August 8, 2015 MLS--Toronto FC vs Sporting Kansas City (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday August 8, 2015 MLS game between Toronto FC and Sporting Kansas City played at BMO Field in Toronto at 4:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.........................12 Joe Bendik
11 Jackson...15 Eriq Zavaleta...41 Ahmed Kantari...5 Ashtone Morgan
18 Marky Delgado...26 Collen Warner...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...21 Jonathan Osorio
...............17 Jozy Altidore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...1 Chris Konopka (gk)...2 Justin Morrow (def)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)...19 Daniel Lovitz (mid)
...20 Christopher Mannella (mid)...55 Robbie Findley (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Sporting Kansas City (sky blue socks and shirts, navy shorts, names and hollow numbers)

.....................29 Tim Melia
7 Chance Myers...4 Kevin Ellis...94 Jimmy Medranda...5 Matt Besler (cpt)
22 Connor Hallisey...93 Soni Mustivar...10 Benny Feilhaber...6 Paulo Nagamura
...........37 Jacob Peterson...9 Krisztian Nemeth

Subs:...21 Jon Kempin (gk)...2 Erik Palmer-Brown (def)...13 Amadou Dia (def)...17 Saad Abdul-Salaam (def)...20 Amobi Okugo (mid)
...71 Marcel de Jong (def)

team officials:...head coach Peter Vermes

Game officials:...referee Mark Geiger...referee's assistants Eric Boria and Kathryn Nesbitt...fourth official Jose Carlos Rivero
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 4:08pm...TFC defend south end on this hot and mostly overcast afternoon.
2 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from right is partially cleared by TFC Warner header at 8 yards. SKC Ellis shot up middle from 15 yards is wide right.
6 min...SKC Feilhaber 22 yard freekick from far left has goalie swat ball through box near bar bar out right side of box.
8 min...SKC player's short cornerkick from right is short then SKC Feilhaber crosses in from 22 yards and SKC Myers head 6 yard ball from right wide left for goalkick.
11 min...SKC Feilhaber gets to high bouncer at 25 yards on right and flicks ball behind defender on turn and 20 yard low cross near end line has charging TFC Delgado clear ball at 10 yards in middle of box for throw-in.
12 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from 20 yard line on right has defender head away at 8 yards in middle.
12 min...SKC Medranda midair cross from 28 yards on left has SKC Myers on right one-touch blast 10 yard shot just wide left of post.
14 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from left is caught by goalie on right side of box in crowd of players.
15 min...SKC Hallisey on right rolls centering and forward pass to charging SKC Myers who shoots 12 yarder along right end line behind net.
18 min...SKC Feilhaber on run down middle chips short pass to left and SKC Nemeth rolls low shot from 10 yards as he's pulled down. SKC Hallisey shoots 12 yarder that is blocked by defender at 6 yards and SKC Nagamura can't get away shot at 6 yards by same defender. Hallisey blasts midair shot from 8 yards that sprawling goalie at 6 yards gets hand to and deflects wide right for cornerkick just step away from SKC Feilhaber ready to shoot 6 yarder on right into open net.
