Depleted LA Galaxy Lose 1-0 in Toronto

By Jeff Duarte
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Updated: June 19, 2016

Even though I am known as the hockey guy for CaliSports News, I was asked by my editor Mario Hicks if it would be possible for me to apply for credentials for the LA Galaxy road game in Toronto, ON for the site, since I live so close to there. I was honored to, and pleased the find out that my application was accepted (pretty much after I mentioned that I covered the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh), so on a day when Cristiano Ronaldo and Team Portugal, (who I cheer for since I am of Portuguese heritage), failed to score against Austria, (Ronaldo had a rough day as he hit the post on a penalty shot and then got a goal called back against him after being off-side) in the 2016 Euro Cup, I jumped in the car and drove up the road to the home of the Toronto FC, the beautiful BMO Field to officially cover my first ever soccer/football/futbol/futebol/calcio game!

After receiving my “creds,” and making my way to the pitch, I was asked twice by two different TFC staff members, if I had seen “Steven?” Looking around to see if they were actually talking to me and not someone else, I logically answered, “Who?” They replied, “Um Steven! Have you seen him?” Confused, I tried to clear things up by saying, “My name is Jeff and I’m from CaliSports News.” Frustrated, they both replied exactly in the same way, “Yeah I know. That’s why I’m asking you. Have you seen Steven?” Now feeling frustrated and thinking if I was getting punked here for being the “newbie,” I asked, “Steven who?” “Um … Steven Gerrard! Who else?” Immediately I got angry and offended as I am a die hard Manchester United supporter and felt how dare these random staff members insult me by bringing up the name of a long time rival and former Liverpool FC Captain! Before I opened up my mouth and sang the “MUFC” national anthem, I remembered that Gerrard is now with the Galaxy, so therefore one of the good guys now so I instead answered with, “Sorry, no I haven’t,” and walked away. I guess they thought I was with the Galaxy team or something? Either way, this was a life lesson folks. With Gerrard and Ashley Cole (former Chelsea and Arsenal player) now playing with the Galaxy, I had to learn quickly to let bygones be bygones all in the name of Los Angeles. We are now all on the same side … but I still would give them the stink eye of course, but just now in a nicer, “Go Galaxy Go” kind of way.

After a moment of silence to remember and pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shootings, and both of the national anthems, the game was on! This was the first time the Galaxy had visited Toronto since 2013, and the TFC have not earned a win against LA in their previous ten meetings. Speaking of Gerrard, he didn’t make the trip to Canada due to a hamstring injury. Robbie Keane was away in France, playing for his native Republic of Ireland at the Euro Cup while Gyasi Zardes was playing for Team USA at the Copa America. Also missing from the LA Galaxy line-up was Giovani dos Santos due to injury so this was a very depleted Los Angeles roster.

Toronto FC was missing their Captain Michael Bradley, who was also playing at the Copa America for Team USA and striker Jozy Altidore who had hurt his hamstring as well.

For the first half of the first half, the Galaxy seemed the stronger of the two, setting up some scoring opportunities while forcing TFC to spread out their defense line thinly. Toronto tried to retaliate but LA’s defense was solid and wouldn’t allow the speedy Toronto strikers and wingers to break through, so they relied on far shots on net that LA goalkeeper Brian Rowe handled easily.

Though he wasn’t tested much in the first half, I have to give credit to Rowe for ignoring the constant chirping (hockey term) and harassment by a very hostile and loudly vocal TFC fan base. The atmosphere at BMO Field is similar to one you would see on television for the three major soccer leagues in Europe such as England, Italy and Spain, complete with chants, songs, insults, banging on drums or anything near by, flares being set off in the stands and a section of rabid fans that did nothing the whole game except jump up and down in unison while passionately waving their TFC flags. It was a sight to behold and instantly made me severely jealous of their amazing cardio! I got tired by just watching them. I asked the photographer next to me, if the atmosphere at every TFC game was as intense this one was? (Remember I’m the hockey guy, so this could be a regular MLS wide phenomena as well and I wouldn’t know). He looked at me weird and with a thick, heavy Scottish accent he replied, “Intense? I used to shoot in Beirut lad! Now that was intense!.” I backed away slowly from my Scottish colleague and thought, “Alrighty then!” He then went back to ignoring me and taking more rapid photos with his canon camera that had something like a 15 foot lens on it.

