I_AM_CANADIAN!
24-10-2007, 19:27
Source: TSN - Canada's Sports Leader (http://www.tsn.ca)
Toronto FC earn draw in season finale
The Canadian Press
10/20/2007 3:00:17 PM
TORONTO - After Danny Dichio launched a blistering shot that drew Toronto FC even with the New England Revolution in the dying seconds Saturday, the towering striker jogged along the end-line saluting the crowd at BMO Field.
It was a fitting ending to a roller-coaster season for the rookie MLS squad.
Dichio's goal in the 90th minute gave Toronto a 2-2 tie with New England in the team's season finale. Dichio also had the honour of scoring Toronto FC's first-ever goal May 12 in the club's first-ever win.
"The way we finished off, I think next year we'll be calling it `Dichio Stadium,' " said Toronto head coach Mo Johnston.
Collin Samuel also scored for Toronto, which finished its inaugural season 6-17-7. Toronto went into Saturday's game tied for last in the league with Real Salt Lake, which faced Colorado later in the day.
Michael Parkhurst and Taylor Twellman had a goal apiece for New England.
Trailing 2-0 in the 59th minute, Samuel brought the crowd of 20,374 at BMO Field back to life with his third goal of the year. Marvell Wynne fought off a New England defender for a shot on net, which banged off the post. But Samuel rushed in for the rebound past Revolution goalie Matt Reis.
Toronto kept up the pressure from that point on, and had numerous excellent scoring chances. But their shots either went just wide or too high, to the dismay of the FC fans.
Dichio, who subbed in after halftime for his first appearance in eight games after being out with an ankle injury, finally connected for Toronto, hammering in a hard shot from just outside the 18-yard box.
"I said to Danny, it was written in the stars really for him, as soon as he knew he was going to be subbed, I said, `I've got a feeling you might score,' " said Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson. "True to his word, he scored a great goal."
"I think if you asked the guys, it was like winning the game today," Dichio said afterwards. "It's just been amazing really, it's hard to explain, coming here and scoring the first goal and getting it in the first win of the season, and then scoring the last goal today."
The season has been one of ups and downs for the expansion squad, which was struck by numerous devastating injuries, a long losing streak, and a goalless drought that set an MLS record for futility.
"You take it in stride, you say well done, you have a tentative pat on the back," Robinson said of the season. "We haven't really done anything, we've succeeded in making the first season pretty successful, but we want to get into the playoffs next season.
"Successful teams have great fans and we've got great fans, now we have to have a successful team."
Toronto appeared headed for a successful year before several key players, including strikers Jeff Cunningham and Dichio, winger Ronnie O'Brien and 'keeper Greg Sutton, went out with injuries.
Toronto went into a tailspin, going winless in 12 games and falling to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The squad went an MLS record 824 minutes without a goal.
Johnston said he plans to beat the bushes hard during the off-season to build a better and bigger roster for next season. Ideally, he'd like two strikers, one of them able to score 15 goals a season, two midfielders and two defenders.
"I think this club and its supporters need different kinds of players to excite them, and I think it will be wonderful if we can get certain guys through the door next year," said Johnston. "We're looking and we're looking strong."
Off the pitch, the season has been a huge success, with soccer-starved Toronto fans turning out in record numbers. While the team struggled on the field, attendance remained steady at approximately 20,000 fans per game.
The team did a lap after Saturday's game to salute the fans.
"I hate doing a lap of honour when you haven't won anything, but we had to because the fans deserved it, the way they came and showed up each week," Johnston said. "And for me, we'll go out and try to get the best possible to make them happy, because they are the best in the MLS easily."
Early on Saturday, it looked like the fans would have little to cheer about. Parkhurst put New England on the board with a flukey goal in injury time before the break. The defender caught Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos out of his net, launching a ball from centre - the first shot on net of his career - past the sprinting Stamatopoulos to give New England a 1-0 lead at halftime.
"It's something I've thought about taking for a long time," Parkhurst said. "I was at midfield, I took a peek, I got one quick chance to do it, so I hit it.
"I thought about it as soon as I saw him off his line. It was a tough wind behind me and that helped it go in."
Twellman made it 2-0 for the Revolution, heading in a corner kick in the 47th minute.
