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

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

Result of the Wednesday May 27, 2015 International Friendly game between Toronto FC and Manchester City (England) played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

............12 Joe Bendik
2 Justin Morrow...6 Nick Hagglund...15 Eriq Zavaleta...5 Ashtone Morgan
19 Daniel Lovitz...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...8 Benoit Cheyrou...14 Jay Chapman
...........27 Luke Moore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...25 Alex Bono (gk)...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...3 Warren Creavalle (mid)...7 Bright Dike (fwd)...11 Jackson (mid)
...20 Christopher Mannella (mid)...21 Jonathan Osorio (mid)...22 Jordan Hamilton (fwd)...34 Manny Aparicio (mid)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Manchester City (all sky blue, black names and numbers)

.......................13 Willy Caballero
3 Bacary Sagna...38 Dedryck Boyata...4 Vincent Kompany (cpt)...11 Aleksandar Kolarov
15 Jesus Navas...42 Yaya Toure...66 Seko Fofana...21 David Silva
...........14 Wilfried Bony...10 Edin Dzeko

Subs:...1 Joe Hart (gk)...5 Pablo Zabaleta...16 Sergio Aguero...20 Eliaquim Mangala...26 Martin Demichelis...50 Pablo Maffeo
...55 Jose Angel Pozo...59 Bersant Celina...70 George Evans...74 Brandon Barker...78 Olivier Ntcham...79 Manu Garcia
team officials:...head coach Manuel Pellegrini

Game officials:...referee Drew Fischer...referee's assistants Joe Fletcher and Gianni Facchini...fourth official Justin Tasev
...(all black uniforms)

1st Half:...game starts 7:08pm...TFC defend south end on this mild overcast evening with a strong wind from the south.
2 min...TFC Morgan cross from 25 yards on left is popped up by MC player at 22 yards and ball flies into MC box and MC Kompany clears at 10 yards on left.
3 min...MC Kolarov sends low cross from 15 yards on left through 6 yard box and TFC Morgan concedes cornerkick on right.
3 min...MC work out short cornerkick from right and don't get away shot inside box. MC Kolarov blasts 30 yard shot down middle which hits MC Boyata in the face at 20 yards and deflects wide right for goalkick.
6 min...MC Silva runs towards middle and cuts 25 yard roller just wide left of post.
7 min...MC Dzeko low 20 yard shot up middle deflects off foot of defender at 18 yards for cornerkick on left.
7 min...MC Kolarov cornerkick from left has MC Sagna head ball through 6 yard box on short left side. MC Navas cross from right end line deflects off defender but only partially cleared. MC Kolarov rolls pass from left for MC Toure who chips from 25 yards forward to MC Dzeko at 15 yards who turns but has shot blocked by defender. MC Bony shoots 20 yard roller up middle that deflects off defender wide left of post.
8 min...MC Kolarov cornerkick from left has MC Dzeko pop 10 yard header down middle over net.
9 min...MC Sagna cross from 20 yards on right deflects off TFC Morgan for cornerkick.
10 min...MC Navas cornerkick from right has MC Bony run forward and head 8 yarder just wide right of post.
11 min...TFC Giovinco 25 yard freekick from far left deflects off two man player wall. TFC Zavaleta on left shoots 30 yarder over players on edge of box and ball is caught by goalie.
12 min...MC Bony receives tap back pass and blasts low 25 yarder up middle that deflects off defender and diving goalie pushes wide right of the post.
12 min...MC Kolarov eventually receives clearance of cornerkick and blasts 35 yarder down middle well over players and well over net.
13 min... TFC Giovinco 40 yard cross from right has MC Boyata pop up header at 12 yards to keep it away from TFC Moore.
14 min...MC Silva rolls ball forward and goalie dives on ball on right to beat MC Dzeko to ball.
16 min...MC Sagna 20 yard roller from 15 yards along right end line has sliding TFC Morgan deflect ball which pops up for goalie to catch.
17 min...TFC Morgan cross from 40 yards on left has TFC Moore pop up 12 yarder and defender head ball back for goalie to catch.
18 min...MC Silva rolls pass forward and to left from 25 yards in middle for charging MC Dzeko at 7 yards but sliding TFC Morrow pokes ball away for cornerkick.
18 min...MC Kolarov cornerkick from left is headed away by defender at 15 yards in middle. MC Navas cross from 25 yards on right is over players in box.
19 min...MC Silva on right blasts 30 yard shot high and wide left of net.
21 min...MC Navas low cross from 20 yards on right is through 6 yard box unplayed.
22 min...TFC YELLOW card...Hagglund earns it for pulling on MC Djeko running just outside box.
22 min...MC Toure 25 yard freekick down middle is well over net to left.
25 min...TFC Morgan rush up left and cross from 25 yards has MC Kompany get foot in on slide to prevent TFC Moore from getting to 7 yarder in middle.
25 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has MC Toure head ball away and whistle is blown for push just outside of box for MC freekick.
26 min...MC Kolarov give and go on left then rolls cross in from 20 yards on left and MC Silva blasts 10 yard shot wide left of post.
27 min...TFC sub...Bono replaces Bendik in net.
.........TFC sub...Dike replaces Giovinco.
30 min...MC Kolarov rush into box on left but is checked off ball while running along end line.
31 min...MC Navas on right sends in low cross from 22 yards that is past first defender but deflects off TFC Zavaleta at 10 yards and wins cornerkick.
31 min...MC Navas quick and short cornerkick from left gets ball back and cross from 22 yards near end line has TFC defender pop up ball with foot and ball cleared. MC Fofana blasts partial clearance at 30 yard shot over players and high wide right over net.
34 min...MC Kolarov cross from left has MC Bony duck and head 10 yarder down middle over net.
36 min...MC Dzeko blasts low 22 yard shot up middle through players and just wide right of net.
38 min...MC Dzeko can't win call on trip just outside box when he pushed ball forward.
39 min...TFC Zavaleta slides to break up through ball pass into box at 5 yards and makes clearance.
41 min...MC Dzeko at 30 yards rolls pass forward on left to charging MC Kolarov who rolls cross from 10 yards near end line that's cleared by TFC Zavaleta at 8 yards in middle of box out for a throw-in on the left.
42 min...MC Navas cross from 20 yards on right is over players in box.
44 min...MC Sagna wins cornerkick on right on deflection off TFC Zavaleta at 10 yards along end line.
44 min...MC Navas short cornerkick from right rolls into box but is cleared.
45 min...half ends 7:53pm.

