Toronto FC ended the first half of its schedule with a positive result in a 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday afternoon at BMO Field.
While the draw extended TFC's home unbeaten streak to 11 games, the match had to be seen by the Reds as two lost points. TFC largely dominated the last-place Earthquakes, but were their own worst enemies with a number of turnovers that sabotaged their chances on attack.
San Jose newcomers Francisco Lima, Scott Sealy and Darren Huckerby all made their debuts in the Starting XI after signing with the club earlier in the week. Huckerby actually came to the Quakes in a deal from TFC, who traded the Englishman's rights after failing to reach a contract agreement. Also in the lineup was defender Ryan Cochrane, making his first league appearance since June 22 due to an ankle injury.
The Reds fielded their first-choice lineup, but with two notable exceptions. Tyler Rosenlund made his first career MLS start in place of the suspended Maurice Edu, while 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim became the youngest starter in TFC's short history. The young forward scored his first goal last Saturday in Toronto's 2-1 loss in Chicago.
Ibrahim was a factor early, collecting Toronto's first two shots of the game and creating problems for the San Jose back line with his pace. The rookie was nearly sprung on a two-on-none rush alongside Laurent Robert in the 10th minute, but broke just a few steps offside.
The Earthquakes' best early chance came on a direct free kick in the 18th minute. Huckerby's initial kick was blocked by a sliding Ibrahim, who was booked for moving too early and delaying the restart. San Jose then tried a bit of trickery as Ronnie O'Brien lined up to take the kick, but then jogged aside as Lima struck the ball. Lima's shot, his first as an Earthquake, went high over the net.
Neither side looked particularly sharp on attack in the first half, as both the Reds and Quakes were plagued by turnovers and off-target passes at midfield. There was little action until the 34th minute, when Marvell Wynne tried an angled shot from the right side. Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon knocked Wynne's ball away and the effort left Cannon flat on his stomach. The rebound went directly to Amado Guevara, but the forward's chance at the wide-open left side of the net sailed over the crossbar.
There was a minor injury scare for the Quakes to start the second half when Cannon slid to break up a potential two-on-one rush. TFC winger Rohan Ricketts was carrying the ball with Ibrahim trailing for a pass when Cannon gathered the ball in a hard slide that sent Ricketts sprawling, and left Cannon laying on the ground after initially standing to throw the ball downfield. After a few moments of attention from the club trainer, however, Cannon was able to continue.
The attacking drought continued as both teams combined for just one shot in the first 23 minutes of the half. The Reds largely held the ball on San Jose's side of the field, but couldn't turn their time of possession into a solid scoring chance.
In the 68th minute, it looked as if Toronto FC's pressure was going to pay off. TFC was awarded a penalty kick after Ibrahim was fouled in the penalty area by San Jose defender James Riley. The Earthquakes bitterly protested the call, but to no avail as the Reds had their best opportunity of the match. Set piece specialist Guevara took the shot for TFC, but Cannon guessed right and blocked the shot on the left side of the net.
Reds coach John Carver inserted forward Jeff Cunningham into the match in place of Rosenlund in an attempt to spur on a front line that couldn't quite seem to get on track. The Earthquakes, meanwhile, were virtually invisible on attack, as they seemed to adopt the classic road-team strategy of tough defending and playing for the draw. San Jose didn't record their first shot of the second half until the 89th minute.
The frustration continued for Toronto in the rest of the half, as every carry or possible opportunity seemed to result in a foul, missed pass or even sloppier errors like tripping on the ball. Even the loyal BMO Field supporters unleashed some boos out of dismay at their team's inability to finish.
The result ensured that TFC will enter the All-Star Break in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, still on pace to make the playoffs. San Jose, meanwhile, remains mired at the bottom of the overall league table with 14 points. Both sides enter the break on a winless drought -- the Reds are 0-2-2 in their last four league matches, while the struggling Earthquakes have now gone seven games without a victory.
TFC plays the Montreal Impact on Tuesday in the final match of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The Reds must win the game in order to capture the Voyagers Cup and represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Earthquakes don't play next until after the All-Star Break, when they host the New York Red Bulls on July 27. In their only other meeting this season, San Jose lost 2-0 to New York on April 27.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
