June 21, 2016 Amway Canadian Championship--Toronto FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps (by Rocket Robin)

June 21, 2016 Amway Canadian Championship--Toronto FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:30pm. (by Rocket Robin)

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

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................1 Clint Irwin
33 Steven Beitashour...15 Eriq Zavaleta...3 Drew Moor...2 Justin Morrow
18 Marky Delgado...21 Jonathan Osorio...8 Benoit Cheyrou (cpt)...7 Will Johnson
...........11 Mo Babouli...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...25 Alex Bono (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...9 Tsubasa Endoh (fwd)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)
...22 Jordan Hamilton (fwd)...23 Josh Williams (def)...48 Raheem Edwards (mid)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Vancouver Whitecaps (all white, blue names and numbers)

....................70 Paolo Tornaghi
8 Fraser Aird...4 Kendall Waston...44 Pa-Modou Kah...3 Sam Adekugbe
67 Alphonso Davies...77 Pedro Morales (cpt)...30 Ben McKendry...31 Russell Teibert
..............7 Christian Bolanos...29 Octavio Rivero

Subs:...1 David Ousted (gk)...2 Jordan Harvey (def)...14 Cole Seiler (def)...27 Blas Perez (mid)
...17 Andrew Jacobson (mid)...19 Kekuta Manneh (mid)...19 Erik Hurtado (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Carl Robinson

Game officials:...referee Mathieu Bourdeau...referee's assistants Marie-Josee Charbonneau and Gianni Facchini
...fourth official Sylviu Petrescu...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:42pm...TFC defends north end on this hot night with a bright sun in the north west.
1 min...TFC Zavaleta slides at 6 yards near left post to deflect VW Adekugbe's low cross from 15 yards on left after run up wing. Ball deflects out for throw-in.
1 min...VW player's long throw-in from left has another VW player flick header at 10 yards and ball bounces to TFC goalie.
3 min...VW Adekugbe long cross from 30 yards on left has VW Bolanos head from 12 yards on right back across box and VW Rivero heads 10 yarder that leaping goalie palms over net.
4 min...VW Bolanos cornerkick from left has VW Rivero on far right send 25 yard low cross that defender partially blocks and ball deflects to goalie.
4 min...TFC Babouli has cross from 28 yards on left that defender in middle heads ball away.
5 min...VW Rivero runs for long pass down left sent from 70 yards by VW Kah and steps past TFC Zavaleta and one-touches shot from 10 yards on far left into short side webbing of net.
6 min...TFC Beitashour wins cornerkick on deflection of his cross after long run to right end line.
7 min...TFC Babouli cornerkick from right is over head of VW Waston and TFC Delgado has ball deflect off him though box. TFC Delgado is first to get to ball near left cornerflag and wins cornerkick when trying to dribble along left end line as ball deflects off VW Aird.
8 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is caught by goalie unchallenged in middle of box at 6 yards.
8 min...VW Morales run up left wing and rolls pass forward to VW Davies and he keeps ahead of retreating TFC Zaleta and shoots low 20 yard shot into back of side netting of goal.
9 min...TFC Babouli runs down left sideline after stripping VW Aird of ball at 30 yard line and runs along end line and Aird slides to poke ball away but another defender concedes cornerkick off Babouli's rushed centering pass.
9 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is out to TFC Cheyrou and his 30 yard chip from left is cleared by defender's heading. TFC Delgado recovers at 30 yards and runs to right and sends low cross in from 20 yards that defender kicks clearance upfield from 7 yards.
12 min...VW Bolanos cornerkick from left has goalie miss and defenders clear on right side of box.
16 min...VW Morales threads through ball pass from 40 yards too far forward for VA Rivero and ball rolls to goalie.
17 min...VW Morales freekick from 45 yards on left is swatted over bar by goalie at 7 yards as VW Waston jumping for header crashed into him.
20 min...TFC Giovinco wins cornerkick on deflection as VW Kah slides in to partially block his low cross from 20 yards near right end line.
20 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right is well over players in box and out left side and bounces for goalkick.
23 min...TFC Morrow rolls pass forward on left at 25 yard line that catches TFC Babouli but he's offside.
25 min...VW Adekugbe on give and go with VW Davies on long dribble on left and takes low 25 yard shot between legs of TFC Zavaleta and goalie dives to stop at 3 yards. VW Rivero is injured on rebound flipping over TFC Moor who makes sliding clearance at 7 yards.
28 min...VW goalie dives on through ball on left at 10 yards before TFC Babouli can get to it.
29 min...TFC Babouli is checked off ball along left end line by VW Aird who turns and clears ball.
30 min...TFC Babouli wins cornerkick on 30 yard shot on right that deflects off VW Kah at 20 yards
30 min...TFC Babouli cornerkick from right has off balance TFC Moor head ball from 8 yards sideways out left side of box.
30 min...TFC Giovinco rolls pass forward from 20 yards on left and TFC Delgado rescues ball on end line and cuts pass back to TFC Osorio at 12 yards who turns but loses ball when he turns and defenders clear. TFC Cheyrou recovers at 30 yards in middle and blasts shot wide left.
32 min...TFC Giovinco 33 yard freekick up middle has diving goalie push ball wide left of post for throw-in.
33 min...TFC Babouli cornerkick from right is short and worked out of corner. TFC Zavaleta eventually shoots 25 yard roller up middle wide left of net.
34 min...TFC player's chip from 75 yards on right is over to charging TFC Giovinco on left who shoulders ball forward from 28 yards over end line and can't recover.
36 min...VW Bolanos 40 yard freekick from left has defender at 8 yards in crowd of players head ball away and out of box.
38 min...TFC Beitashour can't get to pass sent over to right by TFC Johnson at 40 yard line before it crosses end line.
40 min...TFC Morrow long run up left but rolls pass back on left side of box to no one.
41 min...VW Bolanos run down middle and 30 yard shot is high wide right of net.
42 min...VW Aird rush down right and beats defender and low cross from 15 yards has goalie dive on ball on right post.
42 min...TFC Sebastian Giovinco GOAL...TFC Mo Babouli on left after run up sideline cuts towards center at 25 yard line and pushes short pass back to Giovinco at 30 yards who cuts towards middle on run forward and sends low 20 yard shot up middle that deflects between legs of VW Kendall Waston at 16 yards and into right side of net beyond diving goalie Paolo Tornaghi.
45 min...VW player's cornerkick from left is into box and VW players can't turn header and ball out right side of box and bounces for goalkick.
46 min...half ends 8:28pm.