Halftime Entertainment:...The Canadian Women's World Cup team are introduced and they walk onto the field to huge cheers. There's also 3 on 3 bubble soccer game that was set up so late they only had 2 1/2 minutes. The TFC team beat Man City 1-0.

2nd Half:...starts 8:11pm.
halftime sub:...MC Zabaleta replaces Kompany.
..............MC Demichelis replaces Kolarov.
..............MC Aguero replaces Bony.
..............TFC Creavalle replaces Morgan.
..............TFC Osorio replaces Bradley.
..............TFC Manella replaces Cheyrou.
..............TFC Hamilton replaces Moore.
..............TFC Aparicio replaces Morrow.
45 min...MC Sagna cross near left cornerflag is off the face of TFC Creavalle just 5 yards away and ball deflects out for throw-in.
47 min...MC Silva at 30 yards on right rolls ball forward for charging MC Navas who crosses from 18 yards near left end line and MC Dzeko leaps with defender and heads 8 yarder over bar.
50 min...TFC Hamilton 35 yard low shot from left bounces well wide right.
54 min...TFC Aparicio rolls through ball pass from 20 yards up middle and TFC Hamilton rolls 8 yard shot wide right of net.
55 min...MC Navas cross from 45 yards on right has goalie come forward near edge of box to make catch.
56 min...MC Aguero rush down middle and rolls pass to left at 30 yards and MC Dzeko shoots low 15 yard shot wide left of net.
58 min...MC Silva threads ball forward from 30 yards and MC Aguero is called offside at 15 yards on run to ball in middle.
60 min...MC Fofana receives short pass back and 20 yard shot is stopped by defender at 8 yards. TFC Creavalle called for hand ball on clearance.
61 min...MC Aguero 20 yard freekick from left is wide right of net.
63 min...MC sub...Maffeo replaces Sagna.
.........MC sub...Pozo replaces Dzeko.
.........MC sub...Ntcham replaces Navas.
64 min...TFC Creavalle low pass from 30 yards on right finds charging TFC Hamilton who shoots 12 yarder from right that goalie palms over net.
64 min...TFC player's short cornerkick from right has another through ball pass to TFC Hamilton on right but he can't to it before it's over end line.
65 min...TFC Dike called offside waiting just inside box.
66 min...MC Aguero low 30 yard shot up middle is smothered by goalie.
67 min...MC Ntcham is bumped off ball just inside box by four defenders.
68 min...MC Ntcham short centering pass from 22 yards on right finds MC Aguero in middle and cuts weak shot from 18 yards when falling over that goalie picks up.
70 min...MC Aguero on left rolls weak shot to goalie after give and go in box from 8 yards.
71 min...TFC sub...Jackson replaces Zavaleta.
73 min...MC Pozo rushes to ball on left and sends low cross from 18 yards near end line to MC Silva who takes 10 yard shot off goalie's face guarding left post and ball deflects forward for defender to clear from box.
75 min...MC Pozo cross from 25 yards near right sideline has goalie step forward to catch at 15 yards in middle of box.
75 min...TFC Jackson chips short pass forward from 25 yards that finds TFC Aparicio who'd stepped behind defenders and he one-touch scissor kicks from 12 yards that hits the left post and defender clears.
75 min...MC sub...Evans replaces Fofana.
76 min...TFC Osorio rolls pass along edge of box from left TFC Jackson slides for ball and shoots ball high wide right of net from 18 yards.
77 min...TFC Hagglund tackle trips MC Aguero who can't win Penalty kick as TFC Chapman retreats to help squeeze him off ball.
79 min...TFC Jackson 20 yard shot has goalie bat away and defender heads away.
80 min...MC Aguero shoots low 22 yarder up middle just wide left of post.
82 min...MC Pozo cornerkick from right is well over players in box.
83 min...TFC Hagglund makes two blocks of shots, first making point blank stop on MC Silva at 8 yards, then stopping MC Evans low shot from 22 yards up middle at 15 yards.
83 min...MC George Evans GOAL...MC Martin Demichelis rolls ball across from right at 30 yards and Evans blasts 30 yard shot down middle that bends inwardly over flying goalie Alex Bono into top left corner of net.
86 min...MC Ntcham chips high cross from 16 yards on right side of box over crowd of players in middle of box and TFC Creavalle clears on left side.
86 min...MC Maffeo cross from 25 yards on right has TFC defender leap above MC player to head away at 8 yards on left.
87 min...MC sub...Garcia replaces Silva.
88 min...MC Boyata is hurt in MC box well away from play.
89 min...MC sub...Celina replaces injured Boyata.
90 min...MC Celina cuts to middle and blasts 20 yard shot high and wide right of net.
91 min...TFC Osorio pass from 25 yards on far left has leaping TFC Dike head 7 yarder that bounces wide right of post.
92 min...two fans run out onto the field and go around trying to pat MC players. It takes quite awhile for security personnel to corral them
94 min...TFC Jackson cuts in from left but can't get around MC Maffeo at 8 yards who checks him and clears ball.
94 min...game ends 9:00pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......0..........Manchester City (England)...........1........

