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Toronto FC defeat Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada Cup
TFC came out on top versus their Canadian cousins, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
May 7, 2009 1:02:59 AM
Toronto FC emerged victorious from a bruising encounter with USL-1 side
Vancouver Whitecaps after Kevin Harmse’s early header combined with
the usual late Stefan Frei heroics ensured a 1-0 victory.
First Half:
Vancouver’s side included five starters that had featured against Toronto in last season’s inaugural Canadian championships. Captain Martin Nash, Goalkeeper Jay Nolly, Vincente Arze, Justin Moose and Charles Gbeke had all featured in last year’s victory over Toronto.
Toronto FC was without injured duo Adrian Serioux and Sam Cronin. Deputizing for them were the impressive Kevin Harmse and Nana Attakora-Gyan.
The home side converted their first meaningful chance, taking full advantage of their tactics. Head Coach Chris Cummins revealed, “We tried to open the game up. Tried to hit diagonal balls. One of those diagonal balls from Amado Guevara found its way to Dwayne De Rosario on the left wing. His subsequent burst down the left was embellished with a step over that created the extra yard of space for him to produce an inviting back post cross for the onrushing Kevin Harmse to convert, giving Toronto a 1-nil advantage in the 3rd minute and Cummins a “dream start”.
Vancouver Head Coach Teitur Thordasson felt hard done soon after when Marlon James was wrestled to the turf by Nana for what Thordasson “definitely felt was a penalty”. The big center forward was more than a handful and for Nana making his first start of the season; this was a baptism of fire.
Toronto FC made the most of the space they created, especially down the left side where De Rosario was tormenting his marker. This time Chad Barrett was released through on goal by making a run from the left but he shot straight at Nolly when he really should have done better.
Whitecaps defender Marco Reda suffered a concussion in the 9th minute after a clash of heads with Nana and was replaced by Wes Knight. Knight moved to right back, allowing the experience Jeff Parke to move into the center back slot.
Toronto were playing much the better football, even as Vancouver themselves made some threatening moves down their own right hand side with Ansu Toure especially sprightly. Trying some innovations from corners, TFC first used a short corner routine to allow Jim Brennan to shoot from just inside the penalty box with Nolly making a great stop and then gathering Nana’s meek effort off the rebound. A different routine later in the game saw Guevara loft the ball to De Rosario on the edge of the area, Vancouver’s defense unable to pick up the star man, but his shot was too high.
Gbeke was the first into the referee’s book for a cynical trip on Marvel Wynne with a quarter of an hour played. De Rosario and Brennan played some great interchanges resulting with the latter crossing dangerously into the visitor’s box. First the ball just missed Barrett’s outstretched toe, later Wesley Charles somehow managed to clear the ball for a corner.
De Rosario was having a stellar evening and almost profited from a slip in the area by Parke. “We do teach him something different every now and then” joked Cummins; this was a game in which De Rosario showcased his many skills.
Second Half:
Toronto FC almost replicated their first half start when Barrett was put through on goal once more and should have done better. Nolly once again kept the score respectable with a decent stop.
Arze was trying hard to put his stamp on the game but could only muster a couple of speculative efforts that went wide. Thordarsson admitted his team “struggled a little bit with support from midfield to strikers”. Credit must go to James for pressuring the Toronto defense whereas his strike partner Gebke was largely ineffectual. Cummins felt his defenders “dealt with two big center forwards. Not going to get that in MLS”.
Nolly was easily the busier of the two keepers but it was Stefan Frei in the TFC goal that made the superlative play of the game. As has become his habit in recent games, the rookie produced a save late in the game to secure victory for Toronto. Substitute Takashi Hirano played in James whose effort was goal bound but Frei managed to get down to his right and smother the ball.
Vancouver’s late flurry did not bear fruit, Thordarsson admitting that after conceding such an early goal his team “had to chase the game after that. Couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes”. His team only really threatened at the end when he was willing to throw more bodies forward, but it was too little, too late.
Toronto FC resume MLS duties on the road to D.C United at the weekend looking to regain top spot in the eastern conference.
