August 3, 2016 MLS--Toronto FC vs Real Salt Lake (by Rocket Robin)

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Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................25 Alex Bono
33 Steven Beitashour...23 Josh Williams...3 Drew Moor (cpt)...2 Justin Morrow
9 Tsubasa Endoh...18 Marky Delgado...14 Jay Chapman...21 Jonathan Osorio
...........22 Jordan Hamilton...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...11 Mo Babouli (fwd)...15 Eriq Zavaleta (fwd)
...17 Jozy Altidore (fwd)...28 Mark Bloom (def)...87 Tosaint Ricketts (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Real Salt Lake (all white, navy names and numbers)

.................18 Nick Rimando
2 Tony Beltran...15 Justen Glad...21 Aaron Maund...17 Demar Phillips
.......7 Juan Manuel Martinez...27 John Stertzer...5 Kyle Beckerman (cpt)
......80 Olmes Garcia...11 Javier Morales...10 Joao Plata

Subs:...24 Jeff Attinella (gk)...3 Phanuel Kavita (def)...4 Jamison Olave (def)...12 Omar Holness (fwd)
...16 Chris Wingert (def)...19 Luke Mulholland (mid)...49 Devon Sandoval (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Jeff Cassar

Game officials:...referee Alan Kelly...referee's assistants Claudiu Badea and Gianni Facchini
...fourth official Fotis Bazakos...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:12pm...TFC defends north end on this very hot and humid evening with a bright sun in the north west.
1 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has RSL Beckerman head ball away at 7 yards in crowd of players.
1 min...RSL Plata rush upfield on right and stops at 25 yards to cross to wide open RSL Beckerman at 8 yards
on left and his diving header is just wide of right post and sliding RSL Morales just a step behind sliding to meet ball at 1 yard injurying himself.
2 min...TFC Hamilton weak low 20 yard shot from left is smothered by goalie on left post.
4 min...TFC Hamilton after short run on left rolls low centering pass from 20 yards that RSL Glad kicks behind end line from 5 yards on left.
4 min...TFC Giovinco and Endoh work out short cornerkick from left and RSL player heads away cross into box.
6 min...TFC Morrow 18 yard shot from left deflects off RSL Beltran at 15 yards and bounces out of box.
10 min...TFC Osorio chips 45 yard freekick from right that bounces to goalie.
12 min...RSL Maund 60 yard chip from left is over players and bounces wide right for goalie to grab.
15 min...TFC Giovinco on left rescues long cross from TFC Endoh on left end line. Giovinco rolls ball back
to TFC Osorio who crosses rom 20 yards on left that has defender pop up header at 8 yards and another defender clears.
17 min...TFC Hamilton chips pass from 22 yards on left too far forward for charging TFC Osorio and wide left for goalkick.
19 min...RSL Beltrand chips pass forward from 40 yard line up right and too far forward for charging RSL Garcia and ball bounces for goalkick.
20 min...TFC Giovinco gets to chipped pass on left on bounce and shadowed by RSL Maund shoots high and wide left from 18 yards.
22 min...RSL Morales 40 yard freekick from left has jumping RSL Stertzer in front of charging goalie
head ball over net from 7 yards in crowd of players. Stertzer is injured on play in collision with goalie.
25 min...TFC Endoh rescues ball near right cornerflag and passes out to TFC Delgado who shoots 18 yarder roller from right wide left of post.
28 min...RSL Beckerman cross from 39 yards on left to RSL Martinez on right who shoots 15 yarder at sharp angle is high and wide left of net.
31 min...RSL Garcia stops pass at 12 yards on left and taps ball back but RSL Plata has 15 yard shot blocked by defender.
32 min...RSL Stertzer chip from 30 yards on right is cleared by TFC Williams header at 15 yards.
34 min...RSL Plata cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Williams head away at 12 yards on left.
35 min...TFC Giovinco steals ball off RSL Maund at 40 yards on right and on 2 on 1 with TFC Hamilton has
Giovinco at 15 yards has retreating Maund poke ball away from behind preventing shot.
37 min...RSL Morales chips from 28 yard line forward on right but TFC Moor intercepts pass to RSL Beltrand at 10 yards in box and clears.
38 min...RSL Morales at 40 yards in middle rolls pass forward and left to charging RSL Plata who
runs in from 30 yards on left and takes low 15 yard shot that's saved by sliding goalie at 7 yards.
40 min...RSL Stertzer 40 yard chip from right has defender clear on header at 10 yards in box.
41 min...TFC Chapman on rush down right from center line cuts towards middle and at 28 yards rolls pass
forward and right to TFC Endoh who crosses from 20 yards on far right and flying Chapman at 8 yards
can't connect on header at 8 yards up middle and ball bounces to TFC Giovinco at 10 yards on far left
who chips over goalie and RSL Phillips heads away on right post. RSL Maund shanks clearance
attempt at 10 yards on right end line and Endoh rolls pass from 20 yards over to TFC Hamilton who
chips from 22 yards on right over players in box to Giovinco who one-touch blasts 12 yarder from left wide left of net.
42 min...TFC Morrow chips cross from 20 yards on left has RSL Maund beat TFC Hamilton to 8 yard header in middle of box and clear.
45 min...TFC Giovinco is called offside and injured on sliding tackle by RSL Glad at RSL 35 yard line.
47 min...TFC Endoh low cross from 25 yards on right is through box and neither TFC Hamilton on nor
TFC Morrow can connect at 7 yards and ball bounces out left side of box.
47 min...half ends 7:59pm.

