Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
New Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko had a perfect look on Saturday at what needs retooling for next season.
Taking advantage of two major defensive errors, Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong scored both of his side’s two goals in their 2-1 road victory against ten-man TFC at a wet and rainy BMO Field. The win was Sporting KC’s third victory in a row in league play, while TFC is now gone eight games winless.
After an early chance inside five minutes for Dom Dwyer that foreshadowed later events, the visitors scored their first of the game in the 18th minute. On a counter attack, Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi launched a ball into the box that found Dwyer. The English-born forward headed across to a wide-open Sapong in the center of the box, and Sapong made no mistake from ten yards out.
A defensive mistake by Sporting KC in the 38th minute allowed TFC to come back into the match. Aurelien Collin couldn’t corral a pass from Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, enabling Alvaro Rey to take the ball and find Darel Russell, who hit a precise shot to tie the match.
TFC nearly scored a second goal just before halftime but Bright Dike’s header on goal was saved off the line by Sporting KC’s Jacob Peterson.
The visitors took advantage of the openings in TFC’s defense again in the 53rd minute, with Sapong having all the time and space in the world to flick a header past Joe Bendik and give his side the lead again.
Ryan Nelsen and TFC’s day only became worse as they missed a couple of clear chances on goal and captain Steven Caldwell was shown a straight red card in the 86th minute for a studs-up tackle.
Here are the game highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y1uU3IeuNQ
TFC is another rebuilding program!
They are a laugh riot!
And, as per Soccer America, it looks like the fans have given up:
” 18. TORONTO FC (4-15-11), 18. The stands at BMO Field were mostly empty and so was part of the TFC bench at the end of a rain-soaked 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. “
Not sure why there is an emphasis on the, “10 man TFC” in the headline and in the article itself. That implies the red card had a significant impact on the match, when in fact, it did not occur until the 86th minute and long after all the goals were scored. There is also something wrong with the video.
Nice to see CJ have some success in such a heretofore difficult season, though. Good for him.
Good point!
Being down a man for a few minutes did not impact the match at all.
TFC was awful as usual and wouldn’t have won if they had 15 guys on the field.
Steve Davis made a rant about TFC being jobbed by Collin staying on the pitch. To which I answered, maybe, maybe not. TFC only scored because Collin was on the pitch. One of his worst matches in a SKC kit.