September 13, 2015 MLS--Toronto FC vs New England Revolution (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Sunday September 13, 2015 MLS game between Toronto FC and New England Revolution played at BMO Field in Toronto at 5:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and gold numbers)

.........................1 Chris Konopka
23 Josh Williams...24 Damien Perquis...41 Ahmed Kantari...2 Justin Morrow
18 Marky Delgado...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...21 Jonathan Osorio...17 Jozy Altidore
................55 Robbie Findley...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...12 Joseph Bendik (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...8 Benoit Cheyrou (mid)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)...16 Herculez Gomez (fwd)
...20 Christopher Mannella (mid)...27 Luke Moore
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

New England Revolution (navy socks and shirts, white shorts, names and numbers, red trim)

.......................22 Bobby Shuttleworth
8 Chris Tierney...23 Jose Goncalves...2 Andrew Farrell...5 Jeremy Hall
10 Teal Bunbury...13 Jermaine Jones (cpt)...6 Scott Caldwell...14 Diego Fagundez
...............9 Charlie Davies...24 Lee Nguyen

Subs:...18 Brad Knighton (gk)...4 Steve Neumann (mid)...11 Kelyn Rowe (mid)...16 Daigo Kobayashi...17 Juan Agudelo (mid)
...28 London Woodbury (def)...30 Kevin Alston (def)
team officials:...head coach Jay Heaps

Game officials:...referee Baldomero Toledo...referee's assistants Joe Fletcher and James Conlee...fourth official Chris Penso
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

There was a pregame introduction of 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi of Italy who is here on a promotional tour. There's also a parade of champtions of kids teams who've been tourney winners and playoff qualifiers.

1st Half:...game starts 5:08pm...TFC defends south end on this cool early evening with a light rain that started then stopped.
35 sec...NE Farrell dives to head away cross into box sent in by TFC Findley.
55 sec...NE Nguyen 20 yard shot bent inward but wide right after recovering TFC Perquis giveaway from left side of box.
1 min...TFC Giovinco cross from 20 yards on far left has TFC Findley head ball over goalie but off bar from 10 yards. Findley gets pass tapped over to him from TFC Bradley and shoots 18 yarder from right that goalie palms over bar.
2 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right is headed away. TFC Giovinco at 22 yards rolls ball to right for TFC Delgado to chip 30 yarder from right forward for charging Bradley who crosses from near right end line and ball again headed away. TFC Osorio low 25 yard shot is smothered by goalie diving to right post.
3 min...NE (TFC Damien Perquis) OWN GOAL...NE Lee Nguyen rush up right to 35 yard line and short centering pass back to NE Jermaine Jones who feeds pass forward and over to right for charging NE Teal Bunbury and he rolls cross from 10 yards on right for charging NE Charlei Davies sliding at 10 yards in middle of box but Perquis steps in between them and kicks 6 yarder into right side of own net.
7 min...TFC Giovinco can't win Penalty kick on knock down but then wins freekick on right end line.
8 min...TFC Bradley 20 yard freekick chip along right end line is headed away in crowd of players on edge of 6 yard box.
10 min...TFC Giovinco 30 yard freekick down middle is bent just wide left of post.
12 min...NE Tierney cornerkick is short to NE Nguyen but pass back is wasted when rolled over end line by Tierney passing to Nguyen.
14 min...TFC Morrow cross near left cornerflag has ball partially cleared and TFC Giovinco win cornerkick on 18 yard deflected shot off NE Farrell.
15 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right is partially cleared and TFC Findley shanks 25 yard shot down middle to left.
16 min...TFC Giovinco rush down left including twisting around two defenders and crosses from 10 yards on far left over head of TFC Delgado. TFC Bradley eventually sends in chipped pass from 30 yards on right to TFC Giovinco who crosses from 18 yards on left and goalie flies to punch ball forward.
18 min...TFC Giovinco run down right and cuts to middle but shot from 22 yards is blocked by NE Farrell at 12 yards.
19 min...TFC goalie out of box to knock away high bouncer with charging TFC Perquis and NE Davies bearing down middle.
21 min...TFC Osorio wins freekick on edge of NE box running into NE Hall.
22 min...TFC Giovinco freekick 20 yarder deflects off head in wall for cornerkick.
22 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left falls into 6 yard box and is cleared out of box.
23 min...NE Nguyen taps pass back on right end line and NE Tierney low cross from 20 yards on right is cleared by defender in 6 yard box.
26 min...NE Tierney cornerkick from right is headed inside box by NE Jones but TFC Kantari clears ball out left side of box.
26 min...NE YELLOW card...Jones earns it for trip on TFC Findley at center line.
27 min...TFC Morrow cross from 22 yards on far left is into box just step ahead of flying header by TFC Findley at 8 yards but ball flies through box and out right side.
29 min...NE Fagundez run up left and cross from 30 yards near sideline has TFC Kantari dive forward in box to key header to prevent two NE players from getting to ball.
30 min...TFC Altidore gets pass threaded forward from TFC Bradley and low shot from 15 yards on right is stopped by sliding NE Goncalves.
31 min...TFC Delgado cross from 20 yards near right end line is caught by goalie unchallenged.
32 min...TFC Giovinco cross from right has NE Farrell clear on header leaning backwards at 7 yards.
34 min...TFC Bradley 22 yard freekick from far left is bent just high wide right of top corner of net.
35 min...TFC Bradley pass from 40 yards on right is forward to TFC Delgado who crosses from 25 yards on far right that's caught by goalie stepping forward and leaping to catch at 6 yards in center of box.
36 min...TFC Giovinco is checked off ball in NE box near right end line.
38 min...NE Diego Fagundez GOAL...NE Lee Nguyen on right sideline rolls ball forward for NE Bunbury who holds up with defender at 25 yards on left and rolls pass over to charging Nguyen at 20 yards on right edge of box who centers ball along 18 yard line and Fagundez blasts 18 yarder down middle into left corner of net beyond flying goalie Chris Konopka.
41 min...TFC Delgado low cross from 15 yards deflects under sliding NE Farrell at 10 yards and TFC Findley slides but can't connect on 5 yarder. NE Jones was injured earlier on the play.
44 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players on left post.
45 min...TFC Bradley 50 yard chip pass has goalie charge forward to catch at 15 yards.
46 min...half ends 5:54pm.

