May 30, 2015 MLS--Toronto FC vs San Jose Earthquakes (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday May 30, 2015 MLS game between Toronto FC and San Jose Earthquakes 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
3 Warren Creavalle...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...21 Jonathan Osorio...8 Benoit Cheyrou
...........27 Luke Moore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...12 Joseph Bendik (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...11 Jackson (mid)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)...20 Christopher Mannella (mid)
...22 Jordan Hamilton (fwd)...55 Robbie Findley (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

San Jose Earthquakes (teal socks and shirts, black shorts, white names and numbers)

...............1 David Bingham
4 Marvell Wynne...5 Victor Bernandez...21 Clarence Goodson...3 Jordan Stewart
17 Sanna Nyassi...9 Khari Stephenson...15 JJ Koval...6 Shea Salinas
...........14 Adam Jahn...8 Chris Wondolowski (cpt)

Subs:...35 Bryan Meredith (gk)...7 Cordell Cato (mid)...10 Matias Perez Garcia (mid)...12 Mark Sherrod (fwd)...20 Shaun Francis (def)
...38 Paulo Renato (def)...80 Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi (mid)
team officials:...head coach Dominic Kinnear

Game officials:...referee Fotis Bazakos...referee's assistants Craig Lowry and Richard Gamache...fourth official Ricardo Salazar
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 5:24pm...TFC defend south end on this warm late afternoon with the game starting with rain just slowing down and finally stopping at the 7 minute mark.
1 min...SJE Nyassi run down right wing to get to pass and cross from 25 yards on far right has TFC Zavaleta head away at 8 yards on right side of box.
1 min...TFC goalie catches 40 yard bouncer sent in from left.
4 min...the video board is now working at last. The rain has almost stopped.
7 min...TFC Perquis heads ball away from SJE Jahn rushing into TFC box.
7 min...SJE Stephenson 40 yard from left shot flies wide right of post.
8 min...SJE Nyassi at 40 yards on right rolls centering pass and SJE Wondolowski turns and fires 25 yard shot from right well high and wide left of net.
10 min...TFC Morgan wins cornerkick after tapped back throw-in has him tap ball off SJE Wynne.
11 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left is over players in box and TFC Osorio heads 8 yarder wide right from right.
11 min...SJE goalie steps out of box to head ball away before TFC Giovinco can get to it up middle as long ball sent from 65 yards from TFC Cheyrou down middle.
12 min...TFC Osorio rolls ball through 6 yard box from 15 yards on left that's unplayed just a step ahead of TFC Bradley.
15 min...TFC Giovinco cuts 12 yard shot down middle that goalie palms up to deflect ball to hit the crossbar on scramble from edge of box as Giovinco rounded two defenders to it away.
17 min...SJE Stewart rolls centering pass to SJE Salinas who cuts 25 yard shot from left well high and wide right.
18 min...SJE Nyassi is injured at SJE 45 yard line.
19 min...TFC Giovinco cross from 28 yards on left has SJE Wynne at 10 yards head ball away then play is whistled down.
21 min...TFC Justin Morrow GOAL...Jonathan Osorio at 35 yards on left rolls ball forward for Sebastian Giovinco on left edge of box and he crosses from 15 yards into 6 yard box and charging Morrow flies to beat retreating SJE Jordan Stewart and heads in from 7 yards down middle into right side of net past goalie David Bingham guarding left side of net.
22 min...TFC Ashton Morgan is called on a handball in the TFC box when SJE player crosses in from 25 yards on left and SJE Wondolowski heads 10 yarder that deflects off Morgan's extended arm. Referee Fotis Bazakos awards a Penalty kick.
23 min...Chris Wondolowski GOAL...Wondolowski blasts low Penalty kick to left corner of net past diving goalie Chris Konopka.
23 min...TFC Osorio 28 yard shot up middle has goalie sprawl to save on left post.
24 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from right has SJE Koval leap over defender and head 10 yarder wide left of net.
25 min...SJE Wynne long throw-in from right has ball headed by TFC Zavaleta and ball eventually cleared in TFC box.
29 min...SJE Wynne on right rolls pass forward from 35 yards that SJE Salinas can't control on edge of box and ball rolls too far forward and results in a goalkick.
29 min...SJE Salinas low cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Perquis get back and head ball away from 15 yards in center of box.
30 min...SJE Nyassi at 25 yards on right rolls ball forward and TFC Zavaleta misses it and SJE Jahn gets behind him at 6 yards and sharp angle shot hits goalie at 4 yards guarding right post and ball deflects wide left for cornerkick.
31 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from left has TFC Zavaleta heads ball away from 8 yards on left in crowd of players. SJE Nyassi mid-air blasts partial clearance from 30 yards wide left of net.
The sun has come out!
32 min...TFC Warren Creavalle GOAL...SJE Sanna Nyassi cuts back towards center just outside own box and TFC Sebastian Giovinco gets foot in to trip him up. Ball in box has Luke Moore at 15 yards with back to goal taps back pass to Creavalle who takes low 20 yard shot up middle that's between players and into left side of net.
34 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from left has goalie catch in crowd of players at 6 yards even with left post.
35 min...SJE Salinas 40 yard freekick from left has TFC Perquis head ball away at 8 yards in crowd of players.
36 min...SJE Stewart long high cross from 30 yards near left sideline has ball drift high wide right for goalkick.
38 min...TFC Giovinco on long play recovers partial clearance and dribbles to right end line and can't get away shot but wins cornerkick.
38 min...TFC Cheyrou cornerkick from right has SJE Jahn in middle of box head ball away. TFC Perquis is injured in SJE box.
40 min...SJE Nyassi at 30 yards on right rolls ball forward and to middle for charging SJE Koval at 10 yards on right rolls short pass for SJE Wondolowski who has shot from 8 yards deflected wide right by sliding TFC Perquis for cornerkick.
41 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from right has goalie punch ball forward. SJE Stewart at 28 yards chips high ball back into box and SJE Bernardez has shot blocked by TFC Morrow who is injured on play.
45 min...SJE Goodson prevents TFC Moore from getting away a 7 yard shot from left and he pushes ball over line for goalkick.
46 min...TFC Giovinco runs runs along edge of SJE box and low shot is smothered by goalie in center of net.
46 min...SJE Wynne wins cornerkick on cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Cheyrou pop up header at 16 yards and ball flies wide left for a cornerkick.
47 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from left has TFC Bradley on left side of box head ball away.
47 min...half ends 6:11pm.

