Toronto FC Open With Loss
New-comers to the MLS, Toronto FC, opened their first ever game with a two nil loss to play-off hopefuls Chivas USA. Overall Toronto showed good effort and good promise, but it was clear they were new. Chivas USA have ‘keeper Brad Guzman to thank as he came up with a few spectacular saves in the first half-an-hour.
The game opened with both teams looking a bit frantic, while still creating some vital chances. Toronto did well to control in their defensive end, while Chivas did well to shut down most of Toronto’s attacks. The first real chance came to Toronto in the thirteenth minute when an Andy Welsh free kick met the head of Edson Buddle. Buddle headed the ball down, but Guzman came up with his first of many spectacular saves. Three minutes later, it looked like Toronto would take the lead when former Galaxy midfielder, Paulo Nagamura ripped a shot from outside that Guzman could only perry away. Buddle came up with the rebound but was unable to sneak it by. Just shy of the half-hour mark a ball over the top of the defense found Alecko Eskandarian alone with just the keeper to beat, but volleyed his shot into Guzman who shunned it away for a corner kick that amounted to nothing.
Despite Toronto’s valiant attacks upfront, their defense seemed to be a bit lacking, and in the thirty-fifth minute Cuban defector Maykel Galindo beat the offside trap and was easily behind all the Toronto defense. Sutton came out but Galindo showed his intelligence putting the ball into space for Ante Razov to fire home his ninety-ninth career goal into a virtually empty net.
At this point the tide looked to turn, and while Toronto continued to push upfront, their efforts didn’t amount to much. The second half saw the Toronto attack basically stop as Buddle and Eskandarian seldom connected. It was as if Buddle had thrown in the towel. He was caught flatfooted often in offsides positions and it seemed that when he did get the ball, his touches weren’t enough to keep control. So it may have been expected in the sixty-fifth minute Connor Casey was subbed in he would come in for Buddle. Instead he was subbed for Ex-Sunderland midfielder Andy Welsh. Welsh wasn’t having a great game, but he was by far out-performing Buddle.
The addition of Casey proved to be futile as the Toronto attack couldn’t seem to foil the Chivas defense. Chivas’ attack kept getting caught a offside by only a fraction and Galindo appeared to have scored but it was called back for offsides, a questionable call by the referee. Chivas’ continued to push forward and work the Toronto defense and they were rewarded in the dieing minutes of the game when Sacha Kljestan netted his first ever. It was a powerful shot from outside the box that found the side netting, and saw Sutton stare in what might be considered disbelief.
Overall Chivas looked to be a slightly better side. They hope to continue onto the play-offs yet again this year, and it could be in their future with a beefing of their back line. Toronto’s back four will need some work on the offsides trap. Numerous times it looked to be broken if not for a few favorable calls from the referee. Their midfield will develop once Andy Welsh settles down from his transfer overseas, and if Ronnie O’Brien ever recovers from injury. For all the star forward players they have, Toronto couldn’t seem to connect upfront, and it is this disconnect that will be their demise in their initial season.
Sutton: He wasn’t really tested all that much, and I’m not sure about the second goal. The first I didn’t think there was really much he could do, but the second seemed to catch him flat footed. His 6′6′’ presence should probably have been able to reach that one if you ask me, or at least it should have made an attempt. His foot skills make me nervous for some reason. Every time the ball went back I was cringing inside.
Buddle: I didn’t like Buddle when he played for the MetroBulls, and I still don’t like him. He’s lazy. His touch isn’t good enough to allow him to be lazy. He should have finished earlier in the match, but didn’t, and for some reason Mo let him stay on and pretty much be useless.
Eskandarian: Just like Buddle, he should have put Toronto up one - nil, but failed to aim his shot at anything but the goalie. However, Alecko didn’t really seem to get as out of it as Buddle. That doesn’t mean that he played well either. He failed to link up with Buddle, and while that may be Buddles fault, Alecko didn’t seem to be working too much with the midfielders.
Andy Welsh: I’m not sold on Welsh like Mo, but I’m willing to give him sometime to get acclimated to the MLS style of play. He worked a bit harder than the forwards but there were also times he just decided to give up and drag-ass. If anything Welsh needs to work on his attitude as he came off as a really negative player.
Ronnie O’Brien: He’s injured yes, and as I mentioned earlier somewhere, he’s injury prone. I really doubt he’ll play much more than half the season.
Casey Connor: He came in late for Welsh. He looked okay trying to play with his back to goal, but no one could really support him and work with him.
Chivas USA 2 - 0 Toronto FC
