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Result of the Saturday September 26, 2015 MLS game between Toronto FC and Chicago Fire played at BMO Field in Toronto at 2:00pm.
Toronto FC (all red, white names and gold numbers)
.........................1 Chris Konopka
18 Marky Delgado...23 Josh Williams...24 Damien Perquis...2 Justin Morrow
55 Robbie Findley...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...8 Benoit Cheyrou...21 Jonathan Osorio
.............17 Jozy Altidore...10 Sebastian Giovinco
Subs:...12 Joseph Bendik (gk)...11 Jackson (mid)...15 Eriq Zavaleta (def)...16 Herculez Gomez (fwd)
...26 Collen Warner (mid)...27 Luke Moore (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney
Chicago Fire (all white, black names and numbers)
..........................18 Jon Busch
5 Lovel Palmer...20 Jeff Larentowicz (cpt)...55 Daneil Cyrus...22 Patrick Doody
14 Patrick Nyarko...2 Matt Polster...26 Michael Stephens...11 David Accam
..............29 Gilberto...9 Mike Magee
Subs:...1 Alec Kann (gk)...3 Joevin Jones (def)...7 Jason Johnson (fwd)...8 Matt Watson (mid)...19 Harry Shipp (mid)
...30 Razvan Cocis (mid)...77 Kennedy Igboananike (mid)
team officials:...head coach Brian Bliss
Game officials:...referee Ismail Elfath...referee's assistants Greg Barkey and Kyle Atkins...fourth official Drew Fischer
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)
1st Half:...game starts 2:10pm...TFC defend north end on this mild afternoon with a bright sun in the south west and a breeze from the south.
40 sec...CF Gilberto GOAL...CF Patrick Nyarko races up middle from 45 yards and beats retreating TFC Benoit Cheyrou to touch pass
from 30 yards in center forward and to left between retreating TFC Josh Williams and TFC Marky Delgado to Gilberto at 22 yards and
he one-touch shoots low 18 yarder that deflects up off sprawling goalie Chris Konopka at 6 yards and into left side of net.
3 min...TFC Giovinco cuts in from right and 22 yard shot from center is bent inwardly but just wide left of post.
6 min...CF Accam cornerkick from left is short and back to him and his cross is popped header by TFC Perquis at 7 yards high and wide left of net.
7 min...CF Accam cornerkick from left has TFC Bradley whiff on clearance at 5 yards on left and ball deflects over to hit hand of goalie on line
in middle of goal and CF Palmer misses midair shot at 3 yards and clearance is chipped back into box and called offside.
10 min...TFC Giovinco 35 yard freekick from right has ball bounce through box wide left for goalkick ahead of charging players.
11 min...CF Palmer high cross from 25 yards near right end line lands behind net.
12 min...TFC Giovinco has two shots blocked at 12 yards on left side of box by CF Larentowicz and CF Cyrus with him conceding cornerkick on left.
12 min...TFC player's cornerkick from left is tapped out and intercepted which starts fast CF breakout and CF Accam loses possession on 1 on 7 rush
when more retreating defenders catch up to him at TFC 22 yards.
13 min...TFC Giovinco at 15 yards on right side of box rolls centering pass behind TFC Bradley and ball intercepted.
15 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has CF Gilberto at 6 yards pop header behind net.
15 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has goalie catch in crowd of players at 6 yards.
18 min...TFC Morrow cross from 22 yards on left deflects off CF Palmer for cornerkick on left.
18 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has TFC Osorio backheel ball away from net but defenders clear near left post.
18 min...CF Gilberto on 3 on 1 break rushes down right and rolls centering cross forward from 25 yards from right but goalie steps forward
to smother at 12 yards ahead of CF Magee in middle.
20 min...TFC Morrow rush on left and rolls centering cross and TFC Giovinco charging in from left shoots 15 yarder well wide right of net.
24 min...CF Gilberto and CF Accam can't get away shots on both side of TFC box.
27 min...CF Accam rush on left and cross from 22 yards is caught by goalie at 3 yards in middle of net.
28 min...TFC Sebastian Giovinco GOAL...TFC Giovinco cornerkick has TFC Perquis leap at 8 yards in center of box in crowd of players and head
ball back to Giovinco and he recrosses and bends cross from 15 yards into top left corner of net with TFC Jonathan Osorio nodding his head forward
at 2 yards.
