By KURTIS LARSON
A momentary lapse of concentration early in the second-half was all Kansas City rookie Teal Bunbury needed to find space behind the TFC defense to give the Wizards a 1-0 win in front of a sellout crowd at Community American Ballpark Saturday night.
In the 62nd minute, a long clearance by Kansas City's Roger Espinoza was misjudged by the normally steady Adrian Cann. In an attempt to head the ball clear, Cann's header caromed to Bunbury who was making a run through the middle of the park. The bouncing ball fell to the K.C. rookie who then headed it past an onrushing Stefan Frei, giving the Wizards three points at home and bringing them closer to the playoff race.
Toronto's traditional road woes continued as Kansas City moves to within four points of TFC in the Eastern Conference standings. The goal was Bunbury's second game-winning tally in three games after scoring a winner in Columbus two weeks ago.
"It's been in us this whole time," Bunbury said. "I feel like now with the games that we've been playing we're getting so competitive and our true style of play and culture is coming out. Everyone's staring to have more fun.
In a physical game that saw limited chances from both sides, Toronto had opportunities to steal at least a point on the night. With newly signed DP Mista getting his first MLS start up top, the Spanish forward saw arguably the best scoring chance of the game that would have put the away side up heading into the half.
Minutes from half-time, Toronto's Maicon Santos cut in from the sideline and lofted a through ball to Mista who found space in the Kansas City defense. Toronto's number 10 received the pass well before striking a half-volley from the top of the penalty area.. Already off his line, an outstretched Nielsen got fingertips to the shot, pushing it just wide of the target.
"He (Mista) had a good first touch," Nielsen said. "You just look at the ball, keep looking at the ball, and this time I was lucky. But sometimes you are not."
"We worked hard, and like I said, they really had nothing except for three points after a fluky game," Toronto head coach Preki said. "I'd rather do nothing and get three points sometimes too."
The full-time whistle was met with strong words from the former Wizards standout, who was honored before the game for his contribution during his time as a Kansas City Wizard. Though a draw may have been a fair result, the Reds continue to struggle away from BMO Field. Toronto have claimed just seven wins in four seasons since entering the league in 2007.
"It's unfortunate," Toronto's Julian de Guzman said following the match. "I think, for me, K.C. could have been an easy team to get results against. I think there are those unlucky bounces. Sometimes a team comes away with the result they didn't (deserve)."
With the win the Wizards managed to capture the season series with Toronto after securing a 0-0 draw in Toronto earlier in the season.
Kansas City had chances to extend the lead late most notably through second-half substitute Josh Wolff, who entered the game following what appeared to be a bad muscle pull for K.C. winger Ryan Smith. In the 89th minute, Wolff tracked down a ball at the corner of the penalty area. After managing to split two Toronto defenders the veteran forward lashed a knuckling shot that Frei had trouble dealing with.
Electing to sit leading goal-scorers Dwayne De Rosario and Chad Barrett ahead of the team's Tuesday CONCACAF Champions League qualifier in Honduras, Preki brought on the pair late in an effort to salvage a point on the road. The substitution almost paid off when De Rosario linked up with Barrett in the 79th minute though a poor first touch led Barrett away from goal and his resulting shot was blocked by a sliding Jimmy Conrad.
"We have to put it behind us with a big game coming up Tuesday," De Rosario told Toronto FC TV following the match. "It was an unfortunate goal and I think we did well enough to come out of here with a tie, but those things happen."
Toronto now take a 1-0 lead to Honduras Tuesday night and need a result if they hope to qualify for the champions league group stages. They return to MLS action next Saturday at BMO Field when they host a confident Chivas USA side who are coming off a win over Columbus.
Kansas City remains at home next weekend hosting Salt Lake at Community America Ballpark before heading to San Jose the following Saturday.
Kansas City sells out pretty much every game at CAB unless there is bad weather.
I USED to be a Preki fan, he was excellent in his time in KC as a player and helped the team to the 2000 MLS Cup, but the post match whining and bltching is really getting old. And de Guzman showed his complete lack of class, and complete ignorance, if he thought beating KC @ The CAB would be easy. If it was so easy, why didn’t you score? The winner in this sport is whoever puts the ball in the back of the net the most times in 90 minutes (within the rules as the referee determines). You don’t score, you don’t win.
CLASSLESS CANADA! Have fun losing in Honduras, Haters.
Preki = class-less whining punk…
I think he called it fluky because it was off a defensive error… though Im not sure how much MLS they have watched, a good number of goals are off of botched passing by the back line, so its not really a fluky when its the norm.
Sometimes a sluggish, ugly game can be blamed on the way one of the teams played. I am not an expert but — every time I have seen TFC play, it has been an ugly game. Stats sometimes do lie. TFC gets away with a lot of fouls and physical play that is beyond the tenor of the the game.
The best chances were created by KC. They could have had 3, maybe even 4 goals. But that’s futbol. TFC really had one, maybe two chances.
Both teams very terrible at set pieces — although KC’s Kamara had one very clear header in the second half.
All in all, both teams played a very defensive game. That’s an improvement for KC, which seems to be a team rising. TFC, well, we will wait and see. But my hunch is they are sliding.
Agree! I am not surprised that he said it was a fluky goal. That was a good finish by the rookie. A running header with that power and trajectory is not easy.
Neither team should’ve been awarded a point. That was perhaps one of the sluggish games i’ve ever seen.
sell-out crowd? I guess the stadium is a bit small but hopefully the Man Utd win will cause an upsurge in demand for Wizards tickets
I wounder if they would have been said if KC puts in those 2 pretty easy ones in the final 5 mins.
Puma for his 5th save of the week?
very pathetic, absolutely delusional from TFC.. They had 1 good chance and didnt really do much other than that, ugly game from both teams, but if TFC wants to live in la la land and think that should have been enough to get 3 pts, they can continue to under achieve and fall short as a club.
Very strange comments. You couldn’t score on KC in two games yet you deserve to win? TFC look to be heading down the same path. The next game against Chivas is massive. I’m pulling for them in HOnduras though. We need MLS teams to break through in that tournament.
TFC, you don’t deserve to win if you do not score.
What a bunch of whiny babies. I’m not surprised to hear it out of Preki.