Two quick goals from Juan Pablo Angel were the difference as the New York Red Bulls defeated Toronto FC 2-1 on Wednesday night at BMO Field.
Toronto's lead through 68 minutes quickly evaporated when Angel scored twice in a three-minute span to put the Red Bulls ahead for good. It was Angel's second two-goal performance in just five games in Major League Soccer. The forward also netted two scores on May 24 against Chicago.
TFC struck first blood in the 23rd minute. Midfielder Andy Welsh made a strong run down the right-hand side towards the New York net, and got 'keeper Jon Conway to commit to the right side of the penalty area. With Conway out of position, Welsh slid a pass in front of the net that was touched home by Toronto forward Jeff Cunningham. The goal was Cunningham's fourth of the season, and his first since being dealt to Toronto from Real Salt Lake on May 22.
While Toronto outshot New York by just a 4-3 margin in the first half, it carried the pace of play due to an uncharacteristically poor start from the Red Bulls. New York entered the game having outscored opponents 8-1 in the first half this season, but Wednesday was the first time this year that New York had trailed after 45 minutes in a road game.
After striker Jozy Altidore's high shot in the second minute, New York didn't get another scoring chance until just before the break. Midfielder Dave van den Bergh's shot in the 44th minute was denied by a goalmouth deflection. A minute later, Angel got onto Claudio Reyna's corner kick, but headed the ball to the right of the Toronto net.
The pattern of Angel trying to convert corner kicks continued in the second half, as the Red Bulls received five corners in the first 11 minutes of the half. Angel turned two of these corners into shots at goal, but neither found the target. His first was again headed right, and his second shot evaded TFC goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic but Welsh was there with a critical block on the line.
Angel finally broke through in the 69th minute, thanks to a controversial call. TFC defender Andrew Boyens was called for a foul on Altidore that the Toronto players, coaches and fans thought was merely a solid tackle. The result was a direct free kick some 25 yards out from goal, and Angel left Djekanovic rooted to his line as he whipped it around the wall and inside the near post.
It was Angel's fifth goal in the last five games, and it didn't take him long to record his sixth. Just two minutes later, Angel ran onto a deflected cross off a Toronto defender and made no mistake in knocking the ball in to give the Red Bulls the lead. Angel, the MLS Player of the Month in May, now has three goals in two games thus far in June.
The quick change of fortunes in the match seemed to wake up the Toronto attack. TFC pressed for the next few minutes, but were unable to notch the tying goal. Edson Buddle, who came into the game in the 73rd minute as a substitute for Welsh, had a good scoring chance but couldn't get the ball past Conway.
A number of fouls prevented TFC from generating much momentum late in the half. A string of three calls in as many minutes called on Toronto players infuriated the crowd, who were still smarting over referee Tim Weyland's earlier call against Boyens.
Toronto had a great opportunity in the 89th minute, when Ronnie O'Brien anticipated a back pass and snuck onto the end of Dane Richards' header toward his own goal. O'Brien's clear effort evaded a diving Conway, but rolled just wide of the left post. Toronto midfielder Maurice Edu had a shot in the dying seconds of extra time, but it sailed over the net to clinch the game for New York.
Wednesday's game marked the end of a tiring stretch for Toronto FC that saw the club play six league games and a friendly in the last 26 days. TFC get a 10-day break before their next match, a home game with FC Dallas on June 17.
The Red Bulls will have little time to savor their victory, as the club plays again on Sunday. New York plays the last of a three-game road trip when it travels to Washington to face a red-hot D.C. United, unbeaten in their last five. New York is searching for its first victory against D.C. since 2005 -- a winless streak that includes a loss and a draw in last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