Halftime entertainment: First off is a contestant got a pick of seven cards for a prize such as a spa visit or weekend getaway etc sponsored by Casinorama. There's the usual a pizza slice giveaway, Autograph Alley, drumstick ice cream giveaway and, special for today, Budweisser soccer pong.

2nd Half:...starts 6:11pm.
45 min...TFC Altidore rolls ball forward from 22 yards on left to charging TFC Giovinco who chips sliding goalie from 8 yards on far left and retreatng NE Goncalves saves ball at 2 yards in center of goal preventing TFC Findley from tapping ball in on right post.
46 min...TFC Altidore receives throw-in from left and taps pass to TFC Giovinco who has ball checked off him at 6 yards on left.
47 min...TFC Altidore rolls pass from 28 yards on left forward to TFC Morrow who crosses ball from 22 yards near left end line and NE Farrell heads ball at 6 yards on left off TFC Findley and kicks away ball.
48 min...TFC Bradley up middle rolls pass forward from 28 yards and TFC Findley shoots low wide left from 12 yards.
49 min...TFC YELLOW card...Findley earns it for sliding tackle from behind on NE Goncalves at NE 20 yard line on right sideline.
50 min...NE Jones cross from 35 yards on left sideline is too far forward for NE Bunbury who can't get to ball at 10 yards on right.
51 min...TFC Delgado wins cornerkick on deflection off NE Fagundes near right end line.
52 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right is over players in box but TFC Morrow gets to it on left and crosses back into box from 22 yards. TFC Giovinco get to ball at 15 yards but is checked off ball by NE Fagundes.
54 min...TFC Robbie Findley GOAL...TFC Justin Morrow cross from 20 yards on left edge of box and Findley jumps back and heads 7 yarder down middle past flying goalie Bobby Shuttleworth and off right post and ball deflects into net.
56 min...TFC Findley sliding tackle on NE Tierney at 8 yards on left in TFC box but can't win Penalty kick.
58 min...NE YELLOW card...Farrell earns it for trip on TFC Giovinco on edge of NE box.
59 min...TFC Giovinco 20 yard freekick up middle is low and into face of NE Bunbury in player wall and Giovinco 20 yard rebound shot is through players but wide left.
61 min...NE sub...Rowe replaces Bunbury.
62 min...NE YELLOW card...Rowe earns it for grab on arm from behind of on rushing TFC Giovinco at NE 50 yard line.
63 min...TFC Delgado high cross from right wins cornerkick on left by defender's header on left side of box.
64 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has NE Caldwell duck and head away at 10 yards on left side of box.
65 min...NE Rowe 25 yard shot up middle in crowd of players is well high and wide left of net.
67 min...TFC Giovinco rush down left after cutting back towards net and 10 yard shot is high and wide right of top corner.
67 min...NE sub...Agudelo replaces Davies.
68 min...TFC Morrow cross from 30 yards on right sideline has NE Farrell fly to head ball away at 15 yards in middle of box.
69 min...TFC Bradley after run up middle crosses from 22 yards on right side of box has NE Farrell pop up header at 6 yards and NE Hall heads ball forward from 8 yards and ball hits back of TFC Giovinco who turns and blasts low 18 yarder up middle wide right.
70 min...NE Kelyn Rowe GOAL...NE Chris Tierney throw-in from 10 yard line on left has TFC Marky Delgado check ball off NE Jermaine Jones on left edge of box and TFC Josh Williams rolls pass forward and to center for TFC Michael Bradley at 15 yards and he eludes Rowe but has NE Lee Nguyen steal ball off him tapping ball forward to Rowe who turns and takes low 12 yard shot to left corner of net while even with left post.
71 min...TFC Bradley chips ball from 40 yards on left over leaping TFC Findley at 8 yards and goalie catches.
