TFC Edge Out RSL 1-0 To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

TORONTO -- This was effectively a playoff game: a loss for either side would essentially end its chances of a playoff spot. Real Salt Lake had played earlier in the week in a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls and nursed some tired legs later in the game.

The match marked some Toronto FC history as the final game on artificial turf in BMO Field.
 
The home side welcomed back Amado Guevara and also had a place for Emmanuel Gomez as Brian Edwards continued to deputize for the injured Stefan Frei.  

RSL stuck with the same team that started against New York which meant there was no place for Red Bulls’ slayer Andy Williams in the starting line up.  
 
First Half
 
The visitors meant business as early as the second minute when Edwards had to employ his fingertips to save from Fabian Espindola. The game was being played at a frantic pace which was fitting in the mid October Toronto weather.  
 
Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and early shots from Dwayne De Rosario and Javier Morales sailed high. De Rosario continued to be a thorn in RSL’s side and almost got his head on the end of a tantalizing Chad Barrett cross. At the other end, Espindola forced Edwards into another smart save off a free kick.
 
For all their possession, TFC were producing little threat. Were it not for Edwards, RSL would have had a three goal lead by the 27th minute when Espindola released Movsisyan, giving the striker a one-on-one chance. Edwards heroically saved to keep TFC in the game.  

At the half hour mark, Toronto finally threatened the home side with two quick chances. Chad Barrett failed to get on the end of the first, while Gomez was unlucky not to score with a header from the subsequent corner. Once again, though, it was Edwards to the rescue for TFC as he thwarted Clint Mathis this time.  

In the 35th minute, a wild scramble ensued in front of the RSL goal following a mazy run from Chad Barrett. The ball eventually found its way to Amado Guevara, who unleashed a vicious shot that was destined to rip the net, only to be thwarted by Kyle Beckerman’s face.  
 
Towards the end of the half it was Nick Romando’s chance to pull off some heroics as he saved magnificently from an Amado Guevara free kick that looked like nestling in the top corner. With some fine saves and some suspect finishing, both teams entered the locker room area holding on to their play off lives from the skin of their teeth.  

Second Half

A flying start from Toronto in the second half saw them take the lead in the 48th minute through Jim Brennan. Chad Barrett was put through on goal but Nick Romando did well to close the space down and Barrett’s shot bounced off the keepers body, presenting Jim Brennan with a difficult opportunity. He managed to tuck it away with an agonizingly slow shot despite last gasp lunges from RSL defenders.  
 
The goal sparked TFC. O’Brian White was proving to be a handful for the RSL defense while, at the other end, Yuva Movsisyan was being well marshaled by the speed and strength of Attakora and Gomez.  
 
RSL head coach Jason Kreis looked to midweek hero Andy Williams and Robbie Findlay to get his team back into the match as they replaced Mathis and Movsisyan. Despite their introduction, Toronto looked the more threatening side. Had it not been for some typical lackluster finishing from Barrett, Toronto would have been strolling through this game.
 
Just as it seemed RSL’s threat was impotent, Robbie Findley found himself with a shooting opportunity in the Toronto penalty area in the 72nd minute. His shot was angling into the bottom corner when another outstanding stop from Edwards pushed the ball out for a corner.
 
The 77th minute saw RSL make their final switch, bringing on Pablo Campos for Tony Beltran. Moments earlier, Chad Barrett’s miserable evening came to a premature halt when he was replaced with Amadou Sanyang.
 
Andy Williams released Pablo Campos with a long ball, but the striker failed to anticipate the ball getting stuck on the turf, allowing Adrian Serioux to make a saving tackle. Moments later another diagonal long ball found Espindola in space and he should’ve done better than to drag his shot wide.
 
Like a recurring bad dream, Toronto FC had taken a slender advantage into the final quarter of an hour once more and were now decidedly nervous. Brian Edwards uncharacteristically flapped at a ball, but it resulted in a counter attack orchestrated by O’Brian White. Somehow, between De Rosario, Sam Cronin and Julian De Guzman, TFC managed to mess the chance up with about three fantastic opportunities to score.  
 
With five minutes remaining, every ball in the TFC box seemed to cause trouble and RSL simply camped on the edge of Toronto’s area until a poor ball from Williams put an end to the sustained pressure. Kyle Beckerman tried his luck with a difficult volley but failed to hit the target.
 
In a last ditch effort to waste time, Ali Gerba switched in for White in the 90th minute. In injury time, with RSL pushing numbers up, chances were created at both ends. De Guzman somehow managed to make a hash of a three-on-one chance. The final whistle finally blew and was accompanied by loud cheers as Toronto FC kept their playoff chances alive until the final game of the season.
 
TFC next play in New York against the bottom of the league Red Bulls. Their playoff chances hinge on results elsewhere, but they are still with a shout.  

RSL are now two points behind TFC and their playoff push is effectively over barring a miracle. They play their final game against Conor Casey and the Colorado Rapids at home.

Talha Zaheer, Goal.com

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