Attendance was announced as 23169. I don't think there were that many here tonight but there rumours floating around that tickets were heavily discounted and people were requested to move to the East side even by upgrading their seats to make it look full for the television cameras. My section was filled with ManCity fans who I expect were locals or ex-pats--not tourists. I didn't recognize any TFC fans in the rows around me. I saw the south side was filled but not with the usual supporter groups. Their message boards said they were protesting the money gourging by MLSE and tiring the players between two weekend games. I did receive almost a 1/3 discount from the printed ticket on mine but that was because I bought it so early. When the TFC intros were made, they announced both names instead of expecting fans to shout out their surnames. They also did not turn down the music for the Canadian anthem.

The winning goal on a blast from distance bent inwardly to the top left corner. All the ManCity plays of working the ball to practically walking in the net was mostly broken up or the final shot was off target.

ManCity had just played Sunday to wrap up the English season with a 2-0 win against Southhampton. They finished second in the Premier Division and here they were three days later in another game across the ocean. They scored a league leading 83 goals (10 better than the next best team). They are scheduled to play later this week in Houston against the Dynamo [late news: the game was cancelled because of the floods in Texas] and watch their sister team New York City FC on the weekend play their MLS game.

Media sources said Man City had three of their starters from their Sunday game as starters tonight. A lot of their 'high numbered' guys sub in the second half. TFC started seven that started in their Saturday game against Portland Timbers.

TFC has now played five Premier League teams but always later in the MLS season when the English teams are in their pre-season. You could say the visitors would be at their 'fittest' right now.

I was surprized by how well the TFC players played with many first teamers not playing or just in for the first part of the game. Goalie Joe Bendik was returning from injury and started but only played 27 minutes. New regular starter Chris Konopka was not even on the bench. Alex Bono took over and finished the game and was the star with many saves including one off his face at 73 minutes. (Dedryck Boyata took a ball off the face at 3 minutes and Warren Creavalle took one at 45 minutes in a tough game). Sebastian Giovinco was also subbed off at 27 minutes [later announced as nursing a heel injury]. Giovinco's subbing drew some boos from the crowd as he has been one of the best stories of the TFC season. His surprise replacement was Bright Dike who is currently on loan to NASL team San Antonio and only came back to Toronto for this one game--the earliest he can come back is July.

How could this 'TFC II' team play so well tonight and struggle against USL Pro opponents like last Saturday against Rochester Rhinos? New rules allow no players 'lower' than MLS signing play in these international friendlies after complaints throughout the years about using Academy players. I've seen many of them work their way up from the Academy so was happy at how competitive they were. They were getting more chances in the second half when more of them subbed in then the first.

Those around me (ManCity fans) started cheering for TFC at 75 minutes wishing they would be a goal for either team as something to cheer for.

We were given souvenir cardboard fans on our way in. One side had TFC players and the other had ManCity fans. 'Cityzen' for their fan club.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from various sources
Match Information

Match details 
BMO Field Att:23,169 
Friendly 

May 23, 2015 – BMO Field (Toronto)

Goals by Half               1st        2nd        Fin
Manchester City              0          1          1
Toronto FC                   0          0          0        

Manchester City  Shots attempts 26, shots on target 4
Toronto FC       Shots attempts  7, shots on target 3

Toronto FC starters