19 min...SKC Feilhaber low cornerkick from right is over to SKC Hallisey at 22 yards in middle misses controlling it but recovers at 28 yards and taps pass to left where a SKC player chips 30 yarder that SKC Ellis jumps for with back to goal but TFC Kantari grabs his shoulder and pulls him down at 12 yards and referee awards Penalty kick.
20 min...SKC Benny Feilhaber GOAL...Feilhaber stuttersteps and shoots low down middle as goalie Joseph Bendik dives right.
22 min...TFC Michael Bradley GOAL...TFC Jonathan Osorio at 50 yards in middle rolls ball forward for Bradley at 40 yards and he rolls pass over to TFC Sebastian Giovinco at 35 yards and he rolls through ball pass to charging Bradley who gets to it at 15 yards and rolls shot into right side of net beyond goalie Tim Melia sprawling at 12 yards.
24 min...SKC Feilhaber 40 yard freekick from right has SKC Nemeth head ball away from goal at 12 yards as he's spun around by defender.
25 min...SKC Hallisey low cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Warner boot away at 12 yards in middle of box.
25 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from right has SKC Peterson duck and head ball from 15 yards in middle that is off chest of TFC Kantari and deflected out of box.
28 min...SKC Krisztian Nemeth GOAL...SKC Benny Feilhaber 35 yard freekick from left has Nemeth flick backwards header from 15 yards over goalie who can only get hand to it when he's caught off line at 8 yards.
30 min...TFC Jackson 50 yard freekick from right is rescued by TFC Bradley on left end line who taps to TFC Morgan and his low cross is near left cornerflag is cleared from middle of box.
31 min...SKC Myers is injured on sliding tackle at SKC 25 yard line in collision with TFC Warner.
33 min...SKC Feilhaber intercepts ball and sends short forward pass from 25 yards up middle to SKC Peterson who's called offside at 18 yards.
34 min...TFC Bradley 25 yard shot up middle has goalie at 4 yards palm ball over bar.
35 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has TFC Kantari in middle at 7 yards head ball wide left of post.
40 min...SKC Feilhaber cornerkick from right has TFC Altidore jab ball away at 15 yards on left and SKC Medranda shoots 30 yarder high and wide right of net.
41 min...TFC Morgan crosses 28 yarder from left well high and behind net.
41 min...SKC Hallisey rolls cross from 25 yards on far left that TFC Kantari clears from 10 yards even with left post.
43 min...TFC Jackson rolls through ball up middle from 30 yards that goalie picks up.
47 min...TFC Giovinco 25 yard freekick from far right is rolled to TFC Bradley at 16 yards in middle of box who turns and rolls ball back to Giovinco now running in from right and Giovinco dribbles and shoots low who shoots low 12 yarder that sprawling goalie saves on right post.
47 min...half ends 5:55pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's another game of Bud Soccer Pong, invitations to Autograph Alley, Pizza Pizza giveaway, and Drumsticks ice cream giveaway. There's an introduction of 'kids' from the Special Olympics Ontario to play a 7 on 5 mini soccer game. They looked like they were in their twenties.

