CHESTER, Pa. – Toronto FC are going home with a winning streak.
Fueled by a free kick goal from Sebastian Giovinco and a shutout recorded by reserve goalkeeper Chris Konopka, Toronto (3-4-0) defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 at PPL Park on Saturday, closing their season-opening seven-game road trip with two straight shutout wins. The Reds open their 2015 slate at a renovated BMO Field on Sunday, May 10.
The reeling Union (1-6-3) have now lost three straight and remain stuck on one win this season, continuing their worst start in franchise history.
Giovinco had the only score of the game in the 34th minute with a beautiful strike on a free kick from about 35 yards out, bending his shot into the corner of the net past the outstretched arms of Union goalkeeper John McCarthy. It was Giovinco’s fourth goal in the team’s last four games and the second to come directly from a free kick.
The Italian playmaker nearly had another one but Philly center back Richie Marquez – who was called upon to make his MLS debut when Michael Lahoud left with an early quad injury and captain Maurice Edu was pushed into the midfield – made a goal-line save in the 11th minute.
The Union goalkeeper's best save came in the 23rd minute when the rookie denied a wide openRobbie Findley from point-blank range.
The home side's best scoring chance may have come in first-half stoppage time when Cristian Maidana blasted one off the crossbar after a Sheanon Williams header sprung him free.
Konopka replaced the injured Joe Bendik, who was out with a plantar fascia strain, to make his first MLS appearance since May 26, 2012 – which, coincidentally, was in Toronto while he was a member of the Union. Before Saturday, that game was also the last time Toronto defeated the Union.
The former Philly ’keeper finished with just one save for Toronto but he cleared away serious danger in the 53rd minute by pushing the ball over the crossbar after a Maidana set-piece delivery.
The Union kept the pressure on Konopka and the visitors' backline nearly finding the equalizer in the 79th minute. But Fernando Aristeguieta was ruled offside after he headed in a Maidana free kick.
Philadelphia returns to action on Saturday, May 9 in Vancouver (7 pm ET on TSN2 and MLS LIVE). Toronto will face Houston in their home opener on Sunday (5 pm ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN and RDS2).
Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC Live Updates (0-1)
Follow live Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC, live stream commentary, score, and result of 2015 MLS live from PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania. Match Union vs Toronto FC starts at 4:00 PM EST
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Well that will settle it for today. If you want to chat about the game, I am Jordan Wohl (@jdwohl2 on Twitter). Thanks for following and have a good night!
Still the offense did look stagnant at times with not enough service to Aristeguieta
Some bright spots for the Union definitely were the play of Ethan White and Richie Marquez, who made his MLS debut today
Union looked dramatically better today than they did last week but still lose due to Giovinco free kick goal.
Full time: Toronto 1- Philadelphia 0
90+5': Union pushing forward but Marquez fouls a Toronto player giving Toromto the opportunity to waste more time.
90+4': Edu with a tough foul on Altidore in the corner. Free Kick Toronto which sails over the net.
90+4: Toronto throw in in the Union half
90+2: Good ball by the Union is claimed by Konopka again as he has some words with Aristeguieta
90+1': Union possessing in the attacking half but can't break the Toronto back wall.
90': Union lose the ball in the attacking half as Gaddis reclaims it and is fouled. 6 minutes of extra time.
89': Zavaleta comes in for Giovinco for the last Toronto sub. Giovinco played an excellent game today
88': Everyone up for a Union corner which doesn't lead to much again
85': Two corner leads to not much for the Union attack
84': Edu is fouled right outside the box about 20ish yards out. Maidana and Edu over it.
83': Le Toux almost finds Casey but it sails over the jumping Forward
81': Pfeffer tags one but sails into the Sons of Bem
79': Goal disallowed! Maidana with a great ball finds Aristeguieta who heads it in. Referee calls him offsides
78': Edu fouled around 35 yards from goal with Chaco over it
77': Ethan White again shuts down Altidore's shit outside of the 18
75': Toronto second sub: Warner will come in for Findley here
74': Ethan white makes another great tackle to shut down the Toronto counter. He has played great this game.
73: Gaddis sends a good ball in but Ayuk does not get enough on it as Toronto breaks down the field
71': Giovinco is taken down in the box but the referee sees nothing there
70': Toronto sub as Crevalle replaces Jackson
69': Maidana almost finds Casey in the box but it is played away by the Toronto defense
68': Casey comes in for Williams for the Union. Union will play 3 in the back to go for it in the last 20 minutes
67': McCarthy with a great save to stop a deflection from going into the net.
65': Conor Casey looks to be coming into this game to help bolster the Union defense
63': Altidore steals the ball as Toronto switches to offense in the Union half
61': Union possessing well in the attacking half
59': McCarthy up and okay as the Giovinco corner is cleared out for a Toronto throw in
57': McCarthy is down as Giovinco stands over a corner kick.
