October 1, 2016 MLS--Toronto FC vs DC United (by Rocket Robin)

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Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................1 Clint Irwin
28 Mark Bloom..15 Eriq Zavaleta...3 Drew Moor...2 Justin Morrow
31 Armando Cooper...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...21 Jonathan Osorio...19 Daniel Lovitz
...........11 Mo Babouli...17 Jozy Altidore

Subs:...25 Alex Bono (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...8 Benoit Cheyrou (mid)...9 Tsubasa Endoh (fwd)
...18 Marky Delgado (mid)...22 Jordan Hamilton...33 Steven Beitashour (def)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

DC United (all black, white names and numbers, red trim)

...................28 Bill Hamid
14 Nick DeLeon...15 Steve Birnbabaum...32 Bobby Boswell...34 Luke Mishu
11 Luciano Acosta...13 Lamar Neagle...33 Julian Buscher...26 Rob Vincent
.............8 Lloyd Sam...16 Patrick Mullins

Subs:...48 Travis Worra (gk)...9 Alvaro Saborio (fwd)...12 Patirck Nyarko (mid)...20 Jalen Robinson (def)
...27 Collin Martin (mid)...45 Alhaji Kamara (fwd)...77 Kennedy Igboananike (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Ben Olsen

Game officials:...referee Mark Geiger...referee's assistants Sean Hurd and Joe Fletcher
...fourth official Nima Saghafi...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:40pm...TFC defends north end on this mild and damp night.
1 min...TFC Bloom cross from 25 yards on right is into box and TFC Lovitz kicks shot in midair from 10 yards down middle and DCU defender clears at 7 yards on right.
2 min...TFC Bradley 45 yard freekick from right has TFC Altidore flick 20 yard header that goalie catches easily on bounce at 6 yards.
2 min...TFC Cooper run down right and rolls cross from 25 yards along 20 yards line and TFC Osorio rolls 15 yard shot down middle wide left of net.
5 min...TFC Bradley 45 yard freekick from right has defender step in front of TFC Altidore to head away at 20 yards.
6 min...TFC Lovitz cross from 25 yards on left is over players and DCU Mishu heads away at 8 yards in middle. TFC Cooper recovers ball and shoots 22 yarder from down middle high and wide right.
8 min...TFC Lovitz low cross from 20 yards on left has TFC Osorio not able to get away shot at 12 yards and ball in crowd in box and ball is poked away and cleared.
12 min...TFC Bloom cross from 22 yards on right is headed away by defender at 6 yards even with right post.
16 min...DCU Acosta intercepts TFC Bradley pass at 35 yards on left and cuts across to center and shoots 25 yarder high over bar.
17 min...DCU Sam cross from 28 yards on right has DCU Neagle even with right post leap and head 15 yarder wide right.
21 min...DCU Sam run on right and cross from 25 yards has TFC Bloom in crowd of players at 6 yards in middle head ball away.
21 min...DCU YELLOW card...Vincent earns it for knocking over TFC Cooper at DUC 40 yard line on right.
22 min...TFC Bradley 45 yard centering freekick from right has DCU Mishu head ball away just inside edge of box.
23 min...TFC Babouli at 22 yards on right edge of box rolls ball forward and TFC Bloom charges and slides to cross from 10 yards at 3 yard line and deflects ball off chest of DCU Vincent at 7 yards out for cornerkick.
24 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has leaping defender at 8 yards in middle of box head away. TFC Osorio holds ball dribbling on left taps pass back to TFC Bradley who rolls pass forward from 22 yards on left wide left for goalkick.
27 min...TFC Osorio rolls short pass from 30 yards on left over to TFC Lovitz who dribbles forward on left but DCU Buscher checks him off ball on left edge of box giving up cornerkick.