Vancouver will hope to bounce back from this disappointment and record a win in their next Canadian Nutrilite Championship match against holders and fellow USL1 team Montreal Impact.
First Half:
Vancouver’s side included five starters that had featured against Toronto in last season’s inaugural Canadian championships. Captain Martin Nash, Goalkeeper Jay Nolly, Vincente Arze, Justin Moose and Charles Gbeke had all featured in last year’s victory over Toronto.
Toronto FC was without injured duo Adrian Serioux and Sam Cronin. Deputizing for them were the impressive Kevin Harmse and Nana Attakora-Gyan.
The home side converted their first meaningful chance, taking full advantage of their tactics. Head Coach Chris Cummins revealed, “We tried to open the game up. Tried to hit diagonal balls. One of those diagonal balls from Amado Guevara found its way to Dwayne De Rosario on the left wing. His subsequent burst down the left was embellished with a step over that created the extra yard of space for him to produce an inviting back post cross for the onrushing Kevin Harmse to convert, giving Toronto a 1-nil advantage in the 3rd minute and Cummins a “dream start”.
Vancouver Head Coach Teitur Thordasson felt hard done soon after when Marlon James was wrestled to the turf by Nana for what Thordasson “definitely felt was a penalty”. The big center forward was more than a handful and for Nana making his first start of the season; this was a baptism of fire.
Toronto FC made the most of the space they created, especially down the left side where De Rosario was tormenting his marker. This time Chad Barrett was released through on goal by making a run from the left but he shot straight at Nolly when he really should have done better.
Whitecaps defender Marco Reda suffered a concussion in the 9th minute after a clash of heads with Nana and was replaced by Wes Knight. Knight moved to right back, allowing the experience Jeff Parke to move into the center back slot.
Toronto were playing much the better football, even as Vancouver themselves made some threatening moves down their own right hand side with Ansu Toure especially sprightly. Trying some innovations from corners, TFC first used a short corner routine to allow Jim Brennan to shoot from just inside the penalty box with Nolly making a great stop and then gathering Nana’s meek effort off the rebound. A different routine later in the game saw Guevara loft the ball to De Rosario on the edge of the area, Vancouver’s defense unable to pick up the star man, but his shot was too high.
Gbeke was the first into the referee’s book for a cynical trip on Marvel Wynne with a quarter of an hour played. De Rosario and Brennan played some great interchanges resulting with the latter crossing dangerously into the visitor’s box. First the ball just missed Barrett’s outstretched toe, later Wesley Charles somehow managed to clear the ball for a corner.
De Rosario was having a stellar evening and almost profited from a slip in the area by Parke. “We do teach him something different every now and then” joked Cummins; this was a game in which De Rosario showcased his many skills.
Second Half:
Toronto FC almost replicated their first half start when Barrett was put through on goal once more and should have done better. Nolly once again kept the score respectable with a decent stop.
Arze was trying hard to put his stamp on the game but could only muster a couple of speculative efforts that went wide. Thordarsson admitted his team “struggled a little bit with support from midfield to strikers”. Credit must go to James for pressuring the Toronto defense whereas his strike partner Gebke was largely ineffectual. Cummins felt his defenders “dealt with two big center forwards. Not going to get that in MLS”.
Nolly was easily the busier of the two keepers but it was Stefan Frei in the TFC goal that made the superlative play of the game. As has become his habit in recent games, the rookie produced a save late in the game to secure victory for Toronto. Substitute Takashi Hirano played in James whose effort was goal bound but Frei managed to get down to his right and smother the ball.
Vancouver’s late flurry did not bear fruit, Thordarsson admitting that after conceding such an early goal his team “had to chase the game after that. Couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes”. His team only really threatened at the end when he was willing to throw more bodies forward, but it was too little, too late.
Toronto FC resume MLS duties on the road to D.C United at the weekend looking to regain top spot in the eastern conference.
Vancouver will hope to bounce back from this disappointment and record a win in their next Canadian Nutrilite Championship match against holders and fellow USL1 team Montreal Impact.
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