Friday April 28, 2017--Toronto FC vs Houston Dynamo (by Rocket Robin)

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Toronto FC (all red, black sleeves, white names and numbers)

.................25 Alex Bono
........15 Eriq Zavaleta...6 Nick Hagglund...2 Justin Morrow
33 Steven Beitashour...18 Marky Delgado...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...7 Victor Vazquez...44 Raheem Edwards
...........17 Jozy Altidore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...40 Mark Pais (gk)...8 Benoit Cheyrou (mid)...9 Tsubasa Endoh (fwd)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)
...21 Jonathan Osorio (mid)...31 Armando Cooper (mid)...87 Tosaint Ricketts (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Houston Dynamo (all black, orange names and numbers)

...............31 Joe Willis
20 AJ DeLaGarza...3 Adolfo Machado...5 Juan David Cabezas...22 Leonardo...7 DeMarcus Beasley(cpt)
..........27 Boniek Garcia...14 Alex...6 Eric Alexander
.............9 Erick Torres...17 Alberth Elis

Subs:...1 Tyler Deric (gk)...2 Jalil Anibaba (def)...10 Vicente Sanchez (fwd)...11 Andrew Wenger (mid)
...12 Romell Quioto (fwd)...15 Dylan Remick (def)...19 Mauro Manotas (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Wilmer Cabrera