Halftime entertainment: MC Shari Leavitt with a cardboard Michael Bradley cutout promotes Autograph Alley, there's a shirt throw, a pizza giveaway, and an ice cream drumsticks giveaway.

The videoboard paid tribute to Dwayne DeRosario showing highlights of his entire MLS career and an announcement of a testimonial match before the TFC game against NYCFC. DeRo officially announced his retirement today before the game.

2nd Half:...starts 6:28pm...there are now dark clouds again and the threat of more rain looks real.
halftime sub:...SJE Renato replaces Goodson.
46 min...TFC Giovinco can't win Penalty kick as SJE Wynne pushes him over with one arm on left side of box.
48 min...SJE Salinas chips 40 yard freekick down middle and TFC Cheyrou heads away just inside box.
50 min...SJE Wondolowski has shot blocked at 20 yards on left.
51 min...SJE Salinas 40 yard freekick from left has SJE Jahn leap and head ball in crowd of players at 8 yards on right over to left and nobody's there so ball bounces for TFC throw-in on left.
53 min...SJE Wynne on right dribbles ball into TFC box on right. Ball knocked around and partially cleared and SJE Stephenson takes low 25 shot down middle that deflects off TFC Bradley and wins cornerkick.
53 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from right has TFC Bradley kick away ball in box.
54 min...SJE YELLOW card...Nyassi earns it for trip on TFC Giovinco at TFC 40 yard line as they break out after cornerkick on last play.
54 min...TFC player rolls ball forward from left and TFC Giovinco runs behind defenders and sends low cross from 15 yards on left through 6 yard box unplayed.
56 min...SJE Wondolowski pass to SJE Salinas who wins cornerkick on low cross from 15 yards that deflects off TFC Morrow.
57 min...SJE sub...Cato replaces Nyassi.
57 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from left has TFC Morrow head ball away from 7 yards in middle of box.
58 min...SJE Wynne rush from right to middle and cuts 25 yard shot well wide and high left of net.
60 min...TFC Cheyrou 30 yard freekick from right sideline has SJE defender head ball away at 8 yards on right.
62 min...SJE Salinas 40 yard freekick from left is headed away by TFC Zavaleta at 20 yards and high recross sent in by SJE Bernardez from 35 yards on right has TFC Morrow kick away from 8 yards in middle of box.
63 min...SJE Salinas pass from 35 yards on left rolls by sliding SJE Jahn and straight to goalie.
65 min...TFC sub...Jackson replaces Creavalle.
66 min...TFC Osorio chips pass from 30 yards over to TFC Jackson at 12 yards on right but he can't control it and ball bounces wide right for a goalkick.
68 min...TFC Jackson run on right and low 22 yard shot is caught by goalie diving forward.
70 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from right has goalie at 7 yards in middle of box step forward and punch ball away in crowd of players.
70 min...TFC Luke Moore GOAL...TFC Sebastian Giovinco on right rolls ball from 15 yards along 6 yard box and Moore steps in front of defenders and taps ball from 5 yards while even with right post into left corner of net.
72 min...SJE Salinas cornerkick from right has charging SJE Jahn head ball wide left from 8 yards.
73 min...SJE Cato low cross from 25 yards on right has two players miss connecting to shot.
73 min...SJE Salinas low 25 yard shot down middle is wide left.
74 min...SJE sub...Sherrod replaces Koval.
75 min...TFC Bradley long rush up left and low 8 yard shot is tipped by sliding SJE Stewart near left post for cornerkick on left.