Halftime Entertainment: Instead of Nestle's Drumsticks ice cream cones it seems today the giveaway is
Kit-Kat cones. There's still Tony from Pizza Pizza in the other giveaway. There's a leaf blower relay
race to dribble soccer balls into a net. This seems more appropriate than trying to get kiddy club teams
here with their parents having just finished a work day. There's a donation to the Hammer Heads charity
program by building supply companies and trade unions.

2nd Half:...starts 8:16pm...The weather is unchanged in that it is still hot and humid but now the
bright sun is setting in the north west.
46 min...TFC Delgado rolls ball too far for TFC Giovinco down left wing from 40 yard line and ball rolls over end line.
47 min...TFC Giovinco at 25 yards on left chips pass forward to TFC Chapman in middle at 15 yards and
he pops header to left and TFC Morrow shoots over net from 8 yards on one-touch shot.
49 min...RSL Garcia gets away rolled cross from 25 yards on far left after run and retreating TFC Williams
concedes cornerkick at 5 yards on left.
50 min...RSL Morales cornerkick from left is out to RSL Beckerman at 25 yards in middle and he passes back and ball never send into box.
50 min...TFC Hamilton low cross from 15 yards on left near end line wins cornerkick on RSL Glad deflection.
51 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has RSL Beckerman head away from 4 yards near right post.
51 min...TFC Giovinco chips cross from 20 yards on left that RSL Glad pops up header at 5 yards near right post
and RSL Garcia volleys it away on left edge of box.
54 min...Referee no calls a multi pileup in the RSL box with TFC pleading that TFC Endoh should be awarded a Penalty kick.
54 min...TFC Morrow low cross from 20 yards on left deflects off retreating RSL Glad and goalie picks up bouncer at 4 yards.
55 min...TFC sub...Ricketts replaces Hamilton.
.........TFC sub...Altidore replaces Chapman.
56 min...RSL goalie dives on ball on left side of box before TFC Ricketts can get to it at 10 yards.
57 min...RSL goalie catches TFC Giovinco cross from 15 yards on left at 1 yard line in center
of net before TFC Altidore on right post can get head to it.
59 min...TFC Giovinco 25 yard freekick from right is high over net.
60 min...RSL sub...Mulholland replaces Stertzer.
60 min...RSL Beckerman skies 40 yard shot from left wide right for throw-in!
62 min...TFC goalie runs out to 30 yards up middle to beat RSL Garcia and clear ball.
63 min...RSL Garcia outraces TFC Moor down right wing and crosses from 15 yards and retreating
TFC Beitashour stutter steps to get leg to ball which pops ball up at 6 yards and Moor heads
ball forwards. RSL Morales recovers ball at 22 yards on right and sends pass to RSL Plata
who shoots 8 yarder from left edge of 6 yards box high and wide right over net.
65 min...RSL Beckerman rolls pass forward and left to RSL Plata and his cross from 20 yards
on left near end line is just a step ahead of RSL Martinez fully connecting on 3 yard header
while diving over TFC Moor and ball bounces wide right for goalkick.
66 min...TFC Giovinco blasts 12 yarder from left that's blocked by RSL Glad.
66 min...RSL Garcia rushes down right wing and cross from 25 yards has TFC Moor near top of box on right concede cornerkick.
67 min...RSL Plata cornerkick from right bounces into box and is partially cleared by TFC Williams
diving header at 8 yards in middle of box. RSL Martinez blasts 25 yarder up middle through traffic
and ball deflects off RSL Morales flick at 7 yards and into left side of net. Goal is called offside as Morales is offside.
67 min...TFC Tosaint Ricketts GOAL...TFC goalie Alex Bono takes freekick from 7 yards in own box
downfield and TFC Altidore at 35 yards down middle flicks header forward and Ricketts charges
forward between defenders to get to ball and shoot 15 yarder down middle ahead of charging goalie