Halftime Entertainment: An Amway Fan of the Match is chosen on camera somewhere in Section 127. There's a bubble soccer 1 v 1 relay race before they can kick the ball into the net. The bigger guy with a come from behind 2-1 win. He was slower but could knock the smaller guy off the ball by bumping into him.

2nd Half:...starts 8:44pm. The sun is now lower than the buildings on the horizon and clouds in the northwest already.
45 min...TFC Beitashour cross from 30 yards on right has VW Waston pops away ball on header at 7 yards.
46 min...TFC Giovinco runs ball over left end line while trying to contol band.
47 min...TFC Osorio wins freekick when pulled from behind by VW McKendry.
48 min...TFC Giovinco 30 yard freekick up middle is wide and bounces left of net.
49 min...TFC Babouli chips ball from 30 yards up middle over to TFC Morrow who rescues ball near left end line and hooks ball back and charging TFC Babouli heads 10 yearder up middle that goalie catches.
51 min...TFC Giovinco and Babouli work out short cornerkick from left and Giovinco crosses from 25 yards along left end line and defender leaps and flicks header from right post out the right side of box.
52 min...TFC Osorio dribbles between players from 55 yard line cuts to middle and from 50 yard line rolls pass forward to TFC Giovinco at 35 and he runs forward and shoots 18 yarder off right post and defenders clear from edge of box.
53 min...TFC Babouli from 25 yards near right end line sends low cross through 6 yard box and sliding TFC Morrow near left post knocks ball into middle of box where sliding TFC Osorio at 7 yards up middle can't connect and defenders clear.
54 min...TFC Giovinco wins freekick at 20 yards in middle when pulled over by VW McKendry.
56 min...TFC Giovinco low 20 yard freekick up middle deflects in player wall over to TFC Beitashour at 20 yards on right and he passes to center and TFC Babouli shoots over net from 8 yards.
58 min...TFC Giovinco chip from 30 yards on left is too far forward for TFC Beitashour on right end line.
59 min...TFC Cheyrou at 50 yards in middle chips pass forward for TFC Giovinco and he rolls 20 yarder from left wide right of post.
61 min...VW Bolanos cornerkick from left has TFC Moor head ball away at 7 yards.
62 min...VW sub...Perez replaces Morales.
63 min...TFC Morrow wins freekick on left edge of box as he's tripped up cutting towards box.
.........VW YELLOW card...Bolanos earns it for his part in last play.
64 min...TFC Giovinco 20 yard freekick from near left endline is rolled into box but defenders clear at 8 yards.
65 min...TFC Morrow cross from 20 yards near left end line is cleared by TFC Babouli back to TFC Giovinco for screen shot from 25 yards up middle and ball bounces to goalie in middle of goal to catch.
66 min...VW sub...Manneh replaces Davies.
67 min...VW Adekugbe and VW Manneh have ball on left but Manneh pushes pass over left end line before Adekugbe can get to it.
69 min...VW Aird long throw-in from right has ball headed away. Aird gets another chance and crosses in from 25 yards on right. TFC Moor steps in front of goalie on right post and heads ball through box. VW Rivero crosses from 20 yards on left has VW Waston bicycle kick from 12 yards and goalie flies right to palm ball ball over net.
70 min...VW Bolanos cornerkick from right has VW Kah pop up header in crowd of players at 7 yards and ball lands on left side of box where VW player chips high cross from 20 yards on left back into box and TFC Cheyrou pops up header at 8 yards. VW player at 20 yards in middle heads ball forward and TFC defender heads ball from 10 yards but over to right and VW Bolanos takes low 12 yard shot from right that goalie smothers on right post.
