May 8, 2016 MLS--Toronto FC vs FC Dallas (by Rocket Robin)

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Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................1 Clint Irwin
33 Steven Beitashour...24 Damien Perquis...3 Drew Moor...2 Justin Morrow
18 Marky Delgado...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...9 Tsubasa Endoh...7 Will Johnson
...........17 Jozy Altidore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...11 Mo Babouli (fwd)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)...15 Eriq Zavaleta (fwd)
...19 Daniel Lovitz (fwd)...21 Jonathan Osorio (mid)...23 Josh Williams (def)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

FC Dallas (white & blue hooped socks, white shorts and shirts, white & blue hoops on chest, blue names and numbers)

......................1 Jesse Gonzalez
17 Zach Loyd...8 Victor Ulloa (cpt)...25 Walker Zimmerman...31 Maynor Figueroa
............12 Ryan Hollinshead...23 KellynAcosta...13 Tesho Akindele
............21 Michael Barrios...10 Mauro Diaz...37 Maximiliano Urruti

Subs:...18 Chris Seitz (gk)...7 Carlos Gruezo (mid)...11 Fabian Castillo (mid)...14 Atiba Harris (def)
...20 Juan Esteban Ortiz (mid)...22 Carlos Lizarazo (mid)...77 Mauro Rosales (mid)
team officials:...head coach Oscar Pareja

Game officials:...referee Jorge Gonzalez...referee's assistants Peter Manikowski and Gianni Facchini
...fourth official Sylviu Petrescu...(bright yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:53pm...TFC defends south end on this mild night.
1 min...a big cheer rang through the crowd when the score from the playoff basketball was flashed on the scoreboard.
1 min...FCD Diaz 30 yard freekick from right is rolled forward and FCD Urruti takes low 12 yard shot from right that's smothered by goalie on near post.
3 min...TFC goalie runs out to 20 yards to head ball forward before FCD player can get to bouncer.
3 min...TFC Giovinco chips 40 yard pass from right has charging TFC Endoh partially volley 12 yard shot wide left of net.
6 min...FCD Hollingshead lofts 25 yard shot from right has goalie catch.
8 min...TFC Delgado crosses from 30 yards on right is over head of charging TFC Altidore at 10 yards in box.
9 min...TFC Giovinco chips pass from 20 yards on left that TFC Endoh heads over net from 8 yards.
12 min...TFC Perquis 45 yard chip has defender head away at 15 yards by FCD Hollingshead.
13 min...TFC Altidore's low shot up middle is blocked by sliding defender at 12 yards on scramble.
13 min...TFC YELLOW card...Delgado earns it for tripping FCD Figueroa dribbling ball out of FCD box.
15 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left is caught by goalie at 4 yards near right post.
16 min...FCD Hollingshead cross from 25 yards on far right. FCD Barrios on left heads ball down but is cleared TFC Delgado heading ball out of box.
18 min...FCD Diaz 35 yard freekick is rolled short. FCD Figueroa chips ball down middle at 25 yards that defenders clear away from box. Diaz chips partial clearance from 35 yards that goalie catches at 7 yards.
19 min...TFC Perquis rolls pass forward from 50 yards and TFC Altidore at 35 yards flicks ball with foot around defenders and ball continues on for TFC Giovinco at 28 yards he chips from 20 yards just over bar and ball lands on top of net.
22 min...FCD Diaz pass from 60 yard down middle springs FCD Urruti who rushes in 12 yards on right and holds up and surrounded by defenders rolls ball into middle for charging FCD Akindele who rushes one-touch shot wide left from 10 yards.
24 min...FCD Zach Loyd 45 yard freekick from left has FCD Zimmerman and TFC goalie crash together on goalie jumping at 8 yards. Referee awards TFC a freekick.
25 min...TFC Giovinco bends low 30 yarder from right that hits left post and has defender clear.
27 min...TFC Tsubasa Endoh GOAL...TFC Michael Bradley slides at TFC 40 yard line to intercept pass. The ball deflects to TFC Will Johnson who runs up the middle and rolls ball upfield from center line. TFC Endoh gets ball at 35 yards and passes over to TFC Sebastian Giovinco at 30 yards on left. Giovinco chips centering pass forward from 25 yards on left over head of leaping FCD Walker Zimmerman and Endoh in front of TFC Jozy Altidore controls ball at 8 yards running to left post and cuts 6 yard roller under sliding defender Maynor Figeroa and goalie Jesse Gonzalez to right side of net. Figueroa is injured on the play.
31 min...FCD Barrios rolls pass back for FCD Acosta to shoot 22 yard roller wide left of net.
34 min...TFC Giovinco rolls ball forward from 35 yards but goalie beats TFC Endoh to pick up ball at 15 yards.
35 min...FCD Diaz can't win Penalty kick on run into TFC box as TFC Perquis slid to make clearance and got to ball first.
37 min...FCD YELLOW card...Ulloa earns it for grab on TFC Giovinco's shoulder at FCD 35 yard line on run.
38 min...TFC Giovinco 35 yard freekick from left is wide left of net.
40 min...TFC defenders make blocks on edge of box to make sure there are no shots on net.
40 min...TFC Giovinco cuts to left and boots 22 yard shot wide right.
41 min...FCD Diaz chips 40 yarder that FCD Urruti chests ball down on turn around at 12 yards and and ball bounces to goalie.
42 min...TFC YELLOW card...Bradley earns it for tripping FCD Diaz at TFC 50 yard line.
42 min...FCD Loyd chips ball from 40 yards on right well over net.
45 min...FCD Ulloa 35 yard freekick from right has FCD Akindele head ball down from 15 yards that goalie catches wide left of post on bounce.
46 min...TFC Delgado rush on right and from 30 yards crosses well over charging TFC Giovinco at 6 yards.
47 min...half ends 8:40pm.