73 min...TFC YELLOW card...Kantari earns it for tackle from behind on NE Nguyen at 25 yard line in middle.
74 min...NE Nguyen 25 yard freekick is off head in wall of players and cleared.
75 min...NE Nguyen at 15 yards on left flicks kick into crowd of players in box but NE Fagundes can't get to it at 7 yards and ball cleared.
76 min...TFC sub...Gomez replaces Perquis.
77 min...NE Rowe rolls cross from 28 yards on left by NE Agudelo and NE Fagundez rolls low 15 yard shot up middle that is saved by sprawling goalie at 6 yards who smothers rebound. TFC Williams was injured earlier on play.
78 min...NE Nguyen rolls pass from left into box but ball is behind NE Fagundez at 6 yards and defender clears.
79 min...TFC Bradley chips 35 yarder down middle over to left side where charging TFC Altidore chests down at 10 yards on left but can't control ball and slides into end boards.
80 min...NE sub...Kobayashi replaces Jones.
81 min...TFC Osorio pass forward from 28 yards on left and TFC Giovinco pushes ball over end line.
83 min...NE Tierney rush on left and cross from 25 yards near end line is over box and TFC Morrow on right heads ball out right side of box.
84 min...TFC Bradley rush from TFC 40 yard line up middle and passes forward and left from NE 40 yard line for TFC Giovinco at 22 yards on left and he rushes forward and his 15 yard shot on left has goalie guarding left post push ball wide left.
84 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has charging TFC Delgado not quite able to turn header from 8 yards and ball is wide right for goalkick.
86 min...NE Tierney cross from 18 yards along left end line has leaping NE Agudelo head 6 yarder down middle just high and wide left of net.
87 min...TFC Gomez cross from 20 yards on right has NE Kobayashi jab at ball with foot at 12 yards in center of box and clear.
88 min...TFC Findley wins cornerkick on deflection of 22 yard blocked shot on far left.
88 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left is over players but drops to TFC Delgado to deflect towards goal but NE Farrell clears at 6 yards. TFC Giovinco recovers at 30 yard line near right sideline and chips cross that defender heads away at 6 yards.
89 min...TFC Bradley 40 yard freekick up middle has NE Farrell at 7 yards head away.
92 min...TFC Altidore flick up from 20 yards after receiving long chipped pass has goalie catch at 8 yards.
93 min...game ends 6:59pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......1..........New England Revolution...........3........

Attendance was announced as 20257 on this cool early evening with a light rain that started and stopped in the first half. The game started an hour later then their usual afternoon games. They'll do this one more time this season. Attendance was low but expected with the weather forecasts killing the walk up crowd and the CNE closing last weekend. Today's ticket's face value was only half the price of the two CNE games.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was named as Robbie Findley. Since he scored the only goal for TFC, he was an easy choice. He had many other chances to score but couldn't put the ball in the net. I'd say Justin Morrow was the best player because although he was a defender he had many long runs down an open wing before sending in a dangerous cross. He missed last week's game to become a new father then drew duty at the autograph table at the Season Seat Holders barbecue yesterday afternoon at the KIA Training Centre. I'd seen him at a TFC II autograph session earlier this year but yesterday I finally noticed he was signing left handed.

TFC had many chances to tie and even win this game after conceding the early own goal.

Did the wet grass mess up the TFC shots and passes? Maybe, but the Revs had to play in the same conditions.

