- By Ethan Gomberg
Sandy, Utah - It was a windy night in the Wasatch Mountains when two of the best clubs in the league met up to do battle. Although the momentum was with Dallas coming in tonight, self-searching Real Salt Lake made a statement win by controlling the game tonight and defeating FC Dallas 2-0. Both goals were in the 2nd half by midfielder Andy Williams and striker Fabian Espindola. Dallas came to Utah on a fantastic run hoping to make Real Salt Lake the next victim. After dispatching Columbus last week in Frisco, FC Dallas was looking very good coming into this match. Salt Lake also had a decent run of late, however several draws against weaker opponents and a recent run of bad form against officials, cannot be a good comparison.\
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UT – A night of counter attacks and penalty kicks, probably overshadowed by DC United forward Charlie Davies and a controversial decision, ended in Utah tonight 1-1. The announced attendance of 16, 841 were on hand for important match for both teams.
SANDY, UT – A night of counter attacks and penalty kicks, probably overshadowed by DC United forward Charlie Davies and a controversial decision, ended in Utah tonight 1-1. The announced attendance of 16, 841 were on hand for important match for both teams.
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UT - Both Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders needed desperately to get 3 points on the night. But it was Seattle who did something that hasn’t happened in league play since the Kansas City Wizards came to Utah over two years ago, win at Rio Tinto Stadium. Coach Sigi Schmid, whose team ran out 2-1 victors, said “It is something we're proud of and something we talked about before the game. We wanted to try and be the team that ended the streak, and it was something that was a goal for us as we went into the game."
SANDY, UT - Both Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders needed desperately to get 3 points on the night. But it was Seattle who did something that hasn’t happened in league play since the Kansas City Wizards came to Utah over two years ago, win at Rio Tinto Stadium. Coach Sigi Schmid, whose team ran out 2-1 victors, said “It is something we're proud of and something we talked about before the game. We wanted to try and be the team that ended the streak, and it was something that was a goal for us as we went into the game."
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UTAH – Over 16,000 came out to Rio Tinto tonight to watch the Houston Dynamo get a point in a very difficult away match against a RSL team in flux. Real Salt Lake, after losing its midfield star, Javier Morales, also walked away with a point despite questions over the starting lineup.
Houston Dynamo needed a result this evening to keep pace with other surging Eastern Conference rivals. Houston has lost their last 2 matches in terrible fashion. Losing to defending MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids is one thing, but losing to a struggling Toronto FC was not what Houston skipper Dominic Kinnear had in mind.
SANDY, UTAH – Over 16,000 came out to Rio Tinto tonight to watch the Houston Dynamo get a point in a very difficult away match against a RSL team in flux. Real Salt Lake, after losing its midfield star, Javier Morales, also walked away with a point despite questions over the starting lineup.
Houston Dynamo needed a result this evening to keep pace with other surging Eastern Conference rivals. Houston has lost their last 2 matches in terrible fashion. Losing to defending MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids is one thing, but losing to a struggling Toronto FC was not what Houston skipper Dominic Kinnear had in mind.
- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UT - Real Salt Lake found their feet with a 1-0 win over Chivas USA at Rio Tinto stadium, to bounce back following losses to Monterry in the CONCACAF Champions League and Portland in MLS play. Will Johnson scored for Salt Lake in the 87th, but the home side also lost the services of playmaker Javier Morales for a significant period of time after he was stretchered off with a fractured leg.
- Ethan Gomberg
Real Salt Lake may have been the first MLS team to advance to the Champions League final but could not advance any further tonight at their home of Rio Tinto stadium.
RSL and Monterrey both came into this final leg with some disadvantages. Both RSL coach Jason Kreis and Monterrey coach Victor Vucetich had to make some changes to their best starting 11. Monterrey, mising key players such as star forward Aldo de Nigris and midfielders Luis Perez and Jesus Zavala, also had to play a match in Mexico this past weekend, while RSL was without their captain and stalwart holding midfielder, Kyle Beckerman. Vucetich decided to put in midfielder Osvaldo Martínez and defender Héctor Morales in to replace his missing players. Kreis picked veteran midfielder Ned Grabavoy in place of Beckerman. After the game, Kreis said “I do think Kyle’s presence could have been a difference. Kyle is an extremely important player, not only with how many defensive plays he makes for us, but how active he is in our possession.”
