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Memories of Toronto's May 1st 2-1 loss to San Jose came flooding back for some when Preki's starting XI didn't include Dwayne De Rosario or Julian de Guzman. But the similarities ended there as Toronto was potent on the attack from start. Upon his introduction, De Rosario grabbed a 66th minute goal on way to a brace. His first strike made it 2-0 Toronto, which effectively stood as the winning goal.
A long ball from Dan Gargan went over the San Jose backline and the Quakes were shaken up as De Rosario was through on goal. He made it count with just one quick touch, placing a roller past Joe Cannon.
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Toronto defenders won the battle against San Jose's all-action attackers Chris Wondolowski, Ryan Johnson and later Cornell Glen and Arturo Alvarez. The goal Toronto conceded was on a set-piece - a weakness all season - as Quakes' defender Ramiro Corrales was able to outleap his marker to head in from a corner. From open play, however, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Dan Gargan and Nick Garcia were highly effective, restricting space and chances for the opposition.
At the other end, San Jose's defenders were ordinary, particularly in the Jason Hernandez mistake that allowed Chad Barrett's opening goal.
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Reds' goalkeeper Stefan Frei is appearing in this box so often that he could start selling ad-space here. An outstanding performance once more by the Swiss star. His highlight reel stops, at the 23rd minute on Joey Gjertsen and at the 47th on Wondolowski, kept the momentum squarely with Toronto as Barrett scored in between the two saves.
He couldn't do much on the goal that he conceded, robbing him of a third consecutive MLS clean sheet. But as San Jose came looking for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes, Frei blocked, punched and held the ball on way to leading Toronto to 2nd place in the East after Week 10.
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Toronto (4-4-2 formation): Stefan Frei, Nana Attakora, Dan Gargan, Adrian Cann, Nick Garcia, Jacob Peterson, Martin Saric, Sam Cronin, Amadou Sanyang, O'Brian White, Chad Barrett.
Substitutions: Julian de Guzman for Saric (46'), Dwayne De Rosario for White (46'), Sam Cronin for Barrett (82'). Subs Not Used: Jon Conway, Gabe Gala, Raivis Hscanovics, Maxim Usanov.
Goals: Barrett 31' De Rosario 66' 94'
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Saturday, June 5 v. Kansas City
MLS - Week 11
4:00 PM (CBC)
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GAME NOTES:
Kansas City are winless on the road this season and that could make them a desperate and dangerous opposition in the Reds' final match before the World Cup break.
Toronto will be confident having won every game at home thus far, while Kansas City was rocked in their last match by a 4-1 score away to Salt Lake. In that game the Wizards suffered another blow, losing influential midfielder Davy Arnaud to suspension for the Toronto tilt.
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| 16-9 |
San Jose outshot Toronto. |
| 7-3 |
San Jose had a superior shots-on-goal count, but Frei made six stops and Toronto scored from all three on target. |
| 21 |
Total number of fouls in the match (Toronto with 12). |
| 6 |
Toronto unbeaten in this many matches in all competitions (4 in MLS) since losing to Salt Lake 2-1 on May 1. |
| 1 |
Toronto's first MLS road win of 2010. |
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"I liked the effort ... we are working hard on the training ground and the group is believing in the system." - Preki on the progress Toronto has made in recent weeks. The club has three wins and a draw in its last four league matches.
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"We are working hard in training and it is paying off. It is great to have eight goals for the season, but it's most important that we keep moving up the standings." - Dwayne De Rosario on scoring a brace and moving closer to Edson Buddle's league lead in goals (9), while Toronto goes to second in the Eastern. |
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"I'm not bothered that I didn't keep a shutout ... The most important thing is picking up three points." - Stefan Frei on giving up a goal after keeping two cleans sheets in as many MLS matches. |
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