TFC only made one sub--76 minutes when forward Hercules Gomez replaced defender Damien Perquis. TFC were 'going for' a goal to make this move but Luke Moore would have been one more sub to make assuming he was healthy enough to dress.

The Revs comvered Giovinco well enough by conceding two Yellow cards and some freekicks and getting away with other infractions.

Referee Baldamero Toledo who is renowned for giving out Yellow cards and awarding Penalty kicks was not memorable in this game. He did give out five Yellow cards with three to the Revs as his limit. He gave out a few freekicks just ouside the box but didn't fall for either team's falling and diving.

Michael Bradley was stripped of the ball deep in his own end to set up the Revs third goal.

Sebastian Giovinco's freekicks were into the player wall or off target. I was slightly surprised he was not subbed out when the game became a lost cause and TFC have games later this week. He must be fully recovered from his injury but couldn't stop the fan exodus after the Revs third goal. By the time the game was over all the streetcars were gone.

Lee Nguyen was the most dangerous player for the Revs and is not much bigger in size then Giovinco.

A win would have had TFC tie the Revs with a game in hand. While the playoffs look like a certainty with so many bad teams in the East, finishing fifth or sixth means they don't get a home game in the one game play-in against the third or fourth place team midweek before the Conference semi-finals begin that weekend. A home playoff date has to be the minimum expected after spending all that money on players and expanding the stadium.

TFC wastes one of their games in hand and home dates. They have five more home games and only two road games but one of them is happening on Wednesday against New York City FC before they return home for a Saturday afternoon game against Colorado. NYCFC are second last in the East and Colorado last in the West. Three games in six days make these games harder than they should be.

Revs defender Jeremy Hall played for TFC from 2012 to 2014.

Program notes revealed, the Revs hadn't lost in Toronto since 2010.

On the way out we were given a ticket holder as a souvenir by Casinorama.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
4'   Damien Perquis (OG)  
39'  Diego Fagundez                Assisted By: Lee Nguyen 
55'  Robbie Findley                Assisted By: Justin Morrow 
71'  Kelyn Rowe                    Assisted By: Lee Nguyen 

Disciplinary
27'  Jermaine Jones                Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
51'  Robbie Findley                Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
59'  Andrew Farrell                Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
63'  Kelyn Rowe                    Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
74'  Ahmed Kantari                 Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC
 1 GK Chris Konopka 
 2 DF Justin Morrow  
18 DF Marco Delgado  
23 DF Josh Williams
24 DF Damien Perquis  (77')
41 DF Ahmed Kantari 
 4 MF Michael Bradley  
21 MF Jonathan Osorio  
55 MF Robbie Findley  
10 FW Sebastian Giovinco  
17 FW Jozy Altidore

Bench
12 G Joe Bendik  
16 D Hérculez Gómez   (77')
 6 D Nick Hagglund  
 8 M Benoit Cheyrou  
14 M Jay Chapman  
20 M Chris Mannella  
27 F Luke Moore 

Manager Greg Vanney  

New England Revolution

22 GK Bobby Shuttleworth 
 2 DF Andrew Farrell 
 5 DF Jeremy Hall 
 8 DF Chris Tierney 
23 DF José Gonçalves 
 6 MF Scott Caldwell 
10 MF Teal Bunbury    (62')
13 MF Jermaine Jones  (81')
14 MF Diego Fagundez 
24 MF Lee Nguyen 
 9 FW Charlie Davies  (68')

Bench
18 G Brad Knighton 
30 D Kevin Alston 
28 D London Woodberry 
16 M Daigo Kobayashi  (81') 
11 M Kelyn Rowe       (62') 
 4 M Steve Neumann 
17 F Juan Agudelo     (68')

Manager Jay Heaps 

Officials
Referee  Baldomero Toledo 
Assistant Referee  Joe Fletcher 
Assistant Referee  James Conlee 
Fourth Official  Chris Penso 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Attendance 20257
Weather Rain

Stats:

TOR                          NER
 21     Shots                  7 
  5     Shots on Target        3 
  9     Shots off Target       3 
  7     Blocked Shots          1 
  8     Corners                2 
 34     Crosses                8 
  0     Offsides               1 
  7     Fouls                 18 
  2     Yellow Cards           3 
  0     Red Cards              0 
493     Total Passes         346 
 86 %   Passing Accuracy      71 % 
 60.2 % Possession            39.8 % 
 62     Duels Won             46 
 12     Tackles Won           20 
  1     Saves                  3 
 18     Clearances            32

Toronto FC starters