76 min...TFC cornerkick is cleared for quick breakout.
76 min...SJE Cato is injured at center line on tackle by TFC Morgan.
77 min...SJE Salinas 35 yard freekick from right has TFC Bradley head away at 10 yards on right side of box.
78 min...SJE Cato cross from 30 yards into box has goalie fumble but defender clears.
79 min...TFC Bradley long run up middle regains possession passes right from 30 yards to TFC Giovinco who rushes forward and shoots low 10 yarder that goalie smothers.
80 min...TFC Giovinco rush on left at 25 yards and passes to TFC Osorio in middle and shot over sliding goalie at 9 yards but wide right of post.
81 min...TFC Morgan rush on left and at 28 yards centers for TFC Giovinco who taps ball over from 12 yads on left for TFC Moore but SJE Stephenson steps in front of him and concedes cornerkick.
82 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has TFC Giovinco 18 yard shot from left is blocked by SJE Renato.
83 min...TFC sub...Hagglund replaces Osorio.
.........TFC sub...Chapman replaces Moore.
85 min...TFC Giovinco low cross from 15 yards on right side of box has defender clear.
86 min...SJE Salinas cross from 30 yards on left has ball over players and bounce wide right for goalkick.
87 min...SJE Salinas can't win freekick just outside left side of box when he tries to squeeze between two TFC players.
88 min...SJE Salinas chips ball from 22 yards on left forward into box but play whistled down for SJE player pushing over TFC Zavaleta as both jumped for header at 7 yards.
89 min...TFC Giovinco low 40 yard shot from right has goalie well off his line fly at 8 yards and push ball wide right for cornerkick.
90 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has SJE Bernardez head ball away and SJE Sherrod starts fast break out.
91 min...SJE Wynne throw-in from right has defenders clear in box.
93 min...TFC Giovinco 22 yard freekick from left hits left post and TFC Bradley has rebound shot on partial clearance from 22 yards on left shot wide left.
94 min...game ends 7:17pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......3..........San Jose Earthquakes...........1........

Attendance was announced as 17711. That number is very low but the thunderstorms from two hours before game time probably killed the walk up crowd.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as defender Damien Perquis. I'm OK with that as he made some key clearance as a defender although the eaiser choice would be to give it to Justin Morrow who defended but also scored a goal. [Late news is Sebastian Giovinco being voted the MLS Player of the Week. He earned assists on two of the goals.]

We fans were held back from seeing the pregame warm ups because of the security teams. Best reasoning I overheard from them was it was because of the risk of lightning. Yes, the alumininum stands are dangerous. Below in the dark corridors the rain leaked in through holes so no improvements to the 'old' part of the east stands. I expect with there to be a roof put over the stadium in time for next season, fixing that is not neccessary.

The rain left up enough that I could write from the fourth miute onward. There was no rain for the rest of the game althoug it looked like we'd get more in the second half.

TFC did hold on to their lead during the second half and had many chances to increase it when SJE had to open up to try to get the tying goal. The defenders were almost perfect except that 56 minute replacement SJE Cordell Cato could send in crosses from the right side even with two defenders on him.