31 min...TFC Giovinco and TFC Osorio on give and go has goalie make sliding save at 6 yards on right on Giovinco.
32 min...TFC Osorio pass over to TFC Giovinco who shoots low 25 yarder up middle that sprawling goalie saves.
33 min...TFC Findley rush up right to get to pass from TFC Giovinco and his 12 yard shot has goalie push ball into right webbing of net.
33 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has TFC Findley head ball down at 15 yards but defender clears with kick upfield at 8 yards.
35 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has defender on right side of box leap and kick away.
35 min...TFC Osorio cross from 20 yards on right bounces wide left for goalkick.
37 min...TFC Morrow cross from 28 yards on left has CF Cyrus head away from 10 yards in middle of box.
39 min...TFC Bradley chips pass forward for TFC Morrow but CF Palmer check him at 8 yards.
41 min...TFC Morrow low cross from 20 yards on left is cleared by CF Larentowicz at 10 yards in middle of box.
41 min...CF Accam gets past two guys on run up right but retreating TFC Perquis checks him off ball on edge of box.
42 min...TFC Bradley pass to charging TFC Morrow on left side of box has defender check him off ball.
43 min...TFC Giovinco gets through defenders on run up middle on give and go with TFC Altidore who taps pass back to him from 12 yards and TFC Giovinco
has shot deflected wide right by sprawling goalie at 4 yards.
44 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has leaping TFC Williams head ball wide right from 8 yards in middle of box.
45 min...half ends 2:55pm.
Halftime Entertainment: There's an announcement to remind us to get here early next week for a Bradley t-shirt to the first 10000 fans. There's the usual Pizza Pizza giveaway, Autograph Alley, and Drumsticks ice cream giveaway. There's also a mini game with kids from the North Toronto Soccer Club.
2nd Half:...starts 3:12pm.
46 min...CF goalie beats TFC Altidore just inside box to catch high chip by TFC Williams from 65 yards on bounce at 15 yards and holds on when bumped
by Altidore but awarded freekick.
48 min...TFC Findley rolls pass forward from 20 yards on right for TFC Bradley who first-touches 12 yarder over end line.
48 min...CF Gilberto 22 yard shot on run up right with TFC Williams even with him is wide right of net.
49 min...TFC Williams retreats and slides to beat CF Magee to through ball at 20 yards down middle.
49 min...TFC Giovinco rolls in cross from 22 yards on left that defender clears in middle of box.
49 min...TFC Altidore instead of shooting rolls pass forward from 22 yards down middle that defender clears.
50 min...TFC Bradley shot from 25 yards down middle has CF Larentowicz slide to stop just outside box.
51 min...TFC Delgado cross from 25 yards on right has defenders on three successive headers finally clear ball from box.
51 min...CF Gilberto GOAL...CF Patrick Nyarko at 40 yards on right rolls pass to CF Mike Magee in center who one-touches rolling pass from 30 yards
forward and to right for Gilberto who charges forward at 25 yards between TFC Justin Morrow and Damien Perquis and shoots low 15 yarder that banks
in off right post into left side of net behind sliding goalie at 6 yards.
53 min...CF Gilberto cross from 25 yards on left is over box.
54 min...CF sub...Jones replaces Nyarko who limps off field.
54 min...CF Magee cornerkick from right has CF Gilberto leaping header over TFC Findley from 10 yards is saved by TFC Delgado chesting down ball
on line. CF Larentowicz blasts 5 yard rebound into right side outside webbing of net. TFC Findley is injured on play.
56 min...CF Accam on run down right at 40 yards centers short pass to CF Gilberto on run down middle and low 22 yard shot is just wide right of net.
58 min...TFC Michael Bradley GOAL...TFC Sebastian Giovinco taps ball over for Bradley to rush down middle from 45 yards and rounds two defenders
at 12 yards to get shot that deflects off sliding CF Daneil Cyrus at 7 yards and over sprawling goalie into right side of net.
63 min...CF Accam on left gets long pass sent in from 55 yards up middle on right at 25 yards and he cuts towards goal and shoots low 10 yard shot
that sprawling goalie saves at 6 yards.