2nd Half:...starts 5:12pm...it is still hot but now sunny.
45 min...SKC Peterson is injured jumping for ball at TFC 45 yard line.
48 min...TFC Jackson runs down right to near cornerflag and low cross has goalie dive forward and punch ball away.
49 min...TFC Morgan on left from 45 yards rolls ball forward and centers but SKC Ellis intercepts at 15 yards before TFC Giovinco can get it.
50 min...TFC Bradley lofts 45 yard freekick from left that goalie catches on bounce.
52 min...TFC Giovinco 23 yard freekick up middle hits head in wall and ball is cleared to the left.
53 min...SKC Feilhaber injured at TFC 50 yards in a bump of heads with TFC Delgado.
55 min...SKC Myers chip from 25 yards up middle is a step ahead of charging SKC Nemeth and goalie catches on bounce at 6 yards.
56 min...SKC sub...Okugo replaces Nagamura.
57 min...TFC Bradley 40 yard freekick up middle to TFC Kantari at 6 yards is flagged offside.
58 min...SKC Feilhaber 50 yard freekick from left is headed out right side of box.
58 min...SKC Besler throw-in from near right cornerflag is cleared for another throw-in.
59 min...SKC Besler long throw-in from near right cornerflag has TFC Warner at 15 yards head out of box to start fast TFC break. TFC Altidore passes forward from 60 yards on left over to charging TFC Bradley at 20 yards on right and his cross has defender head away.
60 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is through box on bounce and wins another cornerkick on header by SKC Okugo at 6 yards in crowd of players.
61 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has TFC Warner head ball wide right from 7 yards up middle.
65 min...SKC Feilhaber freekick from 45 yards up middle is deflected wide left by defender.
65 min...SKC Feilhaber cornerkick from left is caught by leaping goalie at 5 yards on right post.
66 min...TFC Bradley 35 yard freekick from right has defender head away at 8 yards on left and another defender clear away from box.
68 min...TFC sub...Lovitz replaces Morgan.
..........TFC sub...Morrow replaces Osorio.
70 min...TFC Giovinco 25 yard freekick from far left has goalie punch ball away out right side.
73 min...SKC Ellis at 8 yards concedes cornerkick by sliding and kickin ball over own net on TFC Lovitz low cross from 16 yards on left.
74 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has goalie punch ball away and TFC Giovinco at 28 yards up middle blasts shot that's popped up at 22 yards by defender and TFC Jackson on edge of box on right is pushed off ball and ball punted upfield.
75 min...SKC sub...Abdul-Salaam replaces Nemeth (a defender replaces a forward).
77 min...TFC Lovitz rush to shot on left at 28 yards and shot deflects off sliding defender at 25 yards and goalie charges forward to catch then falls to ground.
78 min...TFC Jackson crosses ball high from 25 yards near right endline and TFC Lovitz heads 10 yarder that goalie palms over net.
78 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has defender pop up header from left across box and TFC Zavaleta stop ball then 10 yards kick is blocked at 7 yards and ball deflects out to TFC Jackson who blasts low 18 yarder from right towards left post but diving goalie gets hand to at 3 yards and TFC Kantari has 3 yard shot blocked by goalie. TFC Giovinco cross from 20 yards on left has TFC Altidore even with right post nod header into ground and bounce wide right from 6 yards.
82 min...TFC Giovinco crosses from 25 yards on left that SKC Abdul-Salaam heads away at 15 yards in middle of box before TFC Altidore can get to it.
82 min...TFC Delgado crosses from 28 yards on right that SKC defender heads away at 8 yards in middle of box.
83 min...TFC Giovinco chips ball forward from 30 yards for TFC Bradley to shoot midair 10 yard shot wide left.
85 min...TFC Bradley 35 yard freekick from right is low and cleared by SKC Feilhaber on right side of box as closest defender.
86 min...SKC Jacob Peterson GOAL...SKC Saad Abdul-Salaam at 28 yards on left rolls centering pass and SKC Amobi Okugo at 22 yards in middle sends low cross over to charging Peterson on left and he dribbles forward from 20 yards and shoots low 10 yards past retreating TFC Eriqu Zavaleta and into right corner of net beyond foot of sliding goalie at 3 yards who is even with left post.
87 min...SKC sub...Dia replaces Myers.
87 min...TFC YELLOW card...Warner earns it for forearm check to head on SKC Feilhaber on center line injurying him.
95 min...game ends 6:02pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......1..........Sporting Kansas City...........3........

