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Toronto was clinging to Stefan Frei's fingernalis with Motagua needing just one more goal to assure passage to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. A 79th minute strike from Chad Barrett, however, swung the tide firmly in the Reds' favour for good.
Amado Guevara's second goal had put the Hondurans ahead 2-1 in the match and pulled them even 2-2 on aggregate. As the former TFC player and his club pressed for the aggregate winner, Barrett did well on a counter attack to push the ball past a challenger. Then with a slight deflection he popped in the equalizer that stood as the knockout strike.
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Reds' defensive formation broke down early as Guevara put Motagua ahead 1-0, nullifying Toronto's hard work in the first leg at BMO Field when they won by that same margin. The Honduras captain blew past the Reds' teenage defender Doneil Henry at the sixth minute to place a header out of Frei's reach for the opening goal.
Toronto's defence was stretched on several occasions with usually reliable players struggling with the conditions in Tegucigalpa. Motagua was able to penetrate the backline many times, but poor finishing and the usual brilliance of the Reds' Swiss keeper came to the rescue.
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Frei and Guevara are worthy candidates along with Toronto forward Maicon Santos, who played a role in both Toronto goals. Dwayne De Rosario should also be mentioned for displaying intense passion throughout 90 minutes and picking up the vital away goal at the 59th.
But it was Frei that restored confidence in a defence that looked shaky in the early stages. Late in the first half he came off his line to thwart a breakaway. Within seconds of the restart he parried away a goal-bound effort, and Frei's acrobatics kept Shannon Welcome out at the 72nd minute. That save set the stage for Barrett's knockout blow.
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Toronto (4-4-2): Stefan Frei, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Nick Garcia Doneil Henry (Maicon Santos), Dan Gargan, Julian de Guzman, Joseph Nane, Nick LaBrocca (Jacob Peterson), Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barrett (Mista).
Unused Subs: Jon Conway, Raivis Hscanovics, Maxim Usanov, O'Brian White
Goals: Motagua: Guevara 6' 64' Toronto: De Rosario 59' Barrett 79'
Discipline: Caution - Toronto: Gargan, Peterson, Frei
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Saturday, August 7 v. Chivas USA
MLS - Week 19
4 PM (CBC)
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GAME NOTES:.
Quietly Chivas has accumulated a four-game unbeaten streak and their progress became a better known secret last week with a 3-1 win over Columbus in Carson.
The match in Toronto will be special for Reds' head coach Preki, it will be the first time facing his previous team. The same goes for new Toronto forward Maicon Santos, who was released by Chivas coach Martin Vasquez.
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The aggregate win marks the first time TFC has progressed to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. |
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Number of goals for Chad Barrett in as many CL matches. |
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This many new home games are added to Toronto's schedule at BMO Field. |
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Number of MLS teams that will be in the Champions League, unless Los Angeles can turn around a three-goal deficit on Wednesday in Puerto Rico. |
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Champions League titles won by Cruz Azul, Toronto's first group stage opponent on August 17 and the most successful CL team in history. |
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The team boarded a bus and headed straight for their flight home at the conclusion of the match. Therefore, comments from head coach Preki is delayed until Wednesday.
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"I can't say enough about our guys. We worked ever so hard in a tough environment. Every guy worked for each other." - Dwayne De Rosario on the team effort that pushed Toronto past the preliminary round and into Group A of the Champions League. The captain was interviewed by CONCACAF immediately after the match.
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The team boarded a bus and headed straight for their flight home following the match. Therefore, comments from players such as Chad Barrett, for example, will be delayed until Wednesday.
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