Nick Rimando into left side of net.
73 min...RSL Martinez on right edge of box has TFC Morrow check him off ball before he can make cross.
75 min...RSL Morales receives forward pass down right wing and cross from 25 yards on right has
TFC defender head away at 6 yards in middle of box.
76 min...RSL Mulholland from 30 yards down middle shoots low through players and RSL Martinez
partially stops at 18 yards and steps forward to 10 yards even with left post and takes low
shot that sliding goalie stops point blank at 7 yards and deflects ball out of box.
77 min...RSL player from 35 yards on left sideline threads ball between players to RSL Martinez
on edge of box in center but TFC defenders Moor and Delgado squeeze him off ball before
he can take shot.
77 min...RSL sub...Holness replaces Morales.
79 min...RSL Plata 35 yard freekick from right has TFC Delgado head away at 12 yards in front
of crowd of players over to left for a throw-in.
81 min...RSL Phillips sends in high cross from 28 yards on left into box and RSL Martinez runs
to 8 yards on right to head ball across to center of box and RSL Beckerman with back to goal
chips ball backwards from 15 yards towards goal and goalie runs forward and jumps at 7 yards
to catch before RSL Garcia can connect with it.
81 min...RSL Plata rolls through ball pass from 25 yards forward on right to charging RSL Garcia but he's flagged offside.
82 min...TFC sub...Hagglund replaces Endoh.
82 min...RSL goalie beats TFC Ricketts to bouncer on left from TFC goalie's long freekick from 10 yards in own box.
83 min...RSL Phillips cross from 25 yards on left hits charging RSL player at 10 yards on back of leg and deflects back out of box.
83 min...RSL Phillips 28 yard cross from left over crowd of players in box and bounces out for throw-in on right.
84 min...RSL Plata rolls pass from 35 yards down right between players and out for goalkiek.
85 min...RSL sub...Sandoval replaces Beltran.
86 min...TFC Giovinco at 22 yards in middle rolls pass to charging TFC Morrow who shoots 15 yarder on left wide left of net.
87 min...RSL YELLOW card...Maund earns it for sliding tackle from behind and high boot
on TFC Altidore on edge of RSL box as TFC Giovinco had just chipped him pass.
88 min...TFC Giovinco freekick from 19 yards is into player wall. TFC Altidore recovers rebound
on edge of box on left and shoots 15 yarder just wide left of post.
89 min...RSL Phillips rush down left from 45 yard line and rolls pass forward 30 yards
to RSL player who has his cross from 18 yards near left end line blocked by defender and
deflect out of box to RSL Mulholland who shoots 25 yarder through supporters smoke well
high and wide right.
90 min...RSL goalie and TFC Giovinco crash together jumping for ball at 13 yards while Giovinco
trying to chip goalie as RSL Phillips had popped header from 22 yards back to goalie. Giovinco is hurt.
92 min...RSL Glad cross from 45 yards on right is to edge of box and RSL Sandoval chests ball
back to RSL Plata who takes low 22 yard shot that deflects off defender's foot and is smothered by goalie at 4 yards in center of goal.
93 min...game ends 9:03pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........1...........Real Salt Lake............0.............

Attendance was announced as 27859. That was pretty good for a midweek game against a team that isn't a conference rival.

TFC wins their third game in a row. This streak has taken place during a home stand with one
more game this Saturday against New England before they go on the road for a few games. To play
three games in seven days is quite a strain and the only fair way is to have all home games. The
team is still working off a backlog of home games caused by renovations again this season to
put a partial roof over the stands. This is the second of three three-games-in-a-week stands.