27 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has charging TFC Moor in center of box step in front of goalie on leap at 5 yards and head ball wide left of post.
30 min...TFC Altidore at 30 yards in middle rolls pass forward and right for charging TFC Bloom at 15 yards and his low 8 yard shot from right is stopped point blank by sprawling goalie and retreating DCU Mishu blasts rebound from 7 yards high and wide right for cornerkick.
30 min...TFC Bloom high cornerkick from right has TFC Moor at 12 yards on left heads ball down and towards goal and DCU Mullins heads ball away from 5 yards. TFC Cooper recovers ball just outside left side of box and runs to sideline and forward to cornerflag where he nutmegs DCU Acosta but Acosta follows him and checks him from behind on left edge of box and defenders clear.
32 min...DCU DeLeon long throw-in from right has TFC Bradley 12 yards on right put his foot up and concede cornerkick.
32 min...DCU Sam cornerkick has TFC Moor in crowd of players at 6 yards head ball away.
33 min...DCU DeLeon chips cross from 30 yards on right into box and TFC Altidore at 7 yards in middle of box heads ball away then Altidore checks DCU Acosta off ball on edge of box down middle before he can turn and get away shot.
35 min...TFC Jozy Altidore GOAL...TFC Armando Cooper on rush rolls ball forward from center line that finds charging Altidore at 25 yards in middle and he cuts around DCU Steve Birnbaum on edge of box by pushing ball right and dekes sprawling goalie Bill Hamid at 9 yards by pushing ball right and rolls 7 yarder from right into right side of empty net.
37 min...TFC Morrow checks DCU Acosta off ball on run to right edge of box but gives up cornerkick on deflection.
37 min...DCU Lamar Neagle GOAL...DCU Lloyd Sam cornerkick from right is into box and DCU Steve Birnbaum pops header forward at 15 yards in middle and TFC Altidore at 6 yards in crowd of players heads ball away. DCU Julian Buscher rescues ball at 25 yards in middle by one-touch low kick forward and DCU Lloyd Sam on right edge of 6 yard box crosses along edge of box on deflection off TFC Michael Bradley and TFC Eric Zavaleta at 6 yards puts out foot to stop ball but deflects it over to DCU Birnbaum who shoots 8 yarder from left that deflects between legs of Zavaleta. Goalie Clint Irwin who'd been guarding right post then ran over and slid to left post and reaches hands back towards center after deflection and he knocks it over to right but diving Neagle heads ball forward from 2 yards into right side of empty net.
42 min...TFC Lovitz long run down left and cross from 25 yards drifts behind net.
43 min...TFC Bradley 50 yard freekick from right has TFC Altidore at 15 yards in crowd of players head out of box but no TFC player is near and DCU players start fast break out.
43 min...TFC Cooper from 50 yards on right chips pass centering pass forward and it's just a step ahead of charging TFC Altidore at 20 yards and bounces for goalie to grab on edge of 6 yard box.
45 min...half ends 8:25pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's Tony from Pizza Pizza. There was a game through BMO bank that where a contestant got to draw down their house mortgage. Prizes were to reduce it by $50, $100, $500, and $1000 plus an 'X' where every prize would be lost. The contestant ran the line from 1-4 without hitting the 'X' on board 5. We in the east side stands could see the back of the boards for each piece but I wonder if the contestant was being signalled or just tipped off because the boards to be in that order were probably not even shuffled. If the contestant lost on their first choice it would be a very short game and the bank would look bad.

