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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
May 7, 2016 |
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Steve Bottjer
On Twitter:
@BottjerRNO
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After playing their first eight games of the 2016 MLS campaign on the road, Toronto FC opened their home season on Saturday with a fixture against FC Dallas at the updated and now multipurpose BMO Field, which the soccer club will share with CFL football team the Toronto Argonauts.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda, a 1-0 win is still three points.
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The Opening 45
The Reds came close to opening the scoring in this one early in the 4th minute when Giovinco delivered a fine ball into the Dallas box but Tsubasa Endoh was unable to redirect it on target.
Giovinco thrilled TFC supporters again in the 20th minute when he just missing chipping the ball over Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez. The Atomic Ant came close again six minutes later when he blasted a cannon shot off the post.
Toronto FC punctuated an impressive first half performance by opening the scoring in the 28th minute when Giovinco set up Endoh for his first MLS goal.
The Second Half
Dallas second half substitute Fabian Castillo ended up being the first player to really test TFC keeper Clint Irwin in the 50th minute when he cut in and unleashed a shot that the Reds keeper was ultimately perfectly positioned to handle.
Toronto had an excellent chance to double their lead in the 53rd minute when Marky Delgado delivered a good cross that a sliding Jozy Altidore was unable to redirect into the Dallas net.
TFC came close again just past the hour mark when Gonzalez made a huge save on Altidore that left the Toronto Designated Player still looking for his first goal of the season.
Dallas continued to press for an equalizer but Toronto continued their 2016 defensive form and were very organized and hard to break down in their own end. On the one occasion in which the defense faltered, Irwin came up with a massive save 1v1 with Castillo to preserve the victory.
Man of the Match
Sebastian Giovinco
As is the case in pretty much every game Toronto plays, the Atomic Ant was the best player on the pitch for the Reds. While the Italian International did not score, he assisted on Endoh’s goal and was the key ingredient in every offensive opportunity the home team engineered.
Aside from Giovinco’s regular brilliance, Toronto got top notch performances from many players, with Michael Bradley, Will Johnson, Drew Moor, Damien Perquis, Clint Irwin and Steven Beitashour all delivering top class games that were key to the victory.
Toronto FC Lineup
Irwin; Morrow, Moor, Perquis, Beitashour; Bradley, Johnson, Delgado, Endoh; Giovinco, Altidore.
Subs: Osorio for Delgado (57), Williams for Endoh (90+1’)
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