Major League Soccer

Toronto FC Top Eastern Conference After Defeating KC

Toronto FC withstood a late barrage of Kansas City Wizards attacks to see Danny Dichio's goal stand up as the game winner.

Apr 26, 2009 10:24:13 PM

MLS: Danny Dichio (TFC), Jack Jewsbury (KC), Toronto FC v. Kansas City Wizards, Jun 2008 (ISI)

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MLS: Danny Dichio (TFC), Jack Jewsbury (KC), Toronto FC v. Kansas City Wizards, Jun 2008 (ISI)

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TORONTO, Canada, April 26--Toronto FC completed a home and away double over the Kansas City Wizards with a second consecutive 1-0 victory at home courtesy Danny Dichio's first goal of the season.

First half

After a difficult week off the pitch with head coach John Carver resigning, TFC went into the game looking to put that trauma behind it. Toronto lined up with the same starting eleven that began against Chivas USA earlier in the week and was rewarded with a bright opening period that yielded some decent half chances.

The Wizards weathered the early storm and came into the game more as the half wore on. Starting with Michael Harrington in for the injured Jack Jewsbury and Roger Espinoza in place of Herculez Gomez, Kansas played neat football and looked dangerous on the counter attack.

Josh Wolff and Claudio Lopez were especially sprightly and helped win six first half corners, most of which caused confusion in the Toronto penalty box. On one occasion Jimmy Conrad fluffed a shot when a decent connection would have resulted in a certain goal.

TFC remained resilient in defense and created their best chance of the half on 34 minutes when Davy Arnaud was caught in possession trying to dribble the ball from a defensive position. Carl Robinson flighted the ball in to Dichio. The imposing striker chested it into the path of Guevara, who did extremely well to keep his volley on target, eliciting an outstanding save from Kevin Hartman in the Kansas goal.

The Dichio-Guevara dynamic had conjured up the goal against Chivas and was again at the fore as the big front man used his chest once more to guide a Marco Velez ball into the Honduran's path, only to find the linesman's flag raised.

Stefan Frei produced a fine save to deny Davey Arnaud the opener as the half closed. Harrington glided past some halfhearted Toronto challenges while cutting in from the right and proceeded to produce a pinpoint cross that Arnaud met with a ferocious volley, only for Frei to deny him.

The teams went back to their locker rooms at half time with the tie scoreless. Toronto had created the better chances but Kansas had enjoyed the bulk of the possession.

Second half

Whatever KC coach Onalfo said to his players at half time spurred Kansas City on, as the team dominated play at the start of the second half. Serioux's complacency allowed a speculative low cross from Espinoza to reach Wolff in the area, but the striker scuffed his shot resulting in a routine save for Frei.

Chad Barrett was his usual hardworking self as he hustled the ball off the otherwise dependable Jimmy Conrad, who was trying to shepherd the ball out of play. Lacking decent support, Barrett was forced to shoot from a tight angle and shot straight at the keeper. This play sprung Toronto FC into life.

A minute later, Pablo Vitti had the ball in the back of the net. What then transpired was one of the most comedic moments of the MLS season to date: Vitti proceeded to rip his shirt off and celebrate his first ever goal for TFC, only for his celebrations to be curtailed by an offside call. The referee was clearly unimpressed with the Argentine's chiseled physique and awarded him a yellow card for his troubles.

However, TFC were not to be denied for long. A period of sustained pressure finally put the home side ahead when Danny Dichio stroked the ball past a hapless Hartman in the 54th minute. TFC had worked the ball from right to left first through Marvell Wynne and then Sam Cronin. It was just as well for Dichio, who had just missed a point blank header from a Barrett cross.

A goal to the good, Toronto started to turn the screw. The Pablo Vitti show was on, as he split through two Kansas defenders and then left another defender trailing by faking a shot inside the area. He then stroked the ball calmly past Kevin Hartman for what would have undoubtedly been the most outstanding goal scored at BMO field, only to see the ball roll agonizingly wide.

With Kansas City struggling in the final third of the field despite stringing some attractive passes together in their build up, Toronto smelled blood. Brilliant interplay between Wynne and Vitti contrived to give Barrett space. His subsequent through ball didn't miss Dichio's outstretched toe by much. Soon after, Barrett shot wide after being played through by a delightful Guevara chip.

A superlative backheel from Dichio played Vitti in once more, but the Argentine failed to find the target. Vitti then tenaciously dribbled past two Kansas defenders inside the visitors' area, but Hartman came out just in time to block his shot. Vitti retrieved the ricochet off the 'keeper and passed the ball back to Cronin, whose cross to the back post found an unmarked Barrett with a gaping net to aim at. Barrett, however, skied his volley on the stretch.

That was Barrett's last involvement as he exited the stage to a standing ovation to be replaced by Kevin Harmse.

Kansas City rang the changes looking to expose Toronto's late game defensive frailties. The introduction of Gomez gave them hope of a late equalizer. First, Arnaud made room for himself cutting in from the left, but Frei saved it well. Then, Gomez skinned Brennan and looked certain to score as he raced into Toronto's penalty area. Frei was once again on hand to save his goal bound effort.

In the final minute Frei was called upon once more to produce a world class save from a sweetly struck Lopez volley, to deservedly earn the second shut out of his career.

Talha Zaheer is the Toronto correspondent for Goal.com

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