2nd Half:...starts 8:41pm.
47 min...TFC Bradley feeds ball up middle from 35 yards too far for TFC Babouli on edge of box and goalie picks up ball.
49 min...TFC Bloom 25 yard cross from far right is through 6 yard box and charging TFC Lovitz misses 2 yard header charging to left post.
51 min...TFC Lovitz can't win Penalty kick when charges into left side of box and bumps DCU DeLeon.
54 min...DCU Sam at 30 yards in middle rolls pass to right and DCU Buscher 35 yard high shot from right is well wide left of net.
55 min...DCU Acosta low cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Moor clear from 10 yards in middle out left for throw-in.
56 min...DCU Lamar Neagle GOAL...DCU Lloyd Sam rolls centering pass forward on right from 35 yard line and Neagle runs up middle between defenders to get to ball at 15 yards and he shoots 13 yarder from right over sprawling goalie at 7 yards and into top left corner of net.
58 min...TFC Hagglund replaces Lovitz.
60 min...TFC Morrow cross from 25 yards on far left is over players in box and DCU Neagle steps in front of TFC Bloom at 15 yards on far right and heads behind end line for cornerkick.
60 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right has goalie catch overhead at 6 yards in crowd of players in center of box.
61 min...DCU Neagle pops up header at 25 yards on left after receiving long kick and ball bounces to goalie.
62 min...TFC Morrow long run on left and cross into box but TFC Altidore had already fallen over and defender clears from 6 yards in middle of box.
63 min...TFC Hagglund 35 yard cross from left has goalie catch at 7 yards on left post in front of TFC Altidore.
64 min...DCU Neagle tries to elude TFC Zavaleta and rolls ball along left end line but it's over line for goalkick.
65 min...TFC sub...Hamilton replaces Babouli.
.........DCU sub...Nyarko replaces Sam.
65 min...TFC Hagglund chips pass from 65 yards on left downfield and TFC Hamilton charging in middle gets foot to at 20 yards to knock down and goalie makes point blank save on his shot at 8 yards. TFC Hamilton dribbles ball out left side of box and ball passed around but TFC can't work it back into box.
66 min...DCU sub...Saborio replaces Mullins.
68 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has DCU DeLeon flick header from 6 yards on right through box and TFC Cooper rescues ball on far right sideline, dribbles around DCU Neagle as he rushes towards middle and shoots 20 yarder from right missing top left corner of net.
69 min...DCU Boswell gives up cornerkick checking TFC Cooper off ball at 20 yards after rush up right wing.
69 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from right is whistled down in box for handball on TFC Zavaleta windmill arm. DCU Mishu is injured kicking away ball on play and connecting with TFC Hagglund and needs trainer.
70 min...TFC Endoh replaces Bloom.
73 min...TFC Cooper rolls ball through players from 25 yards on left and DCU goalie steps forward to smother loose ball at 7 yards in front of TFC Altidore.
73 min...TFC Osorio passes forward from 40 yards down middle finding charging TFC Hamilton who partially loses ball and dribbles to left but saves ball on end line then nutmegs DCU Boswell and taps back to TFC Morrow at 22 yards on left. Morrow rolls centering pass along 15 yard long and TFC Osorio in middle taps ball back for TFC Cooper to rush forward and step around defenders and 8 yard shot has goalie save on left side of goal.
74 min...TFC Morrow 25 yard shot from far left drifts over net wide right.
75 min...DCU Acosta gets by TFC Endoh on left sideline and sends 22 yard cross over player in box and out for throw-in.
79 min...TFC Altidore backheel pass forward through two defenders and TFC Hamilton rushes forward and takes 12 yard shot on left that's deflected for cornerkick off DCU Boswell at 10 yards.
79 min...TFC Bradley cornerkick from left has DCU Buscher on left post flick header through box and out for throw-in.
80 min...TFC Bradley chips forward up middle from 40 yard line and TFC Endoh rescues near right end line but balls but defender kicks out for cornerkick.
80 min...TFC Endoh cornerkick from right bounces for DCU player to partially clear on header at 15 yards on right and TFC Bradley shanks kick from 20 yards down middle then shoots forward that's stopped at 15 yards and TFC Hagglund rush forward from left and cross attempt off DCU Neagle at 10 yards and Neagle wins freekick when Hagglund pulls him down. The ball had pinballed around including off Neagle's arm but no Penalty call given.
81 min...TFC Bradley 35 yard freekick up middle has goalie dive and push ball wide left. TFC Hamilton rescues ball on left end line and crosses from 15 yards along line that TFC Zavaleta chips high cross from 20 yards on right that goalie bumps into TFC Altidore and jumps to catch at 6 yards.
82 min...DCU YELLOW card...Acosta earns it at DCU 35 yards for bumping over TFC Osorio on run at 30 yard line on left.
83 min...TFC Bradley 35 yard freekick from left has DCU player flick header at 15 yards but ball continues further into box and bounces at 7 yards where DCU Mishu kicks upwards and TFC Zavaleta heads from 10 yards on right across box where it hits defender and pop up ball on header at 15 yards in middle and DCU Birnbaum at 8 yards heads ball forward and and DCU Acosta bicycle kick clearance at 20 yards finally clears danger.
83 min...TFC Bradley in middle at 22 yards rolls pass forward between defenders to TFC Endoh on right who charges to beat sliding defender and 12 yard blast from near end line is well high and wide left of net with crowd of players waiting for pass.
85 min...TFC Endoh cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Hamilton even with right post leap over DCU Birnbaum and head 7 yarder wide right.
86 min...DCU DeLeon cross from 28 yards on far right bends behind end line.
87 min...TFC Hagglund cross from 33 yards on left has DCU Mishu leap over TFC Altidore at 10 yards on right and head away. TFC Endoh recovers ball at 25 yards on far right and crosses into box where DCU Birnbaum jumps to head away at 8 yards in middle of box.
88 min...DCU sub...Martin replaces Acosta.
89 min...TFC Altidore can't win Penalty kick on rush into box taking on four defenders.
90 min...TFC Bradley chip from 40 yards is over TFC Altidore and goalie catches on bounce.
91 min...TFC Bradley at 25 yards in middle taps pass to TFC Osorio who rolls 22 yard shot that TFC Hamilton steps over at 12 yards and goalie smothers at 4 yards.
93 min...TFC Bradley chips 45 yard cross down middle that jumping TFC Moor can't turn header at 8 yards on left and ball is out for goalkick.
94 min...TFC Bradley 55 yard freekick up middle has DCU player head away at 15 yards in crowd of players.
94 min...game ends 9:31pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........1...........DC United............2.............

