TORONTO – Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake battled to a scoreless draw on Saturday night at BMO Field in a match filled with numerous opportunities and spectacular saves on both ends.
With the carnival lights of the annual Canadian National Exhition as a fitting backdrop, both teams couldn’t find the back of the net. RSL’s Chris Wingert and Canadian international Will Johnson came the closest with each hitting the goalpost for RSL inside the final 10 minutes. Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei also made two spectacular full-stretch saves to deny the visitors.
With only three home games remaining in their MLS season, Toronto FC could not capitalize as they failed to win for the second consecutive league match at BMO Field.
Meanwhile, RSL have lost just once in their last 12 MLS matches and moved within three points of the Los Angeles Galaxy for the overall league lead and the top spot in the Western Conference.
Injuries and suspensions meant Preki started Dan Gargan at right midfield, Ty Harden at center back for the suspended Nana Attakora and paired Mista and Dwayne De Rosario up top. But with strikers Maicon Santos and Chad Barrett still out with injuries, Toronto couldn’t generate much sustained offense.
Toronto may have enjoyed the better of the play in the opening half-hour but Real Salt Lake were dangerous up top through the active Fabian Espindola.
RSL ended the first half strongly with Frei making a diving stop on Wingert’s long-distance drive. Then midfielder Ned Grabavoy sent a drive just over the cross bar in stoppage time.
Seconds after the break Espindola took a long ball from midfield and bypassed Frei but sent the shot wide of the open goal. Then Javier Morales headed a left-footed cross from Espindola that forced Frei to make another diving save.
Toronto’s best chance came in the 78th minute when Mista sent a left footer just wide of the far post.
Both clubs will face each other twice more in a home and away set in the CONCACAF Champions League. With a four-way
tie in Group A, both games should go a long way in deciding the top two finishers.
Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Chris Wingert, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran, Ned Grabavoy, Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Andy Williams (Will Johnson 69), Alvaro Saborio (Robbie Findley 62), Fabian Espindola (Jean Alexandre 83).
Substitutes Not Used: Pablo Campos, Nelson Gonzalez, Robbie Russell, Kyle Reynish.
Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Maksim Usanov (O'Brian White 46), Ty Harden, Adrian Cann, Nick Garcia, Dan Gargan, Martin Saric (Jacob Peterson 69), Julian de Guzman, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, Mista.
Substitutes Not Used: Gabe Gala, Raivis Hscanovics, Fuad Ibrahim, Joseph Nane, Jon Conway.
Misconduct Summary:
RSL -- Jamison Olave (caution; Tactical Foul) 18
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry, Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Steven DePiero
Attendance: 21,047