Halftime Entertainment: some repeats from last year--Tony from Pizza Pizza would choose a row to deliver a slice of pizza, a draw for one row of seats to win a Nestle Drumstick. New was a game from BMO bank. A contestant was able to request a prop door be opened on one of five signboard houses to win a reduction in his mortgage. The game was preplanned as the contestant had to choose the houses in a consecutive order. No surprise that the draw was $100, $500, $1000, and $2000, with the last door being an 'X' to lose everything. The contestant stopped at the fourth door. Also special on the scoreboard was a video of TFC players reminiscing about their mothers for Mother's Day tomorrow.

2nd Half:...starts 8:56pm.
halftime sub:...FCD Castillo replaces Akindele.
46 min...FCD Figueroa and Urruti can't work out ball from near TFC right end line.
48 min...TFC Giovinco quick shot on break at 28 yards is low and well wide right.
49 min...FCD Diaz chips from 35 yards on left has ball flicked forward near edge of box but TFC Moor clears from 15 yards.
49 min...FCD Castillo runs toward middle from left along 25 yard line and cuts shot down middle that goalie dives right to catch on right post.
49 min...TFC Endoh gets bounced pass from TFC Altidore at 28 yards and eludes defender to take 20 shot from right that just misses top right corner of net.
51 min...TFC Giovinco 22 yard shot from left deflects wide right for cornerkick.
51 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has defender head away from right side of box.
52 min...TFC Altidore slides at 6 yards to deflect low cross from TFC Delgado from 18 yards on right wide right of net.
53 min...FCD Acosta 20 yard shot from left deflects high off defender and wide right of net.
53 min...FCD Diaz cornerkick from right is high and FCD Figueroa heads downward at 6 yards and ball deflects off FCD Castillo in crowd of players at 2 yards and TFC Bradley clears from box.
55 min...FCD Acosta 45 yard freekick from left sideline has ball headed up at 8 yards and defenders clear from box.
56 min...TFC Delgado is injured at TFC 40 yard line.
.........TFC sub...Osorio replaces Delgado.
57 min...FCD Castillo wins cornerkick on left wins on deflection off TFC Beitashour on rush.
58 min...FCD Diaz cornerkick from left is over to FCD Acosta at 28 yards in middle and he blasts shot that's blocked by TFC Beitashour on edge of box and FCD player behind defender skies ball upwards and goalie punches ball away at 5 yards and defender clears for fast break.
58 min...TFC Giovinco on 2 on 1 rush has FCD Loyd block shot from 20 yards on right.
60 min...TFC defenders clear box and starts fast break out. TFC Endoh on rush from 65 yards on left rushes forward to 45 yard line and taps centering pass to TFC Giovinco who rolls pass forward for charging TFC Altidore who eludes defender at 20 yards and low shot from 15 yards is stopped point bland by goalie at 12 yards. TFC Endoh can't win Penalty kick on left side of box.
62 min...FCD goalie makes save on TFC Altidore at 10 yards before he can get a good shot who had rounded a defender.
64 min...TFC Osorio wins cornerkick on FCD Hollingshead blocking his shot at 10 yards on left.
65 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left is wasted as nearest defender clears roller.
65 min...FCD Diaz feeds ball up middle from 30 yards and FCD Castillo gets pass on edge of box and has 12 yard point blank shot saved by goalie at 8 yards.
65 min...TFC Giovinco chips pass from 22 yards on left that has leaping FCD Figueroa head away at 4 yards preventing TFC Altidore from tap-in at 2 yards on right post.
