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TFC gaffe gifts Buddle and the Rapids a win

BrianMullanHoganEphrain (USATodaySports)

By DAN KARELL

Ryan Nelsen’s coaching nightmare is showing no signs of coming to an end.

After conceding late goals in losses last Saturday and Wednesday, Toronto FC again gifted an opponent a late goal, failing to win for the seventh consecutive match.

Edson Buddle scored off a defensive gaffe by Logan Emery in the 86th minute to lead the Colorado Rapids over TFC, 1-0, on Saturday night at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in a game that was marked by poor passing from both sides and a lack of rhythm throughout. The goal was Buddle’s first of the season and first as a member of the Rapids after signing with the club this past offseason.

The first half left a lot to be desired except for two early chances just seconds apart. TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik stopped Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca from point-blank range when LaBrocca was one-on-one with the ‘keeper in the 11th minute. Just two minutes later, a Rapids turnover by defender Brian Mullen left TFC forward Robert Earnshaw with a wonderful opportunity at the top of the box to score, but he didn’t get enough on a low strike and Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin dove well to make the stop and grab the subsequent rebound.

In the second half, the Rapids began to impose themselves on the game a bit more, with the introductions of Buddle at the start of the half and playmaker Martin Rivero in the 58th minute helping to jump-start a stale and lifeless match. Manager Oscar Pareja urged his team forward, getting more out of winger Danny Mwanga on the left and Rivero on the right to cause problems for Nelsen and his team.

Finally the turning point came in the 86th minute, when a cross from the left crossed up Emery inside the six yard box. The ball sat on the grass just feet from Buddle, who took two quick steps and then slammed the ball into the back of the net.

It’s the sixth time in the last eight matches in all competitions for TFC that they have conceded in the final minutes of the match. Worse, after scoring five goals in his first six MLS matches, Earnshaw has been held scoreless in his last three.

Here are the match highlights:

Comments

  1. Interesting. My comment that was flagged and taken down is okay as long as it’s posted in three separate parts. Even more interesting, apparently I’m posting comments too fast. Only the best servers for SBI.

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  2. PS So Ives I see you aren’t a fan of the movie ground hog day huh. Was it the first video, the second video or both? Do I need to experiment?

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  3. Logan Emory is accumulating quite the highlight reel. Getting jumped over by Jamaicans and teeing up Buddles for game winners. That’s what Logan Emory does.

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    • I want to point out that Silva was incredibly smart to pull out of that challenge after the long rebound from the Earnshaw shot that bounced off Irwin and went to the right of the goal. A lot of players, even older players, would have taken the cheap shot on the Keeper when Irwin dove in to get that ball and Silva pulled out of that challenge which wasn’t likely to result in anything but a goal kick if he had slid through the keeper. I’m a Rapids fan, but I’d like to thank Silva for not making us go to our third string GK this season. Classy move.

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  4. Interesting to compare the slant of the headline here with the report on the MLS site:

    “The Gambler: Colorado Rapids coach Oscar Pareja goes all in on attack, succeeds with 1-0 win over Toronto FC”

    That piece notes the substitutions (starting with Buddle) for a more attack-minded approach over the second half, resulting in playing basically a 4-2-4. Of course, 60% possession doesn’t hurt, either, over the course of 90 mins.

    You make your own “gifts” — er, luck — as the saying goes.

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    • yeah, headline writing is always interesting and tells more about the bias of the writer/editor than the article itself. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself, but it IS funny sometimes.

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