Toronto FC 0 – 1 Chicago Fire
The Prelude to Battle
Playoff football it is not, but there is still plenty of drama in this one, as Toronto FC head to Illinois to take on the Chicago Fire. Frank Klopas’ team is looking to secure a spot in the MLS post season and will need to pick up the full three points against Toronto FC in order to help their cause. Toronto FC, however, will be looking forward to playing spoilers.
Toronto starts a line up with some new faces, the most notable of which is Kyle Bekker, who finally makes the starting line up. Joe Bendik picked up a red card last week, so Toronto FC fans will be treated to what may be the final game for goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who starts in goal. The backline of Mark Bloom, Steven Caldwell, Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan remains unchanged. Alvaro Rey, Jonathan Osorio and Reggie Lambe partner Bekker in midfield, with Robert Earnshaw and Bright Dike playing up top.
Chicago starts a strong line up, too: Sean Johnson starts in goal, with Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry, Bakary Soumare and Gonzalo Segares in the backline; Patrick Nyarko, Jeff Larentowicz, Arevalo Rios and Dilly Duka start in midfield; Mike Magee, who has scored 19 goals this season, starts up top alongside Ecuadorian Designated Player Juan Luis Anangono. It’s a win-or-die situation for Chicago, and a chance for Toronto FC to play villain and come away with an unexpected victory away from home!
The First Forty-Five
Chicago started the first half with intensity but it was Bright Dike who had the first shot on goal of the game. Minutes later, Alvaro Rey slipped a through ball onto an onrushing Bloom, who passed the ball backwards into the box to Earnshaw, who shot high. Toronto kept up the pressure, but it was Chicago who won a pair of corners, which the TFC backline handled well.
Toronto continued to stave off Chicago’s attacking runs and crosses, conceding several corners in the process. Bekker had a shot on goal in the 27th minute, which hit off the leg of Earnshaw, who was offside – though the back of the net ruffled, the goal would not count. Stefan Frei made a big save, bringing back memories of seasons past.
Toronto conceded a free kick in the 37th minute, but cleared away the effort easily. Osorio found the run of Alvaro Rey, who won a throw in in an advanced position. Toronto gave away a free kick in the 39th game, the sixth of the game, but once again, the backline held firm, Frei catching the ball before clearing it. Morgan gave away a foul with two and a half minutes left to play in the first half, right at the edge of the box on the right-hand side. Magee stood over the ball, swung it in and found only the gracious head of a Toronto defender.
That would be the final bit of action, the two teams heading to the locker room locked at 0-0.
The Second Half
Toronto started the second half once again on the back foot, trying to find Dike up top to create chances but faltering in midfield. Morgan gave away a free kick in the 54th minute, leading to the first yellow card of the game for the young Canadian. The free kick was recovered quickly by Toronto who turned on the counter attack and moved forward well.
Jeff Larentowicz picked up a yellow card in the 57th minute for a foul on Bekker in midfield. Chicago made its first change of the game, Alex coming into the match for Arevalo Rios. Toronto conceded a free kick in the 62nd minute for a handball, giving Chicago a great chance at goal – Magee and Larentowicz stood over the ball, but Magee took the shot, hit the wall, and another handball was called. Chicago was awarded a penalty.
Magee stood over the ball on the spot, lined up his shot and buried it with a cheeky chip over Frei – Chicago 1-0 Toronto in the 64th minute. It was, in truth, a harsh penalty to give away but Chicago, now in the lead, continued to turn the heat up on Toronto’s backline. Toronto hit on a counterattack, with Lambe pushing forward, but Segares brought him down and earned a yellow card.
The free kick was taken by Earnshaw, which hit the wall and fell to Rey, who snapped the shot and won a corner. Caldwell got a head on the corner kick but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper. Toronto made its first change, Andrew Wiedeman coming in for Robert Earnshaw.
Dilly Duka came off for Chicago in the 76th minute, with Chris Rolfe coming into the game. Trouble for Toronto once again, soon after, when Anangono beat the Toronto FC defence in the 81st minute, took a strike on goal, and hit the crossbar! The ball smacked back down onto the goal line but was saved. Justin Braun came into the game for Dike in the 82nd minute. Then, Anangono hit the bar with a shot once more!
Logan Pause came into the game for Patrick Nyarko in the 88th minute. Chicago continued to pressure Toronto as the final few seconds of the game winded down. Anangono had a third chance at net but was once again denied a goal. The referee gave three minutes of added time. Toronto won a corner with only one minute remaining the game. Osorio whipped in the corner and found the head of Wiedeman, who hit the ball wide. That would be it for Toronto FC, who fall once more, this time, against the Chicago Fire.
The Final Word: Not Much Left to Say
Toronto FC lost once again.
Call it poor refereeing, which it was.
Call it a poor performance up top, which it also was.
Call it a pointless game for the club, which it was.
Just don’t call it a good performance. As a collective, we need to stop kidding ourselves.
If you’re still here…if you’re still reading. Thank you. There is but one game remaining in this season. This game has all the meaning in the world for the Montreal Impact, and, for Toronto FC, it’s a chance to potentially ruin the entire season for its most bitter rival.
If the football gods are kind, a win against Montreal can bring this miserable, loss-filled season to a close. Let us pray.
TFC Starting XI:
24 Stefan Frei
28 Mark Bloom
13 Steven Caldwell
4 Doneil Henry
5 Ashtone Morgan
19 Reggie Lambe
21 Jonathan Osorio
8 Kyle Bekker
23 Alvaro Rey
10 Robert Earnshaw
7 Bright Dike
Substitutions: Andrew Wiedeman in for Robert Earnshaw (72’); Justin Braun in for Bright Dike (82’).
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