Despite the team's record on the field, Toronto should continue to enjoy similar support from the fans next season. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which also owns the Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs, capped season tickets at 14,000 for its first year - an MLS record - and the franchise is boosting that to 16,000, which it expects to sell out, for next year.
Toronto captain Jim Brennan, a Newmarket, Ont., native, addressed the fans before the game.
"Thank you for being the best fans in the league," Brennan said. "It's been a roller-coaster season ... Next year will be a playoff year, next few years a championship - that's what we'll bring to Toronto."
Early in Saturday's game, when New England's Steve Ralston lined up to take a corner kick, he was pelted by a sea of red and white streamers, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. The game was delayed a couple of minutes while security cleaned up the mess.
NOTES: Toronto Raptors Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa and Carlos Delfino were at the game. ... New England (14-8-8) is headed for the playoffs, facing the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals.OK, not a great season, admittedly. But for that stretch of 6 or 7 there where the whole team was healthy, we looked like one of the top teams in the league. At least it's something to build on for next year... And hopefully Mo will get rid of Collin Samuel, he's like Peter Crouch in that he misses about 30 chances per one goal, and he doesn't even have the added advantage of being tall.:roflmao:
And as always, Danny Dichio > everyone else. :red:
Toronto FC earn draw in season finale
The Canadian Press
10/20/2007 3:00:17 PM
TORONTO - After Danny Dichio launched a blistering shot that drew Toronto FC even with the New England Revolution in the dying seconds Saturday, the towering striker jogged along the end-line saluting the crowd at BMO Field.
It was a fitting ending to a roller-coaster season for the rookie MLS squad.
Dichio's goal in the 90th minute gave Toronto a 2-2 tie with New England in the team's season finale. Dichio also had the honour of scoring Toronto FC's first-ever goal May 12 in the club's first-ever win.
"The way we finished off, I think next year we'll be calling it `Dichio Stadium,' " said Toronto head coach Mo Johnston.
Collin Samuel also scored for Toronto, which finished its inaugural season 6-17-7. Toronto went into Saturday's game tied for last in the league with Real Salt Lake, which faced Colorado later in the day.
Michael Parkhurst and Taylor Twellman had a goal apiece for New England.
Trailing 2-0 in the 59th minute, Samuel brought the crowd of 20,374 at BMO Field back to life with his third goal of the year. Marvell Wynne fought off a New England defender for a shot on net, which banged off the post. But Samuel rushed in for the rebound past Revolution goalie Matt Reis.
Toronto kept up the pressure from that point on, and had numerous excellent scoring chances. But their shots either went just wide or too high, to the dismay of the FC fans.
Dichio, who subbed in after halftime for his first appearance in eight games after being out with an ankle injury, finally connected for Toronto, hammering in a hard shot from just outside the 18-yard box.
"I said to Danny, it was written in the stars really for him, as soon as he knew he was going to be subbed, I said, `I've got a feeling you might score,' " said Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson. "True to his word, he scored a great goal."
"I think if you asked the guys, it was like winning the game today," Dichio said afterwards. "It's just been amazing really, it's hard to explain, coming here and scoring the first goal and getting it in the first win of the season, and then scoring the last goal today."
The season has been one of ups and downs for the expansion squad, which was struck by numerous devastating injuries, a long losing streak, and a goalless drought that set an MLS record for futility.
"You take it in stride, you say well done, you have a tentative pat on the back," Robinson said of the season. "We haven't really done anything, we've succeeded in making the first season pretty successful, but we want to get into the playoffs next season.
"Successful teams have great fans and we've got great fans, now we have to have a successful team."
Toronto appeared headed for a successful year before several key players, including strikers Jeff Cunningham and Dichio, winger Ronnie O'Brien and 'keeper Greg Sutton, went out with injuries.
Toronto went into a tailspin, going winless in 12 games and falling to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The squad went an MLS record 824 minutes without a goal.
Johnston said he plans to beat the bushes hard during the off-season to build a better and bigger roster for next season. Ideally, he'd like two strikers, one of them able to score 15 goals a season, two midfielders and two defenders.
"I think this club and its supporters need different kinds of players to excite them, and I think it will be wