Toronto FC collected a full three points against Real Salt Lake Wednesday evening, as the home side notched a goal against the run of play in the second half to send the visitors back to Sandy, Utah empty-handed.
First half chances, but no production
Despite early pressure from the home side, RSL nearly got on the scoresheet first in the second minute, as Joao Plata’s counterattack resulted in a cross to an unmarked Kyle Beckerman. Beckerman headed the ball back across to the far post to a sprinting Javier Morales, but the Argentine's full-extension slide was unable to redirect a shot on goal, and the ball dribbled harmlessly out of bounds for a goal kick.
Toronto continued to control possession for the game’s first 20 minutes without presenting a real threat to RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando’s goal. RSL produced the game’s second good chance in the 23rd minute when Morales curled a free kick from 35 yards to the Toronto penalty spot. The lofted ball fell to John Stertzer, whose headed attempt went over the crossbar. Compounding Stertzer’s miss was TFC goalkeeper Alex Bono’s attempted punch caught Stertzer squarely in the back of the head, requiring the RSL defensive midfielder to leave the field momentarily.
But in spite of possession leveling out later in the half, the home side eventually found its footing, with Sebastian Giovinco producing two quality chances before halftime. The TFC attacker nearly netted in the 36th minute, when a deflected ball fell to him at Rimando’s right post. Nick Rimando charged to cut down Giovinco’s angle, but the Italian’s clever chip with the outside of his right foot nearly scored at the far post, with only a saving clearance by Aaron Maund keeping the Reds from an opening goal.
In spite of additional chances for both teams—Giovinco slipped behind the RSL defense twice, but was flagged offside both times—neither team could find the back of the net before halftime.
TFC goal against the run of play holds up
RSL largely controlled possession for the entirety of the second half but continued to allow chances to go begging. In the 64th minute, the visitors nearly scored when Olmes Garcia successfully gained the end line and crossed a ball back into the middle. Although the cross was deflected to the top of the 18-yard box, it fell to Morales, and the RSL midfielder found Plata unmarked at the back post, but the diminutive striker’s first-time shot was sent over the bar. Barely two minutes later, Plata again found himself on Bono’s right post. The Ecuadorian successfully picked out Juan Manuel Martinez’s run through the box, but Martinez’s header drifted wide.
TFC made sure to punish the visitors’ wastefulness in the 68th minute. Bono’s long restart from deep in Toronto’s end found the head of TFC forward Jozy Altidore head 30 yards from the RSL goal. His flicked pass appeared to be falling harmlessly to the top of the penalty area until substitute Tosaint Ricketts sprinted past RSL right back Tony Beltran, collected the ball, and fired past a stranded Nick Rimando for the match’s only goal.
Having taken the lead with only 20 minutes left in the game, the hosts moved 10 men behind the ball. The Claret-and-Cobalt managed one final chance for an equalizer, as Martinez snuck behind the Toronto back four in the 77th minute. But Bono once more came up big for Toronto, closing down Martinez’s shooting angle and coming up with the game’s most critical save to preserve the win.
Up next
Toronto returns to action this Saturday, August 6, as the New England Revolution visit BMO Field for the teams’ second clash this season. The clubs’ prior matchup on April 9 resulted in a 1-1 draw. RSL returns home to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday as well, playing host to Eastern Conference cellar dwellers Chicago Fire.