Chivas USA Notes (1-0 win vs. Toronto FC, BMO Field, Toronto, Ont., 4/14/2012)

 

·         Chivas USA won 1-0 against Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field before 18,476 fans. The Red-and-White has won all three of its road games during the 2012 MLS season and has a record of 3-0 on the road. Ecuadorian Oswaldo Minda gave the Goats the lead with a header in the 31st minute.

 ·         With the victory, Chivas USA’s season record improves to (3-3-0) and moves them to fourth place in the Western Conference with 9 points -pending the Dallas vs. Montreal Impact match.

 

·         Chivas USA took the lead in the first half when Ecuadorian Miller Bolaños, with his first assist of the season, cashed a corner kick and midfielder Minda, with a header, beat Toronto’s goalkeeper Milos Kocic and scored his first MLS goal and first of the season in the 31st minute.

 

·         The Goats dominated the first half of the match, kept possession and control of the ball (56% vs. 44%) and generated 7 attempts on goal versus 3 from Toronto FC.

 

·         Ryan Smith and Bolaños, playing as forwards, constantly switched positions throughout the match, which surprised their opponents and generated several goal opportunities for the Red-and-White.

 ·        Toronto FC did not give up and after the 80th minute generated several attacks and goal opportunities but Chivas USA’s defensive line was well-ordered and cleared the ball as it came inside their box.

 

·         An inspired Dan Kennedy saved the Goats of the equalizer in several opportunities. At the 16th minute, on an individual play, Toronto’s midfielder Luis Silva faced Kennedy one-on-one, but Goat’s GK deflected the shot and kept his goal safe. In the 70th minute, Kennedy again, one-on-one, on his knees deflected Danny Koevermans’ backheeled shot, and in the 89th minute, Kennedy avoided the equalizer by deflecting Koevermans’ point-blank shot.

 

·         Heath Pearce, a leader in the defensive line for Chivas USA kept the advantage of his team in the 80th minute when midfielder Ryan Johnson struck a left-footed shot, cleared off the line by the Red-and-White defender denying the tie.

·       The Red-and-White travel back to Los Angeles and will resume training on Tuesday ahead of the weekend game against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center. The match will broadcast on television, live on Prime Ticket in English, and KWHY Channel 22 in Spanish. For more information about the game and for tickets, please visit cdchivasusa.com or call 1-877-CHIVAS-1. Follow us on Twitter @cdchivasusa and Facebook.com/chivasusa

 

THE WORD FROM THE TEAMS:

 

CHIVAS USA HEAD COACH – ROBIN FRASER

Thoughts on today’s win… «I thought in the first half we were able to, at moments, put together some good stretches and put ourselves in dangerous positions and we were fortunate to score the goal. Going with the wind, we were kind of hoping to have more of a lead going into the second half knowing what it was probably going to be like. But, in the second half I thought TFC really put us under a lot of pressure and really credit to our guys, we bent but we didn’t break.»

 

Did you try to employ a different strategy in the second half knowing that TFC would be going with the wind and come out aggressive looking for the tying goal? – «No not really. At the end of the day strategy really isn’t all that different, you’re still trying to control the game, you’re still trying to have most of the ball and control the tempo. As I said, TFC did a good job of winning balls back and putting us under pressure.»

 

What does a win like this on the road mean for your team? – «I think it’s huge. It’s a continuation of a season that started in difficult conditions for us, we lost a couple of games we felt maybe we shouldn’t have lost, and credit to the group they’ve really grinded out the wins. I think it’s good for our confidence.»

 

CHIVAS USA MIDFIELDER – NICK LABROCCA

 

Thoughts on today’s game… «We wanted to come out and be aggressive and kind of control the game. We obviously wanted to attack and make sure that we got that first goal. Other than that, we wanted to be better on the ball and I thought we did that.»

 

Is there anything you guys did differently in the second half to defend an attacking TFC side? «Their quality was a little better and I think the wind definitely played a huge deal in it, not only for us in the first half but for them in the second half, it made getting out of the back much more difficult. They definitely played it right and made things very interesting and we had a couple big stops on the line.»

 

Thoughts on coming back to play in Toronto… «Yeah, it’s great to be back. This is a great organization and I enjoyed all of my time here. Everyone has been nothing but great to me when I was here and even after I’ve left.»

 

Thoughts on the early struggles of the TFC… «I think they are probably just a little unlucky. You can see that there is quality out there, they have some great combinations and you saw how they were in the Champions League. I thought they were by far the better team going into Mexico so that is very impressive.»

