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LA Silences Toronto In Galaxy's Second Win Of The Season
The LA Galaxy extend their unbeaten streak to 10 in a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC.
Jun 6, 2009 8:17:39 PM
Hosts Toronto FC were looking for a win after losing their last two matches, a league tie in Houston and Nutrilite Canadian Championship against Vancouver. Amado Guevara and Marvell Wynne were both on international duty and Toronto was 1-2-2 in their last five. The Los Angeles Galaxy came in without Landon Donovan due to international duty and were on a nine match unbeaten streak, drawing their last five. They had not lost since Donovan Ricketts took over in goal.
First Half
Los Angeles struck first blood in the fifth minute from a corner kick. Marco Velez was left ball watching and his poor defensive positioning allowed Alan Gordon a free-header, 1-0 Galaxy.
Los Angeles looked to increase their lead on great ball movement between Chris Klein and Dema Kovalenko in the 17th minute. Klein laid a great pass to Kovalenko at the top of Toronto’s large box, but his shot sailed over the goal. The majority of play after that sequence remained in the Galaxy half as Toronto pressed for an equalizer.
In the 21st minute, Danny Dichio, Dwayne De Rosario, and Pablo Vitti moved the ball well with De Rosario feeding a lob to Vitti, who was making the run into the middle. Vitti headed it forward to Dichio, but it was too far and goalkeeper Ricketts smothered the ball.
Minutes later, Vitti sent Chad Barrett in on goal with only Ricketts to beat, but the Galaxy goalkeeper did well to come out and block the forward’s shot.
Vitti tried his own luck shorty after the half hour mark, with a glorious opportunity to equalize. Dichio fed a lovely header across to him in the middle of the box, but his first touch let him down, popping the ball into the air and forcing Vitti to place a weak header into the waiting arms of Ricketts.
By the end of the half Toronto was desperate to equalize as they pushed central defenders Velez and Adrian Serioux in for headers, but it was all for naught. The Galaxy’s defense remained solid, and Ricketts in goal made many good saves to maintain the lead.
“We created opportunities, but didn’t finish when we needed to,” commented Toronto coach Chris Cummins.
Three cautions were shown in the first half, one to each of the Galaxay’s central defensive pair of Omar Gonzalez and Tony Sanneh, the other to Toronto’s Kevin Harmse.
Second Half
Minutes into the half, another frenzied attack saw De Rosario streak down the right. His shot was blocked by defender Todd Dunivant and the rebound by De Rosario swept across the front of goal but a Toronto player was unable to get a boot on it.
Captain Jim Brennan come off with an apparent injury 10 minutes into the half, with Englishman Rohan Ricketts replacing him. That left three in the back for Toronto with the substitute playing down the right providing immediate effects to the match.
On the hour mark, Toronto had Barrett streaking down the left. The striker crossed it across to an open Ricketts, but his shot was saved by the Galaxy goalkeeper.
Toronto finally got the equalizer they were desperately looking for a minute later. Ricketts sent in a lovely cross that Velez and Carl Robinson both went up for. Velez got his head on it and goalkeeper Ricketts made the save. It deflected out to Robinson, who took a stab at it. Ricketts made another save but couldn't keep out the third opportunity as Dichio headed the rebound into the goal to level things at one apiece.
“It was great to finally equalize when we did.” said Dichio.
The Canadian joy would prove short-lived. Los Angeles regained the lead for good in the 77th minute.Velez was out of position again and lost substitute Edson Buddle on the inside as Gordon sent him in on Frei with a lovely through ball. Buddle did not disappoint, curling the ball past the Swiss international to solidify the victory.
“To score against my old team feels great,” said Buddle.
Toronto cannot be happy with this match as opportunity after opportunity was wasted.
“We need to finish,” said TFC coach Chris Cummins.
Los Angeles on the other hand would feel thrilled to come away with the full three points, increasing their total to 15. Toronto’s record is now 4-5-4, while Los Angeles improves to 2-1-9.
Rashed Abuodeh is a contributor to Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
First Half
Los Angeles struck first blood in the fifth minute from a corner kick. Marco Velez was left ball watching and his poor defensive positioning allowed Alan Gordon a free-header, 1-0 Galaxy.
Los Angeles looked to increase their lead on great ball movement between Chris Klein and Dema Kovalenko in the 17th minute. Klein laid a great pass to Kovalenko at the top of Toronto’s large box, but his shot sailed over the goal. The majority of play after that sequence remained in the Galaxy half as Toronto pressed for an equalizer.
In the 21st minute, Danny Dichio, Dwayne De Rosario, and Pablo Vitti moved the ball well with De Rosario feeding a lob to Vitti, who was making the run into the middle. Vitti headed it forward to Dichio, but it was too far and goalkeeper Ricketts smothered the ball.
Minutes later, Vitti sent Chad Barrett in on goal with only Ricketts to beat, but the Galaxy goalkeeper did well to come out and block the forward’s shot.
Vitti tried his own luck shorty after the half hour mark, with a glorious opportunity to equalize. Dichio fed a lovely header across to him in the middle of the box, but his first touch let him down, popping the ball into the air and forcing Vitti to place a weak header into the waiting arms of Ricketts.
By the end of the half Toronto was desperate to equalize as they pushed central defenders Velez and Adrian Serioux in for headers, but it was all for naught. The Galaxy’s defense remained solid, and Ricketts in goal made many good saves to maintain the lead.
“We created opportunities, but didn’t finish when we needed to,” commented Toronto coach Chris Cummins.
Three cautions were shown in the first half, one to each of the Galaxay’s central defensive pair of Omar Gonzalez and Tony Sanneh, the other to Toronto’s Kevin Harmse.
Second Half
Minutes into the half, another frenzied attack saw De Rosario streak down the right. His shot was blocked by defender Todd Dunivant and the rebound by De Rosario swept across the front of goal but a Toronto player was unable to get a boot on it.
Captain Jim Brennan come off with an apparent injury 10 minutes into the half, with Englishman Rohan Ricketts replacing him. That left three in the back for Toronto with the substitute playing down the right providing immediate effects to the match.
On the hour mark, Toronto had Barrett streaking down the left. The striker crossed it across to an open Ricketts, but his shot was saved by the Galaxy goalkeeper.
Toronto finally got the equalizer they were desperately looking for a minute later. Ricketts sent in a lovely cross that Velez and Carl Robinson both went up for. Velez got his head on it and goalkeeper Ricketts made the save. It deflected out to Robinson, who took a stab at it. Ricketts made another save but couldn't keep out the third opportunity as Dichio headed the rebound into the goal to level things at one apiece.
“It was great to finally equalize when we did.” said Dichio.
The Canadian joy would prove short-lived. Los Angeles regained the lead for good in the 77th minute.Velez was out of position again and lost substitute Edson Buddle on the inside as Gordon sent him in on Frei with a lovely through ball. Buddle did not disappoint, curling the ball past the Swiss international to solidify the victory.
“To score against my old team feels great,” said Buddle.
Toronto cannot be happy with this match as opportunity after opportunity was wasted.
“We need to finish,” said TFC coach Chris Cummins.
Los Angeles on the other hand would feel thrilled to come away with the full three points, increasing their total to 15. Toronto’s record is now 4-5-4, while Los Angeles improves to 2-1-9.
Rashed Abuodeh is a contributor to Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
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