66 min...TFC Bradley chips pass forward from 35 yards up middle that has TFC Altidore foot up to tap ball down at 10 yards has ball deflect forward and goalie stops at 6 yards and ball deflects off fallen goalie and defender clears from left end line.
67 min...FCD Castillo wins cornerkick eluding two defenders on left.
67 min...FCD Diaz cornerkick from left is over player in box and wide right for goalkick.
71 min...FCD sub...Lizarazo replaces Barrios.
71 min...FCD Castillo rolls 15 yard shot from near left end line that goalie smothers near left post.
72 min...TFC Endoh low cross from 12 yards on right has FCD Zimmerman clear in middle for throw-in.
73 min...TFC Beitashour long throw-in from right has FCD Figueroa head ball away from 15 yards in box.
73 min...TFC YELLOW card...Beitashour earns it for time wasting waiting to take throw-in.
73 min...TFC Altidore wins cornerkick on deflection backing into defender on right edge of box near endline.
74 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right has FCD Diaz head ball away on left side of box.
75 min...TFC Giovinco 35 yard freekick on right has FCD Diaz tip up on header at 25 yards and play is whistled down as ball deflects into box.
76 min...FCD Lizarazo bends 30 yard cross from right that bounces wide left of net for goalkick.
77 min...TFC Altidore 50 yard through ball pass from left bounces unplayed wide right of goal.
79 min...FCD sub...Rosales replaces Ulloa.
80 min...TFC defenders clear ball from just inside box preventing FCD players from working forward.
81 min...TFC Giovinco has shot blocked just inside left side of box after receiving pass from TFC Endoh from 25 yards in middle.
82 min...FCD Rosales 40 yard freekick from right has TFC Moor pop away header at 7 yards in crowd of players.
84 min...TFC Giovinco 25 yard freekick from far right is over players in box and ball bounces out for throw-in.
85 min...TFC Altidore cross from 25 yards on left has defender FCD Figueroa sky ball on kick at 8 yards in middle of box and another defender heads it just out of box. Altidore gets ball back and taps left to TFC Morrow who crosses in from 25 yards and FCD Figueroa heads ball forward and out of box.
86 min...TFC goalie catches long 40 yard bouncer from left.
86 min...TFC Giovinco shot from 20 yards has goalie bat ball upwards and go for catch and bends over to pick it up.
.........TFC YELLOW card...Johnson earns it for bumping into goalie on last play with both knees, injurying him.
90 min...FCD goalie leaves by stretcher with head injury. FCD defender Hollingshead puts on a pinny and goalie gloves and finishes the game as FCD have already used their three subs.
90 min...TFC sub...Williams replaces Endoh.
91 min...FCD Rosales 45 yard freekick from left is headed away by TFC Williams in crowd of players at 10 yards.
92 min...FCD Rosales has ball tip off him for TFC goalkick when he can't control cross near left post.
93 min...FCD Loyd long throw-in has TFC Perquis head ball away for cornerkick.
93 min...FCD Rosales cornerkick from right has FCD Castillo eventually push ball over end line when he can't get around defender.
94 min...TFC Giovinco 30 yard freekick from left has ball bounce for goalie to save on left post.
95 min...TFC YELLOW card...Altidore earns it for not letting goalie kick away ball.
95 min...TFC Johnson has low 15 yard shot from right is stopped by sliding goalie except called back on handball call on TFC Altidore.
96 min...game ends 9:47pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........1...........FC Dallas............0.............