64 min...CF Doody cross from left has TFC Perquis pop up ball with foot at 10 yards in middle over to right to clear.
66 min...CF sub...Cocis replaces Polster.
67 min...TFC Giovinco cross attempt at 15 yards on right deflects off CF Doody for cornerkick.
67 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has CF Gilberto at 6 yards near right post head away and start own breakout.
68 min...TFC YELLOW card...Giovinco earns it for pushing CF Doody into end boards out of way on CF right end line as both rushed for long ball sent
into box.
68 min...TFC sub...Jackson replaces Delgado.
71 min...TFC Giovinco 22 yard freekick from left edge of box hits head of CF Cocis in player wall and deflects high and wide left of net.
72 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is bent through box for goalkick.
73 min...CF sub...Johnson replaces Magee.
73 min...TFC Bradley pass to TFC Jackson has off balance cross on right endline from 12 yards caught by goalie on right post.
74 min...CF Accam is checked off ball at 20 yards on 1 on 4 rush up left wing.
76 min...TFC Bradley 22 yard free kick from far right is over players in box and CF Jones at 6 yards clears on left side of box.
77 min...TFC Bradley 30 yard shot down middle is deflected wide left for cornerkick.
78 min...TFC Jozy Altidore GOAL...TFC Sebastian Giovinco cornerkick from left has Altidore knock down ball and turn at 5 yards and
score on shot just under bar. Both CF Gilberto and TFC Perquis are hurt on the play.
80 min...CF Johnson wins cornerkick on cross from left by sliding TFC Jackson.
81 min...CF Accam cornerkick from left has TFC Bradley at 6 yards on left kick and pop up ball. CF Accam gets another shot from left headed away
by CF Gilberto leaping for backwards header deflecting it out of box.
81 min...CF Accam has shot blocked at 12 yards on left side of box.
82 min...TFC sub...Warner replaces Findley.
84 min...TFC sub...Kantari replaces Altidore.
87 min...TFC Osorio pass forward from 22 yards to TFC Giovinco who's checked off ball by defender at 7 yards on left side of box.
87 min...TFC Bradley signals own injury at CF 40 yard line.
87 min...TFC goalie bashes into TFC Perquis on edge of box as leaping for header injurying him as they try to keep CF Accam from getting to long bouncer
downfield.
92 min...TFC Giovinco is checked off ball on 1 on 4 rush into CF box.
93 min...CF Doody cross from 25 yards has CF Accam spin and 20 yard midair shot down middle is caught by goalie.
94 min...TFC Giovinco shot from 25 yards deflects off defender and goalie dives on ball on right end line to prevent cornerkick call.
94 min...CF Doody cross from 28 yards on left has TFC Morrow head away at 10 yards in middle of box.
95 min...game ends 4:02pm.
Final Score:.....Toronto FC.......3..........Chicago Fire...........2........
Attendance was announced as 22515 on this mild afternoon witha bright sun in the south west and a breeze from the south.
Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Michael Bradley. I agree. He took control to get the tieing goalie by bashing through to get a shot. This makes a change from Giovinco winning although it wouldn't have surprised me if he'd been given it for his one goal and two assists.
Giovinco sets a record as the first player to score both 20 goals (then they took one away without us knowing it in the stadium--they could have announced the correction at halftime without causing a riot) and have 10 assists in one season. Then later his assist set the season record for total points. Giovinco left with two assists and he set a single season record for most points in a season.
[Late late news! Giovinco was eventually credited with the goal as Jonathan Osorio said he didn't get his head to the ball to knock it in.]
Gilberto (who played for TFC last year) scored two goals and almost scored a third although the Fire were outplayed and did their best on the counterattack. I throught David Accam was their best player for escaping tackles.
The opening goal was scored within the first 40 seconds on a pass through the retreating TFC defender's legs on a full gallup although I still expected TFC to recover but a tie would have been believable until the winning goal at 78 minutes.
The Fire had played on Wednesday night and lost against Montreal Impact. Today they became the first MLS team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs. That Wednesday game was the first with the new Fire head coach Brian Bliss in charge replacing the fired Frank Yallop.