Game officials:...referee Mark Geiger...referee's assistants CJ Morgante and Joe Fletcher
...fourth official Geoff Gamble...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:39pm...TFC defends south end on this cool and overcast evening.
55 sec...TFC Giovinco rescues ball near left cornerflag and rolls pass back to TFC Edwards who crosses from 20 yards on left near edge of box over to TFC Altidore who's distracted by defender missing header and ball deflects off Altidore's foot at 8 yards on right and pops wide right of post.
3 min...HD Elis low cross from 28 yards on right has TFC Morrow knock ball out at 8 yards on right for cornerkick.
3 min...HD Alex cornerkick from right is worked around the outside of box and wins another cornerkick when HD Beasley chips 30 yarder up middle that TFC Delgado at 12 yards flicks backwards header for another cornerkick.
3 min...HD players work out another short cornerkick has HD Alex swing long cross from right sideline over players in box and HD Leonardo heads from 5 yards on left post wide left of net.
7 min...HD Torres rush on left to 28 yard line but TFC Zavaleta pokes ball back to TFC goalie to pick up wide left of net.
8 min...HD Alex eludes two TFC players on run on left to end line then chips cross from 20 yards that TFC Zavaleta chests from 10 yards along end line conceding cornerkick.
9 min...HD Alexander cornerkick from left has HD Machado in crowd of players in middle of box leap and head 10 yarder over net.
10 min...TFC Valdez taps pass for TFC Giovinco to blast roller from 22 yards on right wide left of net.
12 min...HD Alex chips pass downfield from 65 yards on right that bounces to charging HD Elis at 30 yards who takes point blank shot running down middle with two defenders beside him at 20 yards hits goalie in chest at 17 yards.
12 min...HD Torres bounces 30 yard shot from right to TFC goalie.
12 min...TFC Giovinco rolls pass forward for offside TFC Altidore at 16 yards in middle who whiffs kick anyway.
14 min...TFC Bradley rolls 25 yarder from right into box and defender clears at 15 yards.
15 min...TFC Jozy Altidore GOAL...TFC Marky Delgado at 35 yards in middle sends roller forward and to left for TFC Raheem Edwards at 22 yards on left and he runs forward cutting towards middle and rolls pass from 12 yards on left past sliding defender that finds charging Altidore who shoots 10 yarder up middle between three defenders that deflects off crumpling goalie Joe Willis at 1 yard line and pops into roof of net. [Game reports said that it was a 20 pass combo play]
18 min...TFC Edwards rush down left to get long pass from TFC Valdez and low cross from 28 yards has HD Cabezas clear ball at 15 yards in middle of box.
20 min...TFC Delgado long chip from 50 yards finds TFC Giovinco but he misses kick at 15 yards and ball bounces to left end line where he stops it but defenders clear.
22 min...HD Garcia chips 25 yard freekick from left has TFC Bradley get foot to clear at 10 yards on left. HD Alexander taps ball back HD DeLaGarza who chips ball in from 40 yards in middle. HD player on edge of box on left flicks header forward and diving goalie in crowd of players pushes ball away from HD Cabezas over to left where defender clears.
25 min...HD Alex short cornerkick from right is tapped back to him and he rolls ball from right edge of box on end line that TFC Valdez clears away.
26 min...TFC Valdez receives centering pass from TFC Altidore on right and rolls ball forward down middle from 25 yards and goalie charges forward to smother ball at 10 yards ahead of TFC Giovinco who jumps over him to avoid collision.
28 min...HD Elis gets low shot between defenders from 25 yards on far left that goalie smothers at 6 yards in front of HD Torres.
29 min...TFC Bradley giveaway at TFC 40 yard line has HD Torres intercept and quick pass forward for charging HD Elis who is bodychecked over by TFC Zavaleta on edge of box and HD Alex gets away 15 yard shot from left that goalie stops point blank at 12 yards and Bradley clears from box.
30 min...HD Alex 30 yard cross from left is over top right corner of net for goalkick.
30 min...TFC Jozy Altidore GOAL...TFC Raheem Edwards dribbles ball down left wing from 40 yard line and at 15 yard line on left cuts low centering pass over to Altidore at 22 yards who taps ball over to TFC Sebastian Giovinco at 20 yards and he flicks ball up and forward to Altidore at 12 yards who is now behind defenders and he chests ball down and shoots low 8 yarder forward into left side of net behind sliding goalie.
33 min...HD DeLaGarza charges forward on right to get to pass and cuts low roller from 28 yards on far right that goalie smothers at 4 yards on right post.
34 min...HD Torees intercepts poor pass and runs up middle and 22 yarder blasted into TFC Hagglund at 18 yards to prevent shot on net.
36 min...TFC Altidore and TFC Giovinco give and go pass play broken up in HD box.
38 min...HD Torres 25 yard shot down middle deflects off TFC Hagglund's head at 20 yards for cornerkick.
38 min...HD Alex cornerkick from right has TFC Altidore on right side flick header over box. TFC Beitashour is injured near left cornerflag winning freekick on challenge by HD Leonardo.
40 min...TFC Giovinco shoots low 18 yarder from right that diving goalie in center of net get outstreched hand to at 5 yards and ball deflects off left post and defender at 10 yards clears.
42 min...TFC Edwards is injured on left sideline after beating HD DeLaGarza and having HD Cabezas then knock him over.
42 min...TFC Valdez 35 yard freekick from left has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players at 6 yards but offside flag was up.
43 min...HD Alex dribbles forward into TFC box but is checked off ball at 15 yards.
44 min...TFC goalie charges forward and to left to catch 40 yard bouncer into box.
45 min...half ends 8:23pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's suddenly dozens of beach balls being pounded around in the stands. When we are told to stop over the PA, those who were holding on to one of a specific colour, won a trip for two to Jamaica! That's one promo that they don't can't hold again because next time with a prize like that, people will keep a death grip on the ball in hopes that their ball wins. Other promos were the same as other games-- Tony from Pizza Pizza and the Nestle drumstick ice cream draw.

