TORONTO - A clinical first-half finish by striker Chad Barrett was enough to give Toronto FC a 1-0 win in the opening game of their CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round series at BMO Field on Tuesday night.
Barrett struck for the only goal of the match in the 20th minute when he split the defense of visiting Honduran side CD Motagua and buried a left-footed shot in the back of the net, giving the Reds the leg up on the aggregate-goal series.
The two clubs will play the second leg next Tuesday at Estadio Nacional in Tegucigalpa, with the winner of the preliminary round series advancing to Group A of the annual tournament.
Dwayne De Rosario picked up the assist one night before he’ll represent Toronto in the MLS All-Star game on Wednesday in Houston. The former MLS All-Star game MVP narrowly missed scoring the opening goal himself two minutes before Barrett’s strike on Tuesday, but couldn’t convert a long chip shot after a poor clearance from Motagua goalkeeper Donaldo Morales.
While Toronto had the lion’s share of chances and dominated play for much of the match, Motagua were not without their own scoring opportunities. Honduran international striker Georgie Welcome and his surging forward runs caused numerous problems for the Toronto defense, which played just well enough with goalkeeper Stefan Frei to earn the shutout.
Motagua’s best scoring chance of the match came in the 86th minute, but substitute Javier Portillo failed to convert a dangerous cross from Welcome into a wide open Toronto goal.
Frei also came up with a clutch save in the 82nd minute, stopping a well-placed header by onrushing defender Sergio Mendoza on a Motagua corner kick.
The game marked the return of Honduran international and 2004 MLS MVP Amado Guevara, who played 45 minutes against his former club before he was replaced at halftime. ‘El Lobo’ played with the Reds in 2008 and 2009 before returning to his old Tegucigalpa club for his fourth stint there.
Guevara also played four seasons with the New York Red Bulls, where he won the MVP in 2004 and tied for the league lead in scoring with New England’s Pat Noonan the same season. He also played briefly for Chivas USA in 2007 for former Chivas USA and current Reds boss Preki, who faced his former player from the Toronto bench Tuesday.
Toronto qualified for the opening stage of the continental club championship by winning Canada’s Nutrilite Championship for the second straight year. Motagua lost the Honduran championship to rival Olimpia earlier this year.
Toronto return to MLS action on Saturday, when they visit Community America Ballpark to face the Kansas City Wizards.