The TFC coach Greg Vanney didn't take a chance on subbing out Giovinco and incurring his wrath like last week so he subbed out Altidore who did little except score the winning goal on a knock down, turn around, and fire play. It was a good move to bring in another defender with Ahmed Kantari playing from 84 minutes. The more defensive midfielder Collen Warner replaced winger Robbie Findley two minutes earlier.
The TFC fans gasped when Damien Perquis was bashed over by his own goalie and when Michael Bradley was down and signalled for his teammates to kick the ball out of bounds. As injuries could be critical entering the playoffs and may be fatal if a designated player goes down.
TFC already had a 99% chance of making the playoffs but are not sure they will get a home date because the fifth and sixth place teams will play on the road in the play-in games and one loss will mean they're out in the first round. Most teams would like to play off against the slumping DC United who've fallen from first to fourth in the last month.
The weather was perfect as it was mild and sunny but there were only 22 thousand fans. Did the walkup crowd turn and go to the Blue Jays baseball game or stay and watch it on television? It was so much better than last week's miserable second half rain.
Joe Bendik was on today's ticket and Sebastian Giovinco was on the cover of today's game program.
The TFC game plan as announced pregame in the 'three keys to the match' was to score first! TFC had not won this year when they've conceded the first goal.
Today set a record for TFC with their ninth home win of the season.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
stats from MLSsoccer.com Match Information Goals and Assists 1' Gilberto Assisted By: Patrick Nyarko 29' Jonathan Osorio Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco, Damien Perquis [*goal later changed to Giovinco] 52' Gilberto Assisted By: Mike Magee, Patrick Nyarko 59' Michael Bradley Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco 79' Jozy Altidore Disciplinary None Lineup Toronto FC 1 GK Chris Konopka 2 DF Justin Morrow 18 DF Marco Delgado (70') 23 DF Josh Williams 24 DF Damien Perquis 4 MF Michael Bradley 8 MF Benoit Cheyrou 21 MF Jonathan Osorio 55 MF Robbie Findley (83') 10 FW Sebastian Giovinco 17 FW Jozy Altidore (85') Bench 12 G Joe Bendik 11 D Jackson (70') 15 D Eriq Zavaleta 26 M Collen Warner (83') 27 F Luke Moore 41 F Ahmed Kantari (85') 16 F Hérculez Gómez Manager Greg Vanney Chicago Fire 18 GK Jon Busch 5 DF Lovel Palmer 20 DF Jeff Larentowicz 22 DF Patrick Doody 55 DF Daneil Cyrus 2 MF Matt Polster (67') 11 MF David Accam 14 MF Patrick Nyarko (55') 26 MF Michael Stephens 9 FW Mike Magee (74') 29 FW Gilberto 1 G Alec Kann 30 M Razvan Cocis (67') 8 M Matt Watson 3 M Joevin Jones (55') 19 M Harry Shipp 77 M Kennedy Igboananike 7 F Jason Johnson (74') Manager Brian Bliss Officials Referee Ismail Elfath Assistant Referee Gregory Barkey Assistant Referee Kyle Atkins Fourth Official Drew Fischer Match Information MLS at BMO Field Attendance 22513 Weather Sunny Stats: Team Statistics TOR CHI 16 Shots 8 6 Shots on Target 5 4 Shots off Target 3 6 Blocked Shots 0 11 Corners 4 20 Crosses 15 2 Offsides 3 9 Fouls 7 0 Yellow Cards 0 0 Red Cards 0 482 Total Passes 353 84 % Passing Accuracy 77 % 57.3 % Possession 42.7 % 38 Duels Won 39 15 Tackles Won 17 2 Saves 3 15 Clearances 19
Toronto FC starters
Chicago Fire starters
TFC Jozy Altidore (17) and Sebastian Giovinco (10) line up for opening kickoff.
TFC Josh Williams (23) dribbles ball upfield.
Fire Matt Polster (2) outjumps TFC Jozy Altidore (17) for header.
Fire Patrick Nyarko (14) chips pass to Gilberto (29).
TFC Sebastian Giovinco (10) will cross ball into net from tight angle.
Fire Gilberto (29) and Mike Magee (9) take second kickoff.
Fire Patrick Doody (22) throw-in to Gilberto (29).
TFC Sebastian Giovinco (10) freekick over player wall.
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