Toronto’s Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco, who is only 5’4 but has such talent that whenever he is dribbling with the ball, it seems to be like he’s doing it with some sort of magic, which makes it a shame that the Italian National Team didn’t give him a call up for the Euro Cup. His small frame and height could have been the factor for that as in this game, he was desperately trying to break through LA’s defense and get a breakaway (is it also called a breakaway in soccer?) on Rowe but both Cole and Daniel Steres were marking him heavily and wouldn’t let him through. Steres is only 6’0 tall but next to Giornico, he is a giant of a man and that height difference was making it difficult for the tiny striker to create of his magic.

(LA’s Ashley Cole, keeping an eye on Toronto’s Giovinco)

(LA’s Steres does the same. Major height difference there between the two)

LA then started an offensive attack and had two spectacular opportunities to take the lead. Sebastian Lletget made a beautiful run with the ball (think Ryan Giggs in his prime) that beat Toronto’s attempt at an offside trap, cut in to take a clear shot at the net but shot it just wide. Moments later, Lletget tried again and fired a low rocket but the TFC goalkeeper Clint Irwin timed his save correctly and was able to redirect the ball just around the post. Toronto had a corner kick in the dying seconds of the first half’s extra time but LA’s positioning and read of the ball was on point and the first half ended at nil-nil.

Just before the start of the second half, I was really admiring the great view that I had at this game. Sitting on a stool just behind the net, I took some photographs of BMO Field and the atmosphere surrounding me. As fun and beautiful as this environment was I couldn’t help but think how amazing it must be to cover an English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and Italian Serie A match?

Of course while I was distracted by those thoughts, the game had restarted and someone from the Galaxy tried to score. He missed the net and the ball went straight towards my direction and almost clocked me right in the face! Serves me right for not paying attention!

(That’s the ball that almost hit me in the face on national television! Awesome!)

If the first half of the game was tilted in the Galaxy’s favor, the second half was ALL Toronto. I’m not sure what happened to LA’s players during the half but they definitely forgot to show up for the rest of the game. Galaxy (and former National Team USA’s) coach/manager Bruce Arena noticed the sudden shift and was not happy about it.

Toronto kept pushing to score and were finally breaking through what was a strong Galaxy defense. One Galaxy player that did come back intact and ready to play after the half was Rowe. He made a fine save off of Giovinco and then another one shortly after. He was now the only one keeping the Galaxy still in this one.

The Toronto crowd then started getting restless and cried fowl for a red card after every physical play between a Galaxy player and a TFC player. The ref didn’t want anything to do with it. That’s when the ultra flares came out to play and I wondered if this was giving the Scottish photographer any flashbacks of Beirut?

Finally, a goal was scored and sadly it wasn’t by the Galaxy. Toronto’s Drew Moor, who just recently became a father, (his newborn baby was with him during the national anthems), scored at the 79th minute after a fine cross by interim Captain Benoit Cheyrou, that was headed by Eriq Zavaleta right to Moor, who made no mistake with it. 1-0 Toronto. Rowe had no chance on that one.

With the game on the line and time running out, the Galaxy were desperate to tie things up and had some opportunities, both on the rush and with corner kicks but Irwin and the Toronto defense stood tall and LA just couldn’t seal the deal.

Time ran out and Toronto FC had secured a victory over a California team for the first time at BMO Field since 2008. Obviously my Stanley Cup Final good luck magic was of no use here. Sorry LA but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

At the post game presser, manager Bruce Arena was a bit salty when asked if he felt his team deserved at least a point in the game by answering ,”Yes,” which was followed by a sarcastic, “Good question.” When asked about the Toronto goal, he said he felt it happened because he had “two tired players that got beat on the play.” When asked about his goalkeeper Brian Rowe, he answered, “Yeah, he was solid. I don’t recall him being tested a whole lot. I remember the one play he did on Giovinco in the second half … I’m not sure there was a whole lot there but you know, he did a solid job.”

And with that my LA Galaxy soccer coverage is complete. I hope you enjoyed my game recap and LIVE coverage during the game while using the @CaliSportsnews handle. I now give the baton back to our LA Galaxy and soccer experts Pat Salkeld, Connor Aylward (who is recently engaged so make sure to congratulate him everyone!) and Shawn Medow. It was an honor and a privilege to cover the match for the site and I had a lot of fun despite the Galaxy loss. At least I’m proud to know that the Galaxy liked the job I did.

The Galaxy next play at home against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm pst.

Alright I’m out of here! GO KINGS …. oops sorry, force of habit.

GO GALAXY GO!!!

*Special thanks to Mike Masaro of the Toronto FC and MLSE, Mario Hicks, Connor Aylward, Pat Salkeld, Theresa Walsh Duarte, the helpful staff of BMO Field and my Scottish photographer colleague that I sat beside. May your Beirut flashbacks one day stop haunting you sir.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things LA Galaxy and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!