The PA system played the song "Let's Go Crazy" after the final whistle which they've never played before. I'm not sure if it was because the musician Prince died or whether that will be the team's new theme song.

Attendance was announced as a sellout 30025. People took until halftime to completely fill the stadium.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Tsubasa Endoh who scored the only goal of the game. It was his first goal in MLS. Both Giovinco and he had chances but Endoh was the one who scored. Irwin had a few key saves to make but I have no disagreement with giving the award to Endoh. TSN television network picked Michael Bradley.

Sebastian Giovinco continues to be involved in EVERY TFC score this season either scoring himself six goals and now four assists! He wasn't his sharpest today with shots wide and over the net (one actually landed on top of the net). He also hit the goalpost just two minutes before the goal. Tsubasa Endoh had a few other shots off target.

Clint Irwin earned the shutout and had to make some key saves to earn TFC the win. The TFC defenders though did a good job of checking and blocking shots on the edge of the box. In added time they brought in a fifth defender, Josh Williams, to replace forward Endoh and preseve the win. TFC leads the league with only having conceded seven goals in nine games this season.

Dallas had lost their last two games which were also on the road by a 3-0 score in Vancouver then last week 4-0 against New York Red Bulls. They had started the first month of the season in first place but have fizzled with road losses although they are still unbeaten at home.

Dallas was forced to finish the game with ten men after the goalie was injured and they had used up their three subs by the 79 minute mark. It made it more difficult for them to press for the tying goal with defender Ryan Hollingshead playing in net by putting on a pinny and goalie gloves.

TFC had lost all three games to Western Conference teams this season (Kansas City, Colorado, and Portland) although all of them were on the road. They are undefeated against Eastern teams. After next week's game against Vancouver they play a bunch of teams from the East. The Eastern teams have also mostly been losing to Western teams (West has a record of +7 already). Eastern teams have also tying each other and losing points in trying to catch TFC who are now in second place after tonight.

My first thoughts on the stadium renovation besides the worry that the roof would not cover me in a driving rain is that the north end stands are gone as are a few party rooms. It's probably now easier to see the field from the beer garden in that end. A sellout was announced today as 30025 but an article I read online from 2015 quoted the soccer capicity as 30991 so the changes knocked out quite a few seats. There was no canopy installed at that end. The canopy over my section in the east covers my row and it looks like if rain drips off the roof it will fall like a waterfall a few rows in front of me.

The west side canopy is built exremely high. I've heard it's a compromise for the CFL football Grey Cup and the NHL hockey Winter Classic in that additional seating can be erected under it.

I was allowed into the stands 90 minutes before the game and there were already fans inside. The security check was not much different that last year except for the wand/metal detector.

Upon entrance we were given a clear plastic ticket holder by sponsor BMO bank. In our seats was a cardboard sign with instructions to hold it up upon the players entering the field. On the way out (if you knew what gate to exit) we were given a fridge magnet again from BMO. This year it had a straight out listing of game dates and opponents rather than squeezing them onto a little calendar. Always interesting to see which player pictures are used and who is still on the team one year later. This year it's Justin Morrow, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, and Jonathan Osorio. Only change from last year is Morrow for goalie Joe Bendik who is now with Orlando City.

