Toronto FC closed out the first ever Texas Pro Soccer Festival with a 3-2 victory over Chivas USA to finish 3rd overall in the tournament.
Conditions were less than ideal on the final day with heavy wind playing a factor in both matches that began Sunday afternoon. Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson returned to the team Saturday night after arriving home from Wales after the birth of his son to catch the final match in Texas.
Toronto began very strong and opened with two great chances, Danny Dichio with the game's first big chance, right on top of Chivas goalkeeper Lance Parker but two back to back saves kept TFC off the board in the 9th minute as Dichio could not poke it past the keeper. 3 minutes later, Kiki Musampa sent Jeff Cunningham free up the middle, the striker making his way in on goal, one on one with just the keeper to beat. Cunningham kept his shot low and gave Toronto the advantage knocking it to the left of Parker as Toronto took a 1-0 lead after 12 minutes.
Chivas with a great chance of their own just 8 minutes later as Maykel Galindo fed Raphael Wicky with a cross right in front - but his strike off the target and over Greg Sutton in goal.
The west coast club would hit the board in the 23rd, after a corner by Ante Razov was redirected in goal by Musampa as his clearing attempt goes right past Sutton and in for the equalizer, the dreaded own goal putting Chivas on the board.
The action continued to be end to end and fast paced, and a few short minutes later, Chivas took the lead for the first time in the match after being awarded a free kick. Razov curled in a beautiful shot over the Toronto wall and past Sutton who was left flat footed on the shot and it was 2-1 after 27.
Toronto responded immediately. Jim Brennan on the left side playing set up man with a great ball into the six yard box for Dichio who knocked it home and the two sides went to the locker room at half time knotted at 2.
Very few changes for either team to start the second half, but as the frame wore on, both teams making more than a few adjustments. 63rd minute, Toronto getting a break with a hand ball called in the area after a Robinson free kick....Cunningham would step up to take an effortless looking shot that beats Parker and gave TFC the 3-2 lead. That scoreline would hold, as Toronto keeps Chivas winless in the tournament and takes 3rd spot overall with the victory.
In the first match of the day, the Houston Dyanmo and D.C. United finished their tournament with a 1-1 draw, but the Dynamo would end up overall champions on goals to take the inaugural Texas Pro Soccer Festival.
Toronto will now depart Monday for Charleston, South Carolina where they will spend the next two weeks training and competing in the Carolina Cup Challenge with other MLS sides New York Red Bulls, and San Jose Earthquakes. Toronto's first game in Charleston will be Saturday March 15 when they take on the expansion Earthquakes.
Toronto will have another body in camp as defender Nana Attakora-Gyan will rejoin the team this week after spending time with the Canadian U-23 camp.
Scoring Summary
TFC: Jeff Cunningham (Musampa) 9'
CHV: Kiki Musampa (OG) 23'
CHV: Ante Razov 27'
TFC: Danny Dichio (Jim Brennan) 30'
TFC: Jeff Cunningham (PK) 63'
Toronto FC Lineup: Greg Sutton, Marco Velez (Mike Zaher 74), Tyrone Marshall, Andrew Boyens, Jim Brennan (C), Martin Brittain (Joey Melo 80), Carl Robinson, Kevin Harmse (Pat Phelan 59), Kiki Musampa (Collin Samuel 42), Danny Dichio, Jeff Cunningham
Chivas USA Lineup: Lancer Parker, Jon Bornstein (Eric Ebert 67), Shavar Thomas (Jim Curtin 74), Claudio Suarez (Bobby Burling 74), Lawson Vaughn, Keith Savage, Paolo Nagamura, Jesse Marsch, Raphael Wicky, Ante Razov (Justin Braun 67), Maykel Galindo (Atiba Harris 46, Anthony Hamilton 75)
