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Toronto didn't have to rely on Stefan Frei early in the match as often as they've had to this season. But when it mattered most, in the dying minutes, the big Swiss keeper was able to perform effortlessly.
It was in fact, three late moments that defined Toronto's spirit for the 90+ minutes of a hard fought first point earned on the road. At the 90th minute Frei turned away Mike Magee from close after he seemed to handle the ball. Then Maxim Usanov was ejected for a second bookable offense, leading to two more scenes of brilliance from the keeper, stopping Magee once more and then Todd Dunivant from four yards.
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A sense of self-assurance and confidence has entered Chad Barrett's play in recent days and it was evident again in Carson. He looked the likeliest to score for either side until LA's onslaught in the final half hour. Throughout his 78 minutes Barrett won battles against Galaxy backs.
At the 9th minute Barrett forced a good save from last-second backup keeper Josh Saunders. Four minutes earlier the forward had gotten behind the LA defence and set up De Rosario for his best chance of the match. The striker continued in this vein over and again, eventually drawing a caution from LA's top defender Omar Gonzalez.
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While Barrett won battles at the offensive end, in Toronto's half Nana Attakora was the wall that MLS-leading goal scorer Edson Buddle and top playmaker Landon Donovan continuously hit going forward.
The reigning Canadian U-20 player of the year was ruthless in getting the better of Galaxy's U.S. World Cup shortlisted forwards. He blocked numerous shots inside the area and with some help from his fellow defenders, midfielders and Frei's heroics, Attakora put in that leading performance Toronto supporters have long sought from a centre back on a regular basis. Attakora is getting close to that level of consistency.
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Toronto (4-4-2 formation): Stefan Frei, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Nick Garcia, Maxim Usanov, Nick LaBrocca, Martin Saric, Sam Cronin, Amadou Sanyang, Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barrett.
Los Angeles (4-4-2 formation): Josh Saunders, Bryan Jordan, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Chris Birchall, Juninho, Jovan Kirovski, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan.
Goals: NONE
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Wednesday, May 19 v. Vancouver
NCC - Match 4
10:30 PM (RSN)
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GAME NOTES:
Vancouver is the only one of the three Nutrilite Canadian Championship teams to not have won this title. Toronto taking maximum points from Montreal in two matches, Whitecaps will be desperate to beat TFC.
Toronto could clinch the title with a win against Vancouver but it won't be easy. Vancouver holds an all-time edge of two wins, one loss and a draw against Toronto in the NCC. They drew Montreal 0-0 in an USSF Division II match on Saturday.
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| 15-7 |
Los Angeles outshot Toronto (4-1 on goal). |
| 60% |
Los Angeles had the greater possession during the match, particularly in the latter stages. |
| 20 |
Number of fouls in the match (Toronto with 11) |
| 5-2 |
Los Angeles had the edge on corners. |
| 4 |
Number of clean sheets for Stefan Frei in 2010 - two in MLS. |
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"We've grown as a team, we are still growing ... I'm disappointed that we didn't win ... we have a group of guys finally starting to understand what it means to play for each other." - Preki in his postgame interview on his team coming together and fighting for every point.
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"This point means everything ... we deserved a point and weren't going to give it away ... we've come a long way. I don't have to babysit them in the back (laughing) ... we are stringing passes together and gelling." - Stefan Frei after the game, giving credit to the fighting spirit of Toronto's players in front of him. |
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"We knew we had to contain Buddle and Donovan and we have been able to do that so far. We have to stay focused, especially on set pieces" - Nana Attakora at halftime on keeping Buddle and Donvan at bay. The focus continued in the second half. |
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