Today's ticket had a picture of Sebastian Giovinco. In a pregame ceremony, he was presented with the MLS Golden Boot award as 2015's leading scorer.

There's a new game day program style this year. It's a larger 8 by 11 and is back up in price to $5.00. It also looks very generic and has no listing of the visiting team. I expect this 'Issue 1' will be on sale for a few months before another one replaces it. Last year's only had about 8 of 64 pages 'new' each game.

A pregame video on the scoreboard said that 20000 people had now beaten the four minute mile since Roger Bannister in 1954. They tried to compare the accomplishment of breaking barriers to Toronto FC.

The national anthems were sung by Scotty Newlands and there was a short fireworks display. The game started about 15 minutes later then a usual television game. I'd heard that Toronto mayor John Tory was going to open the stadium but he wasn't announced.

It rained after the game while we walking blocks away for shuttle buses. The shortened route of streetcars of the Harbourfront line couldn't be tested as they weren't running at all after some unnounced breakdown. Some of the east-west subway (which doesn't effect me in general) was closed for maintenance. An obstacle course of scheduled interruptions will effect many weekend games again this season.

Of the eight players loaned down to their USL club, TFC II before that team'sWednesday night game, Quillan Roberts, Eriq Zavaleta, Daniel Lovitz, Jay Chapman, and Mo Babouli were back and at least on the bench for tonight's game although none were starters. Will they go back for TFC II Wednesday matinee game? Good thing the teams are only at opposite ends of the city. Also they can pull this off until both teams play on the same weekend and one is out of town.

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
28'  Tsubasa Endoh          Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco 

Disciplinary
14'  Marco Delgado          Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
39'  Victor Ulloa           Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
43'  Michael Bradley        Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
74'  Steven Beitashour      Reason: Time wasting 
87'  Will Johnson           Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
90'+6' Jozy Altidore        Reason: Dangerous play 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
17 F Jozy Altidore 
10 F Sebastian Giovinco 
 1 G Clint Irwin 
33 D Steven Beitashour 
24 D Damien Perquis 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
 4 M Michael Bradley 
18 M Marco Delgado    (57')
 7 M Will Johnson 
 9 M Tsubasa Endoh    (90'+2') 

Bench
40 G Quillan Roberts 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
23 M Josh Williams    (90'+2')
14 M Jay Chapman 
21 M Jonathan Osorio  (57')
19 M Daniel Lovitz 
11 F Mo Babouli 

Manager Greg Vanney  
 
FC Dallas 
21 F Michael Barrios    (72')
37 F Maximiliano Urruti 
13 F Tesho Akindele     (HT)   
 1 G Jesse Gonzalez 
12 D Ryan Hollingshead 
17 D Zach Loyd 
25 D Walker Zimmerman 
31 D Maynor Figueroa 
23 M Kellyn Acosta 
10 M Mauro Díaz 
 8 M Victor Ulloa       (81')    

Bench
18 G Chris Seitz 
77 M Mauro Rosales      (81')
20 M Juan Esteban Ortiz 
 7 M Carlos Gruezo 
11 F Fabian Castillo    (HT)
22 F Carlos Lizarazo    (72')
14   Atiba Harris 

Manager  Oscar Pareja 

Officials
Referee  Jorge Gonzalez 
Assistant Referee  Peter Manikowski 
Assistant Referee  Gianni Facchini 
Fourth Official  Silviu Petrescu 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 30025
Weather Clear

Team Statistics

TOR                        DAL
 17     Shots               10 
  4     Shots on Target      3 
  9     Shots off Target     2 
  4     Blocked Shots        5 
  4     Corners              4 
 15     Crosses             15 
  3     Offsides             2 
 19     Fouls               14 
  5     Yellow Cards         1 
  0     Red Cards            0 
421     Total Passes       443 
 77 %   Passing Accuracy    81 % 
 48.7 % Possession          51.3 % 
 52     Duels Won           55 
 15     Tackles Won         13 
  3     Saves                3 
 14     Clearances          26

Toronto FC starters