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as midfielder Armando Cooper.

Attendance was announced as 22,212. There was no rain although there'd already been some in the day. It was not windy inside the shelter of the stadium so I wasn't cold. This was the team's third home game in the same week so maybe that cut into the attendance.

TFC's last home win was August 6th against this same DCU team which ended 4-1. Since then they have lost a home game (against Montreal) then tied three in a row and now have lost tonight. They won on the road against Chicago after the Montreal loss.

They have gone cold. They knew NYCFC won last night on the road in Houston to take over first place in the East. TFC have used all their games in hand and duel with the two New York teams for the top two spots and a bye in the playoff round.

TFC's hopes of winning the Supporter's Shield for first overall fizzle against leading FC Dallas. Their tie on Wednesday when Dallas didn't play knocked off 11% down to an 8% chance of winning on the MLS odds site 'Sports Club Stats'.

TFC did sell us two home playoff games last week but we did expect to use them for conference semi-finals and final not have to burn off a ticket to a play-in game.

TFC Sebastian Giovinco was again teased for an appearance by the team and media but he was not even on the bench. Now the team has two weeks before their next hame so he should be able to completely recover from his injury.

TFC Mo Babouli was given the start over Jordan Hamilton (Hamilton replaced Babouli at 65 minutes). Hamilton had his first chance to score within a minute of entering the game.

Jordan Hamilton, Tsubasa Endoh, and Jozy Altidore all missed late chances that would have at least salvaged a tie for tonight.

DC United are a hot team. They have won three in a row and two ties and have moved up from sixth place on August 8th to fourth after tonight's early results are in.

DCU goalie Bill Hamid played well with a few key point blank saves and catches of cornerkicks.

Lamar Neagle scored both goals for DCU to give him nine for the year.

DCU Luciano Acosta is another dangerous forward with three goals, and ten assists. His small stature (5'3") reminds me of Giovinco but he doesn't take freekick.

Referee Mark Geiger wasn't giving out Penalty kicks for TFC tonight which riled the home fans but I felt none were deserved.

It was announced this was the 100th TFC game for defender Justin Morrow since he was obtained in a trade with San Jose back in 2014. He's only the third player to stay on this team for that long. The others are also defenders, TFC Academy grads Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan. Morgan is still with the team. TFC didn't hold onto players in the franchises early years.

Before the game there was a parade of GTA youth teams--both winners and also-rans.

Announcements were made that playoff seat discounts for Season Seat Holders were extended to the end of today (20% although I thought I got 30% off). After tonight those tickets will be sold to the public.

It was also announced that TFC players Jonathan Osorio, Jordan Hamilton, and Tosaint Ricketts were named to the Canadian National team for friendlies next week in Africa.

We were given Realfruit Gummies candy (again) on our way out.

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
36' TOR  Jozy Altidore        Assisted By: Armando Cooper 
39' DCU  Lamar Neagle 
58' DCU  Lamar Neagle         Assisted By: Lloyd Sam 

Disciplinary
22' DCU  Rob Vincent          Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
83' DCU  Luciano Acosta       Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
17 F Jozy Altidore 
11 F Mo Babouli        (66')
 1 G Clint Irwin 
28 D Mark Bloom        (71')
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
 4 M Michael Bradley 
31 M Armando Cooper 
19 M Daniel Lovitz     (59')
21 M Jonathan Osorio 

Bench
25 G Alex Bono 
33 D Steven Beitashour 
 9 D Tsubasa Endoh      (71')
 8 M Benoit Cheyrou 
18 M Marco Delgado 
 6 M Nick Hagglund      (59')
22 F Jordan Hamilton    (66')

Manager  Greg Vanney  
 
D.C. United 
16 F Patrick Mullins    (68') 
28 G Bill Hamid 
14 D Nick DeLeon 
15 D Steve Birnbaum 
32 D Bobby Boswell 
34 D Luke Mishu 
26 M Rob Vincent 
 8 M Lloyd Sam          (67')
11 M Luciano Acosta     (90') 
33 M Julian Buescher 
13 M Lamar Neagle 

Bench
48 G Travis Worra 
20 D Jalen Robinson 
12 M Patrick Nyarko     (67')
27 M Collin Martin      (90')
 9 F Álvaro Saborio     (68')
77 F Kennedy Igboananike 
45 F Alhaji Kamara 

Manager  Ben Olsen 

Officials
Referee  Mark Geiger 
Assistant Referee  Sean Hurd 
Assistant Referee  Joe Fletcher 
Fourth Official  Nima Saghafi 
 
Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 22212
Weather Clear

Team Statistics

TOR                            DCU
 15     Shots                    6 
  6     Shots on Target          3 
  5     Shots off Target         2 
  4     Blocked Shots            1 
  8     Corners                  2 
 27     Crosses                  9 
  2     Offsides                 0 
  9     Fouls                   13 
  0     Yellow Cards             2 
  0     Red Cards                0 
589     Total Passes           320 
 81 %   Passing Accuracy        65 % 
 65 %   Possession              35 % 
 52     Duels Won               41 
 14     Tackles Won             10 
  1     Saves                    5 
  9     Clearances              24

Toronto FC starters