Toronto FC recorded their first victory of 2008, albeit in preseason play with a decisive 2-0 win over MLS opponents the Kansas City Wizards.
Jim Brennan wore the captain's armband in Saturday's match that was played under ideal conditions.
Kansas City recorded the first chance of the game in the 9th minute when Carlos Marinelli fired one from long range, but it cleared the top of the cross bar of Greg Sutton's goal. Two minutes later, Collin Samuel whipped in a cross from the right side to Maurice Edu who side-footed his shot just wide of Kevin Hartman's goal.
Toronto would close out the first half of the game by getting on the score sheet. Jim Brennan from the left side, sent the cross into the area for Edu who got tangled up with Hartman after taking a shot, they both go down, but last year's Rookie of the Year was quick to his feet and put the ball in past a downed Hartman. It was 1-0 Toronto on Edu's first goal of the preseason as they went into the break with the advantage.
There were no changes from Head Coach John Carver to start the second half, and it was Toronto that took complete advantage dominating from the whistle. On the hour mark, Carl Robinson behind a free kick, Todd Dunivant got his head on the end of it - and with the ball falling for Tyrone Marshall - his first time shot flashed wide of the goal. A minute later though, TFC was back on the attack and they increased their lead on a beautiful play that was started by Dunivant. The midfielder sent a looping ball to the right side over to Ronnie O'Brien, who spotted Edu alone in the middle - Edu followed through with a powerful volley to the top corner that had Hartman diving for it. No chance on the shot from Edu, his second of the game gave Toronto a 2-0 lead and eventually the victory.
Kansas City did not have a shot on goal in the second half leaving Sutton with little to do in goal, as Toronto looked to be the fitter of the two sides as the game wore down.
Toronto will hit the field again Sunday morning for another match, as they face the U.S. U-17 squad, with the kick off slated for 10 a.m. Monday will bring a welcome day off for the player's as they get a break since training camp began February 4.
Carl Robinson will be leaving the team Sunday as he returns back to Wales to be with his wife who is expected to give birth next week. Former Manchester City midfielder Kiki Musampa joined up with team on Thursday night and is on trial with the club.
Scoring Summary:
TFC: Maurice Edu (Brennan) 44'
TFC: Maurice Edu (O'Brien, Dunivant) 61'
Toronto FC Lineup: Sutton, Brennan, Marshall, James (Marco Velez 64), Wynne, Dunivant (Kiki Musampa 62), Robinson, Edu, O'Brien, Cunningham (Jamie Watson 77), Samuel
Kansas City Lineup: Hartman, Conrad, Jewsbury, Wahl, Kraus, Myers, Harrington, Zavagnin, Morsink, Colombano, Sealy
Thoughts on the game...
Manager Mo Johnston: "I felt today we were sharper we knocked the ball about, we got behind them we scored two very, very good goals from Maurice Edu and I felt everyone worked hard for each other in terms of the whole group which was very, very pleasing."
"Greg had a couple of things to deal with in the first half, and after that it was all us. We opened them up and we had 3, 4 real clear chances in the second half. But, KC are a very good team and this is only preseason, it's all about fitness it's not about winning games, we're here to get sharper, stronger as a unit and you can see the signs we're ahead of where we were last year."
Midfielder Maurice Edu: "I think I'm feeling pretty comfortable with the guys in there and our team gelled well today, I think we had the better of the play for the most part, we created a lot of good chances and luckily I got on the end of a couple of them."
