TORONTO — In a game of red cards and running, Toronto FC  and the Kansas City Wizards played to a 0-0 draw before a crowd of 25,183 on a sunny day at BMO Field.

The result extends TFC’s unbeaten streak to five games—eight in all competitions—while the Wizards have now gone eight league matches without a win.

Arguably, the man of the match was KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, who made three vital saves in the first half to preserve the clean sheet.

[inline_node:3667]But the game’s real flashpoint was the sending off of Nick Garcia in the 27th minute by referee Baldomero Toledo after a foul on Kei Kamara. Replays showed that there was no real malice on the play and the call was harsh.

Toronto’s Dwayne de Rosario set up the game's first good scoring chance in the 8th minute. His turning one-touch pass from the center circle sprang Jacob Peterson on a breakaway. But Nielsen left his line to cut down the angle and Peterson drilled his shot off the keeper’s head.

Nielsen came up big again in the 16th minute, leg-blocking a dangerous cross from Chad Barrett, intended for a charging Peterson.

Garcia’s ejection came soon after, in the 27th minute. Swinging and missing a high ball, Garcia then collided with Kamara, his stud scraping high on the Wizards striker’s right thigh. Kamara came up limping, but was able to continue. Garcia, on the other hand, was sent to the showers despite vehement protests from De Rosario and Julian De Guzman.

Kansas City's first chance with the man advantage came in the 32nd minute. A diagonal bomb shot from Ryan Smith forced a diving, fingertip save from Frei.

Rather than sit back with ten men, Toronto continued to push forward when possible. In the 38th minute, De Rosario found Barrett open and alone on the right side. Barrett drew two defenders, then fired a long, low cross into the middle. De Rosario, arriving at the near post, was knocked down in the penalty area, but Toledo played the advantage rule as the ball fell to a trailing de Guzman. The Canadian international drilled a shot from about 12 yards, but Nielsen again was up to the task.

Toledo was roundly booed, both when he left the field at halftime, and when he returned for the second half.

As the second half started, it seemed like Kansas City were asserting themselves until Toledo again took the spotlight in the 57th minute. This time, there was no controversy, as the referee issued a second yellow to Kansas City's Craig Rocastle, after the Englishman clumsily tripped de Guzman at midfield.

All even at ten men, unfortunately, the game stagnated, as both teams played cautiously. The only good chance at either end fell to De Guzman, who had struggled with his touch all afternoon. A redirected cross bounced to the midfielder, again arriving late, but he fired his side volley over the crossbar, perhaps affected by a tweaked hamstring, which hampered him for much of the latter stages of the match.

TFC head into the World Cup break, having now gone unbeaten at home for a full year. Kansas City play next Thursday at home against the Philadelphia Union.

Scoring Summary:

NONE

Kansas City Wizards — Jimmy Nielsen, Chance Myers (Jonathan Leathers 65), Pablo Escobar, Jimmy Conrad, Michael Harrington, Ryan Smith (Graham Zusi 77), Teal Bunbury (Korede Aiyegbusi 59), Jack Jewsbury, Craig Rocastle, Josh Wolff, Kei Kamara.

Toronto FC — Stefan Frei, Nick Garcia, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Dan Gargan, Nick LaBrocca, Julian de Guzman, Amadou Sanyang (Gabe Gala 46), Jacob Peterson (Ty Harden 46), Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barrett (O'Brian White 64).


Misconduct Summary:

TOR — Nick Garcia (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 27

KC — Craig Rocastle (caution; Reckless Foul) 35

TOR — Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 46+

KC — Craig Rocastle (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57

KC — Craig Rocastle (ejection; Second Caution) 57


Referee: Baldomero Toledo

Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Craig Lowry

4th Official: Jeff Gontarek

Attendance: 21,583