Both TFC and RSL played Sunday with RSL winning away in Philadelphia.

The MVP (who is always a TFC player) was named as Alex Bono for working hard to earn the
shutout tonight. He's recovered well from the road game four games ago when he allowed the
winning goal for nine man San Jose.

Tosaint Ricketts scored his first goal for TFC tonight. He was also called offside about
three times. I've still seen him play more times with the Canadian National team at BMO Field then with TFC.

Ricketts and fellow forward Jozy Altidore were brought in for forward Jordan Hamilton and
midfielder Jay Chapman at 55 minutes when the team needed a shakeup.

RSL head a goal called back for offside the same minute as TFC then charged up the field and scored.
The line offiiicials called both teams offside a few times upsetting Giovinco when it happened to him.

This was the only MLS league game played tonight. Two US Open Cup games were also taking place.
TFC moves closer to the head in the East and opens a gap on the teams following them.

Jay Chapman certainly looked like he was more anxious to pass the ball than to take a shot. He's
started quite a few games in a row now and is fitting in well.

Joao Plata used to play for TFC. He has the same build as Giovinco and I remembered he use to draw
a lot of fouls when he got knocked over.

RSL has US national team star Kyle Beckerman who is still a great playmaker.

Giovinco had limited opportunities tonight.

The referee was not giving out many cheap freekicks near the edge of the box and gave out one Yellow
card and that wasn't until 87 minutes.

Good transit service on the way here as it was the rush hour. The Harbourfront streetcar shortturned
eight blocks away as it has all season. I walked to the end of the route and didn't see any construction
equipment or work being carried out.

TFC Steven Beitashour is on tonight's ticket. He played all 90 minute well in defence.

Tonight makes eight games undefeated at home!

We early arrivals were given a TFC felt tophat (no sponsor's name shown) which could block the view
of those behind you as it was about 12 inches high. Fortunately the people in the row in front of me weren't
here early so they didn't get one.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
68'  TOR  Tosaint Ricketts     Assisted By: Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore 

Disciplinary
88'  RSL  Aaron Maund          Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
22 F Jordan Hamilton    (56')
10 F Sebastian Giovinco 
25 G Alex Bono 
33 D Steven Beitashour 
23 D Josh Williams 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
18 M Marco Delgado 
 9 M Tsubasa Endoh      (83')
21 M Jonathan Osorio 
14 M Jay Chapman        (56') 

Bench
40 G Quillan Roberts 
28 D Mark Bloom 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
17 M Jozy Altidore      (56')
 6 M Nick Hagglund      (83')
87 F Tosaint Ricketts   (56')
11 F Mo Babouli 

Manager  Greg Vanney 

Lineup

Real Salt Lake 
 7 F Juan Manuel Martínez 
80 F Olmes García 
10 F Joao Plata 
18 G Nick Rimando 
 2 D Tony Beltran       (86')
15 D Justen Glad 
21 D Aaron Maund 
17 D Demar Phillips 
27 M John Stertzer      (61')
 5 M Kyle Beckerman 
11 M Javier Morales     (78) 

Bench
24 G Jeff Attinella 
16 D Chris Wingert 
 4 D Jámison Olave 
 3 D Phanuel Kavita 
49 D Devon Sandoval     (86')
19 M Luke Mulholland    (61')
12 M Omar Holness       (78')

Manager Jeff Cassar 

Officials
Referee  Alan Kelly 
Assistant Referee  Claudiu Badea 
Assistant Referee  Gianni Facchini 
Fourth Official  Fotis Bazakos 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 27859
Weather Clear

Team Statistics

TOR                       RSL
 13     Shots              12 
  2     Shots on Target     3 
  7     Shots off Target    7 
  4     Blocked Shots       2 
  3     Corners             2 
 13     Crosses            17 
  5     Offsides            4 
  7     Fouls               7 
  0     Yellow Cards        1 
  0     Red Cards           0 
436     Total Passes      538 
 78 %   Passing Accuracy   78 % 
 44.6 % Possession         55.4 % 
 44     Duels Won          31 
 15     Tackles Won        11 
  3     Saves               0 
 14     Clearances         11

Toronto FC starters