71 min...TFC Giovinco rush on left and low 25 yard shot has diving goalie stop at 5 yards and defender clears.
72 min...TFC Babouli is touched short pass and shoots low 25 yarder up middle that diving goalie smothers on right.
74 min...TFC Giovinco finishes pass play with 25 yard soft chip that bounces to goalie.
76 min...TFC defenders checks VW Manneh off ball on edge of box after run up left wing.
76 min...TFC Giovinco at 25 yards on right centers pass to TFC Babouli at 20 yards closer to middle and he taps ball back to charging TFC Osorio who has 22 yard shot up middle blocked on edge of box by defender.
77 min...TFC sub...Endoh replaces Delgado.
.........VW sub...Hurtado replaces Rivero.
78 min...TFC Babouli cuts in from left beating VW Aird and sends low cross across box from 15 yards on far left and fallen defender clears at 4 yards.
79 min...VW Perez and VW Hurtado play give and go that's broken up down middle when ball pushed too far forward and goalie dives on at 6 yards wide right of net.
80 min...VW Adekugbe sends cross to VW Manneh from left end line has TFC Zavaleta clear ball near left post.
81 min...VW McKendry low 25 yard shot from right is wide left. TFC Beitashour is injured on edge of TFC box.
83 min...TFC sub...Hagglund replaces injured Beitashour before play resumes.
83 min...TFC Morrow rush on left and cross from 20 yards near end line and goalie catches and starts fast break.
84 min...VW Perez rollos 18 yarder up middle that goalie smothers at 2 yards.
85 min...TFC Babouli cross from left. Ball deflects off TFC Endoh and charging TFC Johnson finishes play blasting 20 yard shot high and wide right of net.
86 min...TFC sub...Hamilton replaces Babouli.
87 min...VW Bolanos cornerkick from left has TFC Johnson head partial clearance from 6 yards on left
87 min...VW Teibert 50 yard chip from left has goalie come out to 15 yards and leap in crowd of players and swat ball wide right for a throw-in.
88 min...VW Aird long throw-in from right has VW player on near post flick header into middle of box but defenders clear away from middle of box.
89 min...VW Manneh cross from 40 yards on left has TFC Zavaleta head ball away from 15 yards in middle of box.
90 min...TFC Endoh cornerkick from right has TFC Hagglund not fully connnect on downward header at 6 yards in middle and defenders clear.
90 min...TFC Endoh shoots 25 yarder from left well wide right of net.
91 min...TFC Giovinco chips ball forward from 22 yards on left and TFC Endoh wins cornerkick on sliding tackle by VW Waston near left end line.
92 min...TFC Endoh and TFC Giovinco work out short cornerkick from left and Giovinco sends low cross from 25 yards on left over to charging TFC Johnson who shoot 20 yarder that's stopped by defender at 15 yards.
93 min...TFC Hagglund chips 30 yarder from right that defender heads behind end line on left.
93 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is chipped and TFC Osorio flicks kick from left edge of 6 yard box with back to net but defenders clear from box.
93 min...VW goalie makes sprawling save on TFC Osorio's 18 yard shot up middle after ball knocked around on edge of box.
94 min...game ends 9:33pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........1...........Vancouver Whitecaps............0.............

