After waiting 383 minutes for the first goal in club history, Toronto FC didn't waste any time in getting back on the scoreboard.
TFC followed up Danny Dichio's historic strike with two second-half goals that cemented a 3-1 win against Chicago on Saturday at BMO Field. The win ends Toronto's four-game losing streak that began its MLS tenure.
Three different players scored for Toronto, and virtually every player on the field contributed with a good pass or scoring opportunity at some point during the game. Forward Edson Buddle cited a number of different reasons as to why TFC, who were scoreless in their first four games, looked like a different team on Saturday.
"I think preparation," Buddle said. "We worked really hard this week in training, we were pushing it and getting after it, we were anxious and all of the above. For us to get a win at home, I think we got the monkey off our back a little bit."
Buddle could have cited his own passing as another reason for TFC's scores, as the forward picked up the first two assists in Toronto team history. The breakthrough goal came in the 24th minute, after a scramble in front of the Chicago net left Buddle with the ball to the right of the net. The striker pulled back a low centering pass into the box, where it found the outstretched leg of fellow forward Dichio to put Toronto on the board in Major League Soccer.
In the 51st minute, Buddle delivered the last touch on a three-man passing play that put the ball on the foot of a charging Kevin Goldthwaite coming up the right side.
"I made a long run and it kind of got knocked around a couple of times and it fell to Edson," Goldthwaite said. "I just happened to be in the corner of the box. Edson was able to put his toe out and get it to me. (I) took a touch and hit it as hard as I could."
The goal gave Toronto a lead it wouldn't relinquish, and also represented a personal milestone for Goldthwaite. It was the defender's first goal in 27 career MLS games.
"It feels great to be the guy to get the game-winner today," Goldthwaite said. "And for it to be my first goal in that situation, it couldn't have come at a better time."
Toronto coach Mo Johnston was generous with his praise when asked which of his players was his personal man of the match.
"Every single one of our players, plus the fans," Johnston said. "I don't like to single anyone in particular out. We have a deep group of guys."
Johnston, however, didn't want to "go overboard" after one game, and pointed out that his defense allowed a number of early turnovers that led to Chicago outshooting TFC 7-4 in the first half. The coach was also displeased with a scuffle in the Fire goal near the end of the half that resulted in Dichio and Chicago defender Diego Gutierrez being sent off.
The loss of Dichio and Gutierrez, however, seemed to turn things in TFC's favor in the second half. Toronto outshot Chicago 5-2 in the half and produced the go-ahead goal from Goldthwaite and an insurance marker from Maurice Edu.
Buddle thought his team's reaction to the twin red cards was the key to the game.
"It was down to 10 men on each side and it's a big field," Buddle said. "[The two fewer players] opened it up and I think we were the fitter team today playing at home. We were able to stretch them out and open up the game for us."
Now that Toronto has erased the zeroes in both the goals and win columns, the next step is a matchup with MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. Johnston's hope is that his team can match or better its effort on Saturday.
"Everybody left everything on the field," Johnston said. "It's a work in progress. We're working hard everyday."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