2nd Half:...starts 8:39pm. It's now dark but not much colder.
47 min...HD Torres low 20 yard shot from right has goalie smother on right post.
48 min...TFC Edwards rolls cross from 30 yards on left that TFC Giovinco shoots low 22 yarder up middle that goalie dives to smother on right side of net.
49 min...TFC Valdez feeds TFC Edwards pass for long run up left and he high crosses from 25 yards on far left over players with HD Beasley heading ball away on right side of box.
50 min...TFC Giovinco wins cornerkick on low cross from 15 yards on far right that deflects off HD Cabezas.
50 min...TFC Valdez cornerkick from right is low and TFC Altidore charges back and shoots low 20 yarder between players wide left.
53 min...TFC Delgado gets away on right sideline with flick up over HD Alexander and he cut runs downfield and cuts in and rolls cross from 15 yards on right back to TFC Giovinco in center on edge of box who has his 20 yard shot blocked by HD Machado hits Giovinco in head and Machado clears from box.
55 min...HD sub...Quioto replaces Garcia.
56 min...HD Alex cornerkick from right is short and finally HD Alexander 28 yarder in middle chips into box which goalie catches wide right of net.
57 min...HD YELLOW card...Elis earns it for catching dragging leg into diving goalie who smothered ball at 15 yards in middle that HD Torres had rolled up middle from 40 yards. Bono needs treatment.
61 min...TFC Hagglund at 10 yards in middle of box makes key header in box to break up cross from HD Quito from 20 yards on left.
63 min...HD Quito long cross from 40 yards on left has HD Elis heads centering cross from 15 yards on right but TFC Bradley in middle of box clears ball.
64 min...HD Quito rolls cross from 12 yards on left near end line has HD Elis off balance on nudge by TFC Morrow and can't get away 7 yard shot and goalie smothers at 4 yards on left post.
66 min...TFC Giovinco 35 yard freekick from slight right is low and bounces towards goal and diving goalie pushes ball wide left of post.
66 min...TFC Valdez cornerkick from left has leaping TFC Zavaleta head 10 yarder in crowd of players in center of box over net.
69 min...TFC sub...Osorio replaces Delgado.
69 min...HD YELLOW card...Cabezas earns it for body check on TFC Giovinco at center line on short throw-in to him.
71 min...HD Torres can't win freekick on edge of TFC box backing into TFC Hagglund who ends up clearing.
72 min...HD sub...Manotas replaces Elis.
73 min...HD Alexander 33 yard freekick on right has HD Torres head 12 yarder down middle that flying goalie catches on right post.
74 min...TFC sub...Cooper replaces Valdez.
75 min...HD Alexander 35 yard freekick on right has TFC Bradley head away at 15 yards on right in front of crowd of players.
76 min...TFC Edwards cross from 30 yards on left that has HD Beasley at on edge of box flick header over TFC Altidore for 20 yard shot on right.
77 min...TFC Giovinco 30 yard freekick from left bends high and wide left.
78 min...TFC sub...Ricketts replaces Altidore.
79 min...TFC Giovinco with defenders surrounding him rolls 22 yarder up middle to goalie.
81 min...HD Torres 28 yard freekick from left is well high of net.
82 min...HD sub...Sanchez replaces Alexander.
84 min...HD Manotas at 20 yards on right sends low centering pass to HD Sanchez who blasts low 22 yard shot from right that TFC Hagglund gets foot to at 12 yards to deflect shot wide left for cornerkick.
84 min...HD Sanchez cornerkick from left is low and TFC Ricketts chests down bouncer at 10 yards. HD DeLaGarza charges forward and rolls cross from 15 yards on left. HD Cabezas shot is blocked at 12 yards. HD Alex blasts 20 yard partial clearance rebound up middle but well over net.
86 min...TFC Beitashour blocks HD Quito cross from 20 yards on left edge of box out for cornerkick.
86 min...HD Sanchez cornerkick from left is short. HD Sanchez gets ball back and low cross from 25 yards on right has defender in center of box clear. HD Beasley chips ball into box from 30 yards and TFC Hagglund heads away at 15 yards.
86 min...TFC Morrow at 10 yards near end line on right deflects low cross from 20 yards on right for cornerkick.
86 min...HD Sanchez cornerkick from right has TFC Edwards at 6 yards along right end line head ball into center of box where HD Leonardo misses blasting kick from 10 yards and HD Quito recovers at edge of box and dribbles forward and steps around TFC Zavaleta and shoots low 15 yarder wide left of post.
88 min...HD Quito low cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Zavaleta stop and clear from 15 yards on left.
88 min...TFC Ricketts cross into box from 22 yards on right has HD Leonardo clear ball at 8 yards on right in front of TFC Giovinco.
88 min...HD Manotas is squeezed off the ball between two players but then wins freekick when TFC Edwards pushes him over.
89 min...HD Sanchez 22 yard freekick from top right edge of box just misses top right corner of net.
90 min...HD Torres receives throw-in from left but can't turn with back to TFC goal at 8 yards on left.
92 min...HD Manotas low 25 yard shot that goalie smothers on right post.
94 min...game ends 9:28pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........2...........Houston Dynamo............00.............

