Toronto FC mounted a comeback to notch their second consecutive preseason victory on Sunday and Chivas USA squeaked out a win against D.C. United on Monday as MLS exhibition play rolled on over the holiday weekend.
Toronto FC 3, U.S. U-17 national team 1
A day after notching their first victory of 2008, Kiki Musampa, Pat Phelan and Jamie Watson rallied Toronto FC from an early 1-0 deficit Sunday to down the U.S. U-17 national team, 3-1.
Fielding an entirely different lineup from the night before, TFC found themselves behind the eight-ball in the 12th minute when Scott Caldwell found the back of the net from just outside the penalty area to put the U.S. youngsters on top. It wasn't long before the Reds mounted a comeback though. After Watson was taken down inside the box in the 23rd minute, Musampa stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty kick to knot the game at 1-1.
Toronto stepped up with consistent pressure in the second half, eventually breaking through in the 87th minute as Phelan headed a beautiful cross from midfielder Tyler Rosenlund past the U-17 'keeper. Just one minute later, Watson found himself on the receiving end of a great feed inside the box from Musampa, dribbling the ball past the 'keeper to solidify the victory.
Toronto FC: Edwards, Attakora-Gyan, Boyens, Phelan, Zaher, Smith (Lombardo 72), Musampa, Rosenlund, Balc (Gala 46), Watson, Lombardo (Melo 46).
Chivas USA 1, D.C. United 0
Chivas USA continued a strong preseason Monday, using a goal from youth product Arnaldo Salazar to pick up their second exhibition victory against MLS competition in a 1-0 win against D.C. United.
Salazar notched the only goal of the low-scoring affair early in the second half. Chukwudi Chijinju received a long ball behind the defense on the right side in the 51st minute, then took one touch inside the box before crossing to Salazar, who slid the ball past United goalkeeper Zach Wells for the game-winning goal.
Goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Eric Reed combined on the shutout for Chivas. Reed in particular impressed, coming out of the net midway through the second half to smother a would-be United breakaway.
Chivas USA's next preseason match comes this Saturday, Feb. 23, when the Red-and-White squares off against the Columbus Crew in Cougar Stadium at the College of the Canyons in Valencia at 5 p.m. PT. All proceeds from the match go to the non-profit Michael Hoefflin Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support to children and their families facing childhood cancer in the Santa Clarita Valley.
D.C. United (first half; 4-4-2): Jose Carvallo; Marc Burch, Domenic Mediate, Bryan Namoff, Clyde Simms; Quavas Kirk, Ryan Coreiro, Marcelo Gallardo, Luciano Emilio; Jerson Monteiro, Patrick Carroll.
(second half; 4-4-2): Zach Wells; Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Martinez, Brendon Owens, Grady Renfrow (Dane Murphy 67); Daniel Stratford, Justin Moose (Spencer Allen 76), Fred, Josh Gardner; Jaime Moreno, Jamil Walker.
Chivas USA (first half; 4-4-2): Brad Guzan; Alex Zotinca, Claudio Suarez, Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores; Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch (Dan Paladini 36), Gerson Mayen, John Cunliffe; Ante Razov, Atiba Harris.
(second half; 4-4-2): Eric Reed; Brent Whitfield, Trey Lee, Omar Becera, Darren Spicer; Chukwudi Chijinju, Kraig Chiles, Dan Paladini, Keith Savage (Jorge Flores 70); Arnaldo Salazar, Justin Braun.
Rich Zuckerman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