56': Gaddis is booked for a foul as advantage was played leading to a corner for Toronto
55': Corner Kick leads to not much.
54': Union Subsitution: Wenger comes off for Le Toux
54': Maidana great ball in leads to Konopka having to scramble to put it over the cross bar. Corner kick Union
53': Ayuk taken down on the left side of outside the box. Maidana standing over it
52': Giovinco tries to chip McCarthy from 40 yards out, close but not really troubling the keeper
51': Union attack looking better this half
50': Altidore offsides on a ball over the top
49': Toronto throw in the final attacking third
48': Marquez passes back to McCarthy as the Union try to build an attack
2nd Half Starts now!
Halftime Philadelphia 0- Toronto 1
45': Chaco with an absolute howler clunks off the cross bar from outside the 18! Goes out for a Toronto throw in
44': Booking! Hagglund booked for a hand ball near the center circle
42': Altidore gets the and hold up play well only to be dispossessed by Gaddis and Co
41': Wenger is slow to get up as the Union get another throw in near the Toronto goal. It ends up being cleared by Toronto.
39': Union corner is cleared back to Maidana who puts it back in only to to be claimed by Konopka
38': Union rebounding with some good offensive pressure leading to another Corner.
35':GOAL! Giovinco with an absolute beautiful free kick that was around 30 yards out. Absolute World Class Strike!
33': Union throw in in the final attacking third
31': Giovinco outruns Marquez put send his shot far right from outside the right side of the 18
30': Toronto pressing the ball in the Union's half . Bradley's pass over the top too long leads to a Union goal kick
27': Aristeguieta finds himself with a free header and just puts it above the post. Great chance for the Union
25': Union corner kick leads to just a Giovinco clearance
23': Save McCarthy! Great build up by Toronto leads to a good cross to Findley but McCarthy stones him by the right post
22': Pfeffer comes back to claim a ball and passes back toMcCarthy to clear it out
21: Toronto got a free header but went way wide right. Goal kickUnion
19': Corner kick for Toronto FC after a deflection out
14': Offsides Toronto FC
13': Union counter leading to a dangerous throw in in the final third
12': Giovinco uses a great touch to move a ball from over his shoulder down to his feet to control possession for Toronto
11': Scramble in front of the Union net as the Union defense blocks a few shots inside the 6 yard box
10': Williams foul around midfield Free kick for Toronto.
9':Union possessing the ball well in the offensive third
8': Edu with a ball that was just too long for Wenger leads to aToronto throw in
6': Union with good offensive pressure down the right flank but it is ended with an offsides flag
5':Union free kick by their own 18 as Marquez comes in forLahoud and pushes Edu into CM
4': Richie Marquez is warming up as the Union play a man down at the moment
3': Ball goes off Wenger and Lahoud is down holding around the hip flexor.
2': Union collect a errant pass and pass it around the back
1': Toronto wins the kickoff and immediately found danger in theUnion box but Edu slides it away
Here we go! Union in their white kits and Toronto in red. Uniondefending the river end first
Aristegueta being back will give the Union a major boost offensively and Ayuk will be dangerous down the wings with his speed but it's going to be a severe team effort to stop Toronto with the great individual talents they have.
Kickoff is coming up minutes from now.
Toronto Bench: Roberts, Zavaleta, Creavalle, Warner, Osorio, Lovitz, Moore
Philadelphia Bench: Blake, Fabinho, Marquez, McLaughlin, Fred, Le Toux, Casey
Most surprising is the benching of Sebastian Le Toux in the lineup today as he has been relegated to the bench.
Curtin is opting for a 4-5-1 with Maidana playing behindAristeguieta and Wenger on the left and the young Eric Ayuk on the right with Lahoud and Pfeffer by Defensive Mids.
So no Vitoria today as Ethan White returns to the Starting XI andPfeffer fills in the hole left by Nogueira
Philadelphia Starting XI: McCarthy, Williams, White, Edu, Gaddis, Lahoud, Pfeffer, Wenger, Maidana, Ayuk, Aristeguieta
Toronto Starting XI: Konopka, Morgan, Perquis, Hagglund, Morrow, Bradley, Cheyrou, Jackson, Findley, Giovinco, Altidore
According to Matt DeGeorge(Twitter:@sportsdoctormd), Unionbeat writer for the Delco times, it looks like both Nogueira andVitoria will both be out.
We should be getting starting XI's in about a few minutes for both teams
Toronto FC's website posted a projected starting XI, which showed the absence of Caldwell and Bendik. In their place, former Union goalkeeper Chris Konopka and Defender Damien Perquis.
On the Toronto FC side, a possible holdout for Toronto FC is Goalkeeper Joe Bendik. According to Kurtis Larson of theToronto Sun, Bendik currently has a foot injury, which could keep him out for this weekend. Also,on the injury list is Defender Steven Caldwell who will be held out of the game today.
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