TORONTO — Chris Wondolowski scored career goals No. 149 and 150 to give the San Jose Earthquakes a 2-1 win over Toronto FC in MLS play Sunday night.
The goals were typical Wondolowski — a poacher's finish from in-close.
The league's all-time goal leader got a yard's separation from Drew Moor and deftly redirected in a Cristian Espinoza cross in the 37th minute before the sliding centre back could get to him to tie it at 1-1 before 23,524 at BMO Field.
The go-ahead goal in the 81st minute was a virtual replay, with Espinoza finding Wondolowski in space in the midst of a slow-to-react Toronto defence.
The San Jose striker has six goals in two games. He scored all four goals in a record-breaking 4-1 win over Chicago last weekend as he surpassed Landon Donovan's league record of 145 while upping his career total to 148.
He has 11 goals in 15 games against Toronto.
Toronto (5-6-2) is now winless in its last five games (0-4-1). It has not won at home since April 19 (0-3-1) and is an unimpressive 3-3-2 at BMO Field this season.
San Jose (5-6-2) has lost just once in its last seven games (4-1-2). It was the Quakes' first win on the road this season (1-3-2).
Toronto winger Richie Laryea opened the scoring in the 28th minute, sliding to knock a Marky Delgado feed high into the net with his left foot for his first MLS goal. The goal came off a throw-in with Jozy Altidore using his head to flick on the throw to Delgado.
It was Toronto's first goal in 247 minutes.
Substitute Terrence Boyd had a chance to tie it in stoppage tie but he could not get a foot on a Delgado cross. Liam Fraser then raked a cross across the penalty box.
A sore hamstring kept captain Michael Bradley out of the lineup, ending a string of 41 straight league starts.
Bradley had not sat out a league game since April 21, 2018, when coach Greg Vanney used a second-string lineup against Houston to rest his top talent for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final against Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara four days later.
The 31-year-old Bradley had started 41 straight league games since then. Moor served as captain in Bradley's absence.
Toronto was also without Spanish playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo, suspended after receiving two yellow cards in last week's 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake.
Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio (hip and groin) also sat out Sunday's game.
On a positive note, Altidore made his first start in seven games. He had seen just 63 minutes of action in two stints off the bench after missing four games with adductor and heel injuries.
Toronto started with a 4-1-4-1 formation with Fraser in Bradley's normal holding midfielder role and Brazilian Auro and Justin Morrow playing on the flanks.
Auro forced a diving save from Daniel Vega in the fourth minute. Laryea then sent a shot just wide in the 13th minute after a driving run into the penalty box that saw him beat two defenders.
Espinoza sent a long-range shot over the bar in the 26th minute. Toronto 'keeper Quentin Westberg then made a fine reflex save off Espinoza in first-half stoppage time.
Morrow had a chance in the 59th minute after another probing run by Laryea but his shot was blocked by Vega.
Espinoza survived a video review in the 66th minute for flicking a hand out at Ashtone Morgan's face after the Toronto defender tried to grab him as he went by. Referee Nima Saghafi stuck with the original yellow card after watching the video. Espinoza will miss the next game through suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Delgado had a glorious chance in the 74th minute, but his header off an accurate Altidore cross went just high.
San Jose presented Toronto with a unique challenge with its penchant for man-marking under Argentine manager Matias Almeyda.
Toronto had won the last four meetings between the two at BMO Field, including a 4-0 victory last September last time out.
Former Toronto striker Sebastian Giovinco was in attendance, drawing applause when shown on the video screen. The Italian left TFC prior to this season to play in Saudi Arabia.
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html
No comments:
Post a Comment