- Ethan Gomberg
The story started with what was termed the Turf War in the media. Both clubs were throwing out banter about whose turf was superior. When it came down to it, the story was really about scoring and who would make it count. RSL knew going into this match that they couldn’t take their usual mid season approach of grinding out a draw. The Crew on the other hand, knew that with away goals weighted, they could progress with only a draw.
As I mentioned, I had the opportunity cover the DC United-FC Dallas match last night for MLS Daily. You can find my game story here, as well as some interesting post game quotes from the DC side.
On a chilly night BMO Field, Toronto FC defeated league leaders Chivas USA 1-0 to earn their first home win of the young MLS season.
Chivas USA had the better of early play, including a close-call chance for Alecko Eskandarian in the opening minutes. The striker was unable to get on the end of a low cross, however, and an offside flag negated his efforts completely. Unfortunately for the Goats, the inability to take advantage of that early push would prove fatal.
Toronto took back the game almost immediately, and appeared to have a legitimate claim for a penalty in the 17th minute when Danny Dichio had his legs swept out from underneath him in the corner of the box. No call was made, and the home standing Reds continued on with their push for goal.
Toronto would get the breakthrough in the 36th minute, when a poor clearance attempt by Chivas' fell perfectly to the head of striker Danny Dichio. Dichio's flick caught Amado Guevara perfectly in stride, and after fighting off two defenders, the former MLS MVP calmly hit the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Toronto was off and running at home, a lead in their pocket heading into the closing minutes of the first half.
Danny Dichio followed up his excellent offensive efforts with a poorly timed tackle in the 38th minute, which earned him the games first card. The color was yellow, though the tackle was rash enough that it could have easily earned a straight red.
The half had a bit more to offer, with Toronto's Chad Barrett getting through the Chivas defense in the 45th minute. The mercurial striker's low hit shot was not enough to beat Thornton, however, and Chivas remained only a goal down going to the second half.
The second half opened with neither team asserting themselves, though Toronto eventually settled things enough to gain the majority of possession. Action remained at premium until the 57th minute, when Chivas' Eskandarian earned a yellow card for a rash tackle. Eskandarian was taken off shortly thereafter, as Chivas manager Preki inserted Michel Lahmoud, a clear sign of frustration with his anemic attack.
TFC began to assert themselves after the first fifteen minutes, finding ample room on the wings through runs by outside backs Wynne and Brennan. Chivas looked listless, never truly threatening a solid Toronto back line. Strong play from Adrian Serioux led the Reds defense, and Chivas found it difficult to penetrate. Attempting to play through midfield, the Goats were stymied by an interchanging TFC formation that enabled the Canadian club to keep constant pressure on the ball.
The last fifteen minutes saw the leaders pull back, as Chivas searched for the equalizer. Frustration boiled over in the 79th minute when Chivas midfielder Sacha Kljestan earned the third card of the match, a yellow for rough play. Toronto dropped more men behind the ball, throwing up a defensive wall in front of the visitors. Pablo Nagamura created created Chivas' best late chance, a run to the end line that ultimately ended with a weak shot that TFC keeper Stephan Frei handled easily.
A final salvo from Chivas came to naught when veteran midfielder Jesse Marsch hit a long shot high and wide. More strong work from Adrian Serioux closed out the match, frustrating the Goats once again.
The referee blew the final whistle, and Toronto FC's first home victory of the season was in the book. The win vaults Toronto to second place in the Eastern Conference on eight points, while Chivas remains on thirteen, still four points clear of second place Seattle out west.
Scoring:
TOR -- Amado Guevara 3 (unassisted) 36
Discipline:
TOR -- Danny Dichio (caution; Reckless Tackle) 38
CHV -- Alecko Eskandarian (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57
CHV -- Sacha Kljestan (caution; Reckless Foul) 79
MFUSA's Man of the Match: Amado Guevara
This was my first attempt at a fairly straight match report; seeing as it's my first, please feel free to critique the quality. I have many more thoughts on this match that I may espouse later, specifically on the differences between TFC's attack with DeRosario and without DeRosario (and the problems it may cause if TFC continues to play well until he comes back).
