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Andy Williams is a leader for Salt Lake. In the absence of offensive options Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola, Williams took on greater offensive duties, resulting in a 42nd minute goal from 20-yards that held up to be the match winner in a 2-1 result.
The goal by the Toronto-born Williams meant that TFC's defensive experiment was in tatters. Toronto's idea was to take a scoreless draw into halftime, then attack Salt Lake in the second half. Jamison Olave's 14th minute goal already dented the plan, Williams' strike hammered the nail in the coffin.
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The biggest battle on the night came from the dressing room and the touchlines where Preki's strategy for Toronto was blown apart by defensive errors, allowing RSL coach Jason Kreis to be victorious.
Preki had hoped to frustrate Kreis' men who were set to take an attacking approach, desperately searching for their second win in 2010. The Reds' coach rested offensive star Dwayne De Rosario and central midfielder Julian de Guzman, hoping to unleash them in the second half after containing RSL in the first. Olave and Williams poked holes in that strategy and De Rosario's 88th minute goal was too late for Toronto.
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Toronto didn't display enough in this match to produce a star over 90 minutes. Stefan Frei made good stops as usual, but wasn't at his best on either of the goals. The MOTM nod goes to Salt Lake's Williams.
The 32-year old Jamaican international had a stellar first half where he was constantly dangerous in the Toronto third. His most notable contribution outside of his first goal of 2010, came half way through the opening frame when a great cross to Alvaro Saborio resulted in a disallowed goal. Williams showed his quality on that cross and his eye for goal later catching Frei off his line just before halftime.
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Toronto (4-5-1 formation): Stefan Frei, Maxim Usanov, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Raivis Hscanovics, Martin Saric, Joseph Nane, Amadou Sanyang, Nick LaBrocca, Dan Gargan, Chad Barrett.
Salt Lake (4-4-2 formation): Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran, Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Andy Williams, Collen Warner, Robbie Findley, Alvaro Saborio.
Goals: Salt Lake - Olave 14' Williams 42' Toronto - De Rosario 88' (PK)
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Saturday, May 8 v. Chicago
MLS Week 7
4PM (RSN)
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GAME NOTES:
An Eastern Conference match-up awaits BMO Field next Saturday. Chicago, like Toronto, has just two wins this season but a pair of draws has the Fire two points better than the Reds.
While Toronto lost to Salt Lake on Saturday, Chicago was being swarmed by Chivas at home in a 1-1 draw. The Goats outshot the Fire 14-4 in that match, which will give Toronto attackers encouragement at home - provided they start this time.
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12-7
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Salt Lake outshot Toronto.
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12-3
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A massive corner kick advantage for Salt Lake, including eight in the first half.
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18
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Number of total fouls - TFC with 11
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6
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Number of cautions handed out by referee Kevin Stott - three to each side. |
3
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The clubs are even in their seven all time meetings with three wins each.
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"We were very soft and we allowed Salt Lake to do whatever they wanted to do. Two soft goals ... Overall the experiment didn't work today." - Preki on his first half defensive experiment that fell flat due to defensive errors. He admitted that it didn't work in the postgame interview.
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"We needed to come out stronger. Just a little more passion, little more effort right from the start would have been nice." - Stefan Frei on Toronto's inability to provide any challenge to RSL as they came out gunning for goal in the first half. |
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"We needed results to boost our confidence." - Jason Kreis on the MLS Cup champions picking up just their second win of the season. He also praised Jamison Olave for being a "monster" for Salt Lake on the night.
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