Attendance was announced as 24326 on this hot day with the game starting out cloudy but was sunny through the second half.

Before the game it was announced that Sebastian Giovinco was named the MLS Player of the Month for July--he's the first TFC player to win this award in franchise history. His 16 goals is the best ever for a TFC player.

I didn't see this result coming. TFC had the return of all three of their designated player playing for the first time in a few months.

It was the play of Benoit Cheyrou (midfield) and Damien Perquis (defender) that was missed because of suspensions to both of them. Cheyrou may have been replaced by Bradley anyway. He had been the acting captain for some of the games while Bradley was away. Cheyrou was on the cover of today's game program.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was Marky Delgado. I would have given it to Michael Bradley if they insist on giving it out even with TFC loses.

Sporting were without suspended forward Dom Dwyer and suspended/injured midfielder Roger Espinoza. The game day program always highlights the two best visiting players and today it was those two. Forward Graham Zusi was introduced as a starter in the announcements just 15 minutes before the game but he didn't make even make the subs bench and SKC played with only six subs. (The television broadcast stated he'd been injured in the warm up...Connor Hallisey took his place).

Sporting subbed in a defender taking out a forward at 75 minutes to protect their 2-1 lead. TFC had a few chances but it was SKC who added an insurance goal. Jacob Peterson scored that goal and is another TFC player (2011 and 2012) coming back to haunt his former team.

TFC PA announced the exploits of Giovinco before the game but SKC has allowed the fewest goals at only 21 in 20 games up to today's game. They have a league low four losses this season.

SKC defenders rushed and intercepted, and slid in to block TFC passes and were very effective. TFC just seemed slow for most parts of the game.

TFC goes back to a 50-50 record at 9 wins, 9 losses, 4 ties. That keeps them in third place (before the other games of today are known) because they have fewer one point ties than most other teams and play in the weak Eastern Conference.

Giovinco didn't get to the ball much as compared to Wednesday's game against Orlando City.

TFC's next game is next Saturday at New York Red Bulls. They won't be playing Wednesday night at home because they failed to make the Canadian Championship final round.

Gifts given to fans leaving today's game were sample size Speed Stick antiperspirant--they gave me two--which was almost a disappointment from the carton of them I was given at an earlier game.

Joe Bendik was caught well off his line for a freekick that was headed over him and he could only get a hand to at 8 yards. This turned out to be the winning goal.

68 minutes had TFC sub off their two Canadians.

After the game Sporting players saluted their fans in the visitors balcony while TFC players fled the field rather than walk to the south stands.

Later in the evening but not enough time for me to get out of the grounds and north of the city, their USL franchise TFC II were beaten 3-1 by Pittsburgh Riverhounds at the Ontario Soccer Centre.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
22'  Benny Feilhaber (PK) 
22'  Michael Bradley            Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco 
29'  Krisztian Németh           Assisted By: Benny Feilhaber 
87'  Jacob Peterson             Assisted By: Amobi Okugo 

Disciplinary
88'  Collen Warner              Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
10 F Sebastian Giovinco 
17 F Jozy Altidore 
12 G Joe Bendik 
11 D Jackson 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
41 D Ahmed Kantari 
 5 D Ashtone Morgan   (69')
18 M Marco Delgado 
26 M Collen Warner 
21 M Jonathan Osorio  (69')
 4 M Michael Bradley 

Bench
 1 G Chris Konopka 
 6 D Nick Hagglund 
19 D Daniel Lovitz    (69')
 2 M Justin Morrow    (69')
14 M Jay Chapman 
20 M Chris Mannella 
55 F Robbie Findley    

Manager Greg Vanney 

Lineup

Sporting Kansas City 
22 F Connor Hallisey 
37 F Jacob Peterson 
 9 F Krisztian Németh     (76')
29 G Tim Melia 
 7 D Chance Myers         (88')
 4 D Kevin Ellis 
 5 D Matt Besler 
94 D Jimmy Medranda 
93 M Soni Mustivar 
 6 M Paulo Nagamura       (57')
10 M Benny Feilhaber 

Bench  
21 G Jon Kempin 
71 D Marcel de Jong 
 2 D Erik Palmer-Brown 
13 D Amadou Dia           (88')
20 M Amobi Okugo          (57')
17 F Saad Abdul-Salaam    (76') 
    
Manager Peter Vermes 

Officials
Referee  Mark Geiger 
Assistant Referee  Eric Boria 
Assistant Referee  Kathryn Nesbitt 
Fourth Official  Jose Carlos Rivero 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Attendance 24326
Weather Sunny

Stats:

TOR                          SKC
 12     Shots                 11 
  5     Shots on Target        4 
  4     Shots off Target       4 
  3     Blocked Shots          3 
  5     Corners                4 
 20     Crosses                8 
  4     Offsides               2 
 11     Fouls                 16 
  1     Yellow Cards           0 
  0     Red Cards              0 
353     Total Passes         328 
 71 %   Passing Accuracy      63 % 
 53 %   Possession            47 % 
 61     Duels Won             53 
 16     Tackles Won           27 
  1     Saves                  4 
 24     Clearances            17

Toronto FC starters