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was named as Jozy Altidore which was certainly well
deserved for him scoring both goals tonight. He put together some nice give and go passing with
Sebastian Giovinco. Altidore knew how to leave the game graciously with him accepting the fan
ovation and sitting on the player bench as opposed to Giovinco last week heading for the player
tunnel and knocking over a crowd barrier.

Attendance was not announced. The MLS site listed it as 25358. That was almost 2000 less than last
week's game against Chicago. This was their lowest of the season. The weather was overcast
but no schedule of rain.

Raheem Edwards once again was the only Canadian starter and played magnificently on the wing
getting in a low cross on Altidore's first goal. He is fast and always looks to send in a cross
once he gets even with the opposing team's box.

Later, Canadians Jonathan Osorio at 69 minutes and Tosaint Ricketts at 78 minutes got some
playing time.

In news earlier this week, TFC II signed another Panamanian player (this one on loan) for
this season pushing the Canadians on that team aside. Good thing the CSA mandates a few
Canadians have to be on their roster or they'd be like the MLS club.

Toronto FC III start their League 1 Ontario season on Sunday so it will be good to see
an all Canadian team play.

Alex Bono earned the shutout with a few key saves near the end as before that any goalie
was almost unnecessary.

The three man TFC defence of Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund, and Justin Morrow performed
well with some key stops and clearance. Hagglund this week needed to use his heading
ability more for defence than offence.

TFC had the same eleven starters and the same bench players as last week.
Why change success?

In a pre-game ceremony Jonathan Osorio was presented with a painting of himself for
his community service.

The game ball was presented by Toronto Maple Leafs player James Van Riemstyk so team
owner MLSE can get some more use from their hockey players. MLSE just won their first
league championship in fifty years of ownerships—'Raptors 905' won the D-League basketball
championship in Mississauga. Their NBA team advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

FC has one more home game, Wednesday night against first place Orlando City before
going away for a road trip to Seattle and Columbus. Will Canadian Cyle Larin be able
to score in his home town for Orlando?

Right now they've played four home and four away games so they won't be on a six game
home stand in September and October like the last two seasons.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
16' TOR Jozy Altidore Assisted By: Raheem Edwards, Marco Delgado
32' TOR Jozy Altidore Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco

Disciplinary
58' HOU Alberth Elis Reason: Unsporting Behavior
70' HOU Juan Cabezas Reason: Unsporting Behavior

Lineup

Toronto FC
17 F Jozy Altidore (79')
10 F Sebastian Giovinco
25 G Alexander Bono
15 D Eriq Zavaleta
6 D Nick Hagglund
2 D Justin Morrow
33 M Steven Beitashour
18 M Marco Delgado (70')
4 M Michael Bradley
7 M Víctor Vázquez (75')
44 M Raheem Edwards

Bench
40 G Mark Pais
8 M Benoit Cheyrou
31 M Armando Cooper (75')
14 M Jay Chapman
21 M Jonathan Osorio (70')
87 F Tosaint Ricketts (79')
9 F Tsubasa Endoh

Manager Greg Vanney

Houston Dynamo
9 F Erick Torres
17 F Alberth Elis (73')
31 G Joe Willis
20 D A.J. DeLaGarza
3 D Adolfo Machado
22 D Leonardo
7 D DaMarcus Beasley
27 M Boniek García (56')
5 M Juan Cabezas
6 M Eric Alexander (83')
14 M Alex

Bench
1 G Tyler Deric
2 D Jalil Anibaba
15 D Dylan Remick
10 M Vicente Sanchez (83')
11 M Andrew Wenger
12 M Romell Quioto (56')
19 F Mauro Manotas (73')

Manager Wilmer Cabrera

Officials
Referee Mark Geiger
Assistant Referee Charles Morgante
Assistant Referee Joe Fletcher
Fourth Official Geoff Gamble

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 25358
Weather Clear

Team Statistics
TOR HOU
10 Shots 19
5 Shots on Target 5
4 Shots off Target 9
1 Blocked Shots 5
2 Corners 9
7 Crosses 21
1 Offsides 1
11 Fouls 11
0 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
515 Total Passes 493
78 % Passing Accuracy 79 %
50.5 % Possession 49.5 %
43 Duels Won 44
14 Tackles Won 11
5 Saves 3
19 Clearances 8

Toronto FC starters