I'm sure the whole stadium knew that TFC Sebastian Giovinco would take the injury time freekick rather than Michael Bradley as they both lined up for it. SJE defenders just wasted time fussing about staying behind the spray painted line the referee had made. Giovinco had hit the crossbar on a shot at 15 minutes. He also set up Jonathan Osorio for a sitter and another pass to Luke Moore before the one that he did score his goal. Giovinco has been drawing multiple defenders and it sets other players in the open.

Chris Konopka played well in net making a few punch outs in the box but wasn't really tested.

After their last two home wins (after losing their home opener against Houston), I'm wondering if TFC are the only Eastern team that can beat the stronger Western Conference teams? After an away game next weekend against DC United--thankfully 'away' as three TFC home games in a week is a strain--they finally get an Eastern opponent at home. It will be the 1 win (at time of this writing) New York City FC so a stretch of good form can be extended.

Chris Wondolowski scored his 101st MLS goal today on a Penalty kick--the same method he used last week to meet the 100 goal milestone. This would be his 8th goal against TFC and takes the lead as the individual with the most goals against them. SJE had come into this game on a five game unbeaten streak. TFC had played SJE last year at BMO Field and won 1-0 on a goal from Jermaine Defoe on a Penalty kick.

With the game in hand Jay Chapman made his debut in MLS play. He had been lined up to come in with Jackson at 65 minutes but was called back until 83 minutes when TFC had a more comfortabel two goal lead. He'd played well as a starter in their Wednesday friendly game against Manchester City and stayed in the entire game. TFC II with whom he's on loan were not playing this weekend.

We were given packages of Gummi candies on the way out. My subway line had no scheduled maintenance this week so I was able to get home reasonably quickly.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists

22'   Justin Morrow             Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco, Jonathan Osorio 
24'   Chris Wondolowski (PK) 
33'   Warren Creavalle          Assisted By: Luke Moore 
71'   Luke Moore                Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco 

Disciplinary
55'   Sanna Nyassi              Reason: Foul 


San Jose Earthquakes (5-5-3, 18 pts) at Toronto FC (5-5-1, 16 pts) 

May 30, 2015 – BMO Field (Toronto)

Goals by Half               1st        2nd        Fin
San Jose Earthquakes         1          0          0
Toronto FC                   2          1          3        

Lineups & Stats

Toronto FC 
1  G Chris Konopka 
2  D Justin Morrow...24 D Damien Perquis...15 D Eriq Zavaleta...5  D Ashtone Morgan 
3  M Warren Creavalle (66min 11 M Jackson)...8  M Benoit Cheyrou...21 M Jonathan Osorio (84min 6 Nick Hagglund)...4  M Michael Bradley 
10 F Sebastian Giovinco...27 F Luke Moore (84min 14 F Jay Chapman) 

Substitutions not used:  12 G Joe Bendik...20 M Chris Mannella...55 F Robbie Findley...22 F Jordan Hamilton 

Manager Greg Vanney  

San Jose Earthquakes 
1  G David Bingham 
4  D Marvell Wynne...5  D Víctor Bernárdez...21 D Clarence Goodson (46min 38 D Paulo Renato)...3  D Jordan Stewart 
8  M Chris Wondolowski...9  M Khari Stephenson...15 M J.J. Koval (75min 12 M Mark Sherrod)
17 F Sanna Nyassi (58min 7 F Cordell Cato)...14 F Adam Jahn...6  F Shea Salinas 

Substitutions not used:  35 G Bryan Meredith...20 D Shaun Francis...80 M Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi...10 M Matías Pérez García 

Manager Dominic Kinnear 

Officials
Referee  Fotis Bazakos 
Assistant Referee  Craig Lowry 
Assistant Referee  Richard Gamache 
Fourth Official  Ricardo Salazar 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Attendance 17711
Weather Rain

Stats:

TOR                            SJE
 14     Shots                   17 
  8     Shots on Target          2 
  4     Shots off Target         9 
  2     Blocked Shots            6 
  5     Corners                  9 
 12     Crosses                 32 
  1     Offsides                 1 
  9     Fouls                   13 
  0     Yellow Cards             1 
  0     Red Cards                0 
322     Total Passes           405 
 74 %   Passing Accuracy        80 % 
 43.3 % Possession              56.7 % 
 50     Duels Won               50 
 12     Tackles Won             13 
  1     Saves                    5 
 36     Clearances              13

Toronto FC starters