 

CHIVAS USA GOALKEEPER – DAN KENNEDY

 

Thoughts on today’s win… «Yeah, it was nice to get the win. You saw the windy conditions play an advantage to whichever team has it at their back and it was important for us to get that first half goal and we did. We came in at half time and we knew that we were going to go out and have a fight on our hands and we needed to be good winning the right positions against all those long balls and crosses. We weathered the storm in a way and now we have three points.»

 

You made a lot of saves in the second half and were able to hold them off… «One of the best aspects of their team is their attacking options and coming in here we knew that. We didn’t want to give up anything but throughout 90 minutes of a game you are going to give up some stuff. Fortunately the saves went my way tonight.»

 

TORONTO FC HEAD COACH  & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – ARON WINTER

 

Why can’t this team score? – «I think we are in a period of bad luck and you can see it. It’s amazing if you watch the whole game we gave away almost nothing, on the corner we weren’t sharp and they got a goal but we had so many opportunities as well. We had 2 or 3 chances from Danny (Kouvermans) and that shot from Ryan (Johnson) I don’t know where the guy [Pearce] came from and saved the shot on the line.»

 

How is this affecting you (Aron Winter)? – «I’m still positive. I’m seeing a lot of good things. It has never happened in my soccer career, in my coaching career that you play five games and get zero points. You have to be honest, we are playing well, we are creating chances and we are in a situation where things are just not going the way we want them to go, it’s bad luck, it’s the only thing I can explain.»

 

What do you say to your players after the game? Do you say well done? – «When you lose you can never say you played well but you still have to be positive. I saw a lot of good things and that’s important. If you don’t create chances and you don’t play well you are far away from things, but I think in this situation what could we better at those moments. I think we are having bad luck.»

 

TORONTO FC FORWARD – RYAN JOHNSON

 

Comment on the lack of goals… «We could have had four five goals in the second half and credit to the keeper, he made a couple of good saves. This is probably the most unlucky I’ve been in my whole career. This is something that is mind boggling and I can’t believe what just happened today, it’s tough.»

 

What can you tell us about your chances? – «One shot, I beat the keeper and the guy ran back and he cleared it off his thigh, he didn’t even see the ball, that’s just unlucky. The one they cleared off the line which was a header and the other header was just a little wide. Kouvermans also had some goals that were even more clear cut than mine and the keeper made some unbelievable saves. I don’t think the keeper even saw the ball on those saves. Credit to the keeper but it’s pretty unlucky for us.»

 

TORONTO FC FORWARD – DANNY KOEVERMANS

 

Comment on the five losses, the most ever in franchise history… «The thing is we don’t play bad, we created our chances and we just didn’t score and had one against us. So we have to stay positive and think that it’s got to turn around. We should have at least six or seven points now. I know it’s the worst start in franchise history.»

 

As you left the pitch the crowd boo’d you, how did you feel about that? – «You know I’m used to that. If you lose they boo you, If you win they cheer. It’s part of soccer. Still, they kept supporting us until the 94th minute and of course they are mad also because we didn’t win again. Every time there is 18, 19, 20 thousand people and they deserve a win too and I think we deserve the win to but we couldn’t do it.»

Chivas USA (3-3-0) vs. Toronto FC (0-5-0)

April 14, 2012 – BMO Field

 

Scoring Summary:

CHV – O. Minda 1 (Miller Bolaños 1) 31′

 

Chivas USA — Dan Kennedy, James Riley, Rauwshan McKenzie, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic Oswaldo Minda, Ben Zemanski, Nick LaBrocca (Casey Townsend 93), Miller Bolaños (Cesar Romero 66′), Alejandro Moreno, Ryan Smith (Scott Gordon 84).

Subs not used: Tim Melia, John Valencia, Paolo Cardozo, Laurent Courtois.

 

Toronto FC — Milos Kocic, Richard Eckersley, Adrian Cann, Miguel Aceval (Doneil Henry 56′), Ashtone Morgan, Terry Dunfield, Luis Silva (Eric Avila 71), Reggie Lambe, Ryan Johnson, Danny Koevermans, Joao Plata

Subs not used: Quillan Roberts, Matt Stinson, Julian de Guzman, Ty Harden, Torsten Frings.

 

Misconduct Summary:

CHV – Ryan Smith (foul) 6′

CHV – Miller Bolaños (dive) 51′

CHV – Oswaldo Minda (off the ball foul) 65′

TOR – Reggie Lambe (foul) 66′

TOR – Danny Koevermans (dissent) 91′

 

Referee: Mark Geiger Referee’s Assistants: Joe Fletcher, Steven Taylor 4th Official: Silviu Petrescu

Attendance: 18,476 Time of Game: 2:00 Weather: Cloudy and 59 degrees

cdchivasusa.com

 

About Chivas USA

Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in seven full seasons in Major League Soccer. From 2006-2009, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA’s innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club’s youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.