By DAVID GUBALA
Toronto FC entered Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League match with a must-win mentality, looking to rebound from a heavy 4-0 defeat at Pumas last Sunday. A regular starting XI featured for Aron Winter's side with hopes of a post group-stage round still remaining well alive.
Danny Koevermans continued to display his red-hot form for Toronto FC, and his 40th-minute goal was just enough for the Reds to defeat Tauro FC, 1-0, and earn three vital points in Group C Tuesday night at BMO Field.
With a 2-2 record in group play, Toronto FC currently sits in second place on six points with both wins coming against the Panamanian side.
The two teams played a rather even first half until the dismantling Dutch striker broke the deadlock.
Ryan Johnson had played the ball back into the area after receiving an initial cross from Ashtone Morgan. The ball found Peri Marosevic, who headed it toward the goal and saw Danny Koevermans flick it over goalkeeper Alvaro Anzola to give his side the 1-0 lead.
It was Koeverman's seventh goal in eight games across all competitions since joining TFC, as the DP striker continues to prove himself as a top-notch signing.
Tauro made a case to equalize in the second half but were kept relatively quiet by a committed Toronto defensive effort.
The Reds' next CCL match is Sept. 27, when they host Pumas at BMO Field. That game takes place only three days following TFC's trip to the Home Depot Center for a league meeting with Chivas USA on Saturday.
Here are highlights from the match:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=funRUOuHn4s]
The offense isn’t the same without wonderkid Plata and with Frings playing so defensively, but they still are much better now than at the start of the season. If the questionable centrebacks Iro and Harden improve, they can make a run.
you guys got yourself a legend in the making… TFC needs some sort of silver lining
Pretty sure going to wikipedia and seeing 8 games, 7 goals is not doing your due dilligence…Koef has played in several other CCL games going scoreless