Tonight's attendance was announced as only 20,011. The date of the game could not be confirmed until a few weeks ago because there was no way to confirm that opponent. This was a 'cheap' ticket--less than half the price of Saturday's Los Angeles Galaxy game. Tuesday night is an unusual night to play but news reports outlined that the groundscrew needs the extra day to ensure things are ready for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL home opener on Thursday night. Outside the stadium there was the set up for the Honda Indy car race taking shape but still not in place. Too bad as it was an obstacle course to walk through the grounds.

I didn't notice any 'Man of the Match' announcements but that may because it was not a regular season game.

For forwards TFC did the opposite of Saturday's game as Mo Babouli started today and Jordan Hamilton was on the bench. Babouli played 86 minutes--was he fasting for Ramadan? It looked like a few times he was trying to set up Sebastian Giovinco or Jonathan Osorio to score and celebrate his 100th appearance in league and cup matches for TFC. Only Doneil Henry had made 100 appearances before him. Babouli had some shots which were usually blocked.

For the last part of the game it looked like TFC was more likely to score than Vancouver even with TFC keeping enough guys back to prevent giving up an away goal.

It finally made sense for TFC not to make all three subs as Hagglund came in to replace the injured Beitashour at 83 minutes.

Clint Irwin earned the shutout. TFC are burning him out like they do with every goalie. The team is not at the halfway mark of their five games in 15 days. He had a few key saves to keep the Whitecaps from scoring.

TFC Raheem Edwards was brought up from TFC II but didn't get into the game.

One of the best Whitecaps players was midfielder Alphonso Davies who is only age 15.

Referee Mathieu Bourdeau gave out only one Yellow card.

The winner of this series gains entrance to the CONCACAF Club Championship in 2017! Canada's entrant in 2016 is Vancouver who won the Amway Canadian Championship last year. TFC lost in the semi-final against Montreal in 2015.

The subway home was packed with Blue Jays baseball fans and it took over 45 minutes to get out of Union Station when their game ended. At least the Dixie Chicks concert at the Molson Amphitheatre at Ontario Place didn't end at the same time.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
43'  TOR  Sebastian Giovinco       Assisted By: Mo Babouli 

Disciplinary
64'  VAN  Christian Bolaños       Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC  
11 F Mo Babouli        (87')
10 F Sebastian Giovinco 
 1 G Clint Irwin 
33 D Steven Beitashour (84') 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
 8 M Benoit Cheyrou 
18 M Marco Delgado     (78')
 7 M Will Johnson 
21 M Jonathan Osorio 

Bench
25 G Alex Bono 
23 D Josh Williams 
 6 D Nick Hagglund     (84')
14 M Jay Chapman 
 9 M Tsubasa Endoh     (78')
48 M Raheem Edwards 
22 F Jordan Hamilton   (87')

Manager  Greg Vanney  

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 
29 F Octavio Rivero    (78') 
70 G Paolo Tornaghi 
 8 D Fraser Aird 
 4 D Kendall Waston 
44 D Pa Modou Kah 
 3 D Sam Adekugbe 
30 M Ben McKendry 
31 M Russell Teibert 
 7 M Christian Bolaños 
77 M Pedro Morales     (63')
67 M Alphonso Davies   (67') 

Bench
 1 G David Ousted 
 2 D Jordan Harvey 
14 D Cole Seiler 
27 M Blas Pérez        (63')
17 M Andrew Jacobson 
23 M Kekuta Manneh     (67')
19 F Erik Hurtado      (78') 

Manager  Carl Robinson 

Officials
Referee  Mathieu Bourdeau 
Assistant Referee  Marie-Josee Charbonneau 
Assistant Referee  Gianni Facchini 
Fourth Official  Silviu Petrescu 

Match Information
Canada Chmp at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 20011
Weather Clear

Team Statistics

 22     Shots                 10 
  7     Shots on Target        5 
  9     Shots off Target       4 
  6     Blocked Shots          1 
 10     Corners                6 
 21     Crosses               19 
  2     Offsides               1 
  6     Fouls                 13 
  0     Yellow Cards           1 
  0     Red Cards              0 
506     Total Passes         377 
 82 %   Passing Accuracy      78 % 
 57.1 % Possession            42.9 % 
 47     Duels Won             39 
 13     Tackles Won           15 
  5     Saves                  6 
 22     Clearances            24

Toronto FC starters