In another crucial Major League Soccer match up, Toronto FC were the hosts as they welcomed D.C. United to BMO Field in the hopes of topping the Eastern conference table again with a win against a D.C. United team that has seemingly found it's form again. United were hoping to secure all three points, which would see them move further up the table and keep their hopes of a playoff spot alive and well.
In the end, a sterling performance by Lamar Neagle and goalkeeper Billy Hamid were the difference as the away side picked up three points with a 2-1 win in Toronto.
Toronto fail to capitalize in the first half
Just like the match against Orlando City SC during the week, Toronto created the better chances throughout out the game, but their lack of accuracy in front of goal meant that they could not get the goals that matched their overall dominance. Both teams set up their stalls early on for what they planned to do all game: Toronto were keen to press high up the field while DC were content to soak up the pressure from the home side and then break quickly when the opportunity came to them. Toronto found their way through the DC back line but could not finish the attacking moves each time they got forward.
Chances fell to Jonathan Osorio, Drew Moor and Mark Bloom but they were thwarted but their own inaccuracy of by good saves from DC's Hamid at every opportunity. It took until the 36th minute and a dazzling Jozy Altidore goal for Toronto to break the deadlock. Altidore received the ball from Armando Cooper, turned defender Steve Birnbaum twice before rounding Hamid and slotting away the first goal of the night.
DC were unfazed by this unexpected goal and three minutes later, Neagle scored his first of the night. A set piece allowed Birnbaum to take a shot at goal in the box which goalkeeper Steve Irwin managed to get a hand on but he parried it straight to a waiting Neagle who nodded the ball in from inside the six yard box to tie things up before half time.
Hamid's saves give DC the chance to win
The second half fell into the same pattern as the first. Toronto would create opportunities in front of goal but were unable to find the back of the net. A big reason for that was the form of Hamid who had made a few critical saves in the first half as well. Hamid's first stop of the second half came in the 66th minute when substitute Jordan Hamilton took his shot first time on the volley and Hamid got down well to parry the ball away and prevent Toronto from taking the lead. Hamid was again on hand to make a fantastic save from Copper after he was slipped through by Hamilton and again in 83rd minute when Michael Bradley bent in a free-kick that had Hamid stretching to his right to prevent the goal. The D.C. United goalkeeper was in top form tonight and if it were not for his saves, United would be looking at a loss today and not three points.
In between all of these saves by Hamid, Neagle was on hand to score the game-winning goal and his second of the night in the 58th minute. Lloyd Sam found some space in midfield and played Neagle in, who beat the offside trap to find himself one-on-one with Irwin. Neagle did not hesitate and blasted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the goal to give United the lead early in the second half.
Toronto left frustrated by Geiger
The referee on the night, Mark Geiger, was also involved in the action tonight as twice he was called upon by the Toronto players to give them a penalty. In the 52nd minute, Daniel Lovitz appeared to be fouled in the box but Geiger did not think Lovitz was fouled and waved away the calls for a penalty. Geiger was asked again to make a decision in the 81st minute when Toronto claimed a handball in the box from a United player but the referee deemed it incidental and Toronto were left frustrated again. In both cases, the referee seemed to have gotten his decision right and although Toronto will feel aggrieved by his decisions, they were probably the right calls to make on both occasions.
The loss leaves Toronto in third place in the Eastern conference and two points away from leaders New York City FC and New York Red Bulls, something they could not have foreseen at the beginning of the month. For the Toronto faithful, Sebastian Giovinco's return will be a welcome one as apart from Altidore, the home side have struggled to score goals.
D.C. United will return back to Maryland with three big points that put them four ahead of the New England Revolution who are the team looking to jump above the red line and book their place in the playoffs. United need at least five more points from their remaining fixtures to get into the playoffs and this win tonight will bolster their confidence in doing so.