Lineups & Stats

POR: 
GK Kwarasey, 
D Powell, D Borchers, D Ridgewell ©, D Villafaña (Urruti, 80), 
M Chara, M Jewsbury, M Nagbe, M Valeri (Fernández, 25), M Wallace (Asprilla, 60), 
F Adi

Substitutes Not Used: GK Weber, D Paparatto, M Johnson, M Yartey

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); 
FOULS: 7 (Chara, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5

TOR: 
GK Konopka, 
D Morrow, D Perquis, D Zavaleta, D Morgan, 
M Warner (Creavalle, 46), M Cheyrou, M Osorio (Hagglund, 83), M Bradley ©, 
F Giovinco, F Moore (Jackson, 64)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Roberts, M Chapman, M Lovitz, F Hamilton

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Giovinco, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Giovinco, 3); 
FOULS: 17 (Cheyrou, Giovinco, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 5

Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Kathryn Nesbitt
4th Official: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 23,569
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Sunny, 60 degrees
 
Stats:

TOR                            POR
 13      Shots                  11 
  6      Shots on Target         5 
  4      Shots off Target        4 
  3      Blocked Shots           2 
 10      Corners                 2 
 17      Crosses                23  
  2      Offsides                2 
 17      Fouls                   7 
  1      Yellow Cards            1 
  0      Red Cards               0 
338      Total Passes          499 
 75 %    Passing Accuracy       81 % 
 40.5 %  Possession             59.5 % 
 48      Duels Won              61 
 11      Tackles Won            16 
  5      Saves                   5 
 25      Clearances             18

Toronto FC starters