Toronto FC tops Chivas USA to run home unbeaten streak to 10
TORONTO (AP) -- Nana Attakora and Chad Barrett each scored in the
first half, and Toronto FC beat Chivas USA 2-1 on Saturday to
extend its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Toronto (7-6-5) struck first in the 21st minute. Dan Gargan
whipped a strong throw into the box to find fellow defender
Attakora, who headed the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy
for his first goal of the season.
The Reds struck again 11 minutes later. Forward Maicon Santos,
who looked dangerous early in his first game against Chivas
since being released by the team in July, flicked the ball past
two defenders to Barrett, who scored his sixth goal of the year.
Chivas (5-10-3) scored in the 65th minute when defender Adrian
Cann was called for a handball in the Toronto box. Giancarlo
Maldonado took the penalty shot and put the ball past Toronto
goalkeeper Stefan Frei to cut the lead to 2-1.
It was the only goal conceded by Frei, who made several
spectacular diving saves to maintain Toronto's lead, including
two lunges against Chivas forward Justin Braun.
Santos hurt his knee shortly after the second half began in a
scrum near the Chivas net. He briefly returned, only to limp
back off and be replaced by Miguel Angel Ferrer Martinez.
It was an important three points for Toronto, which holds the
eighth and final playoff spot despite winning just one of its
previous seven MLS matches. Chivas, meanwhile, remain last in
the Western Conference after having its four-game unbeaten
streak snapped.
Toronto coach Predrag (Preki) Radosavljevic spent three seasons
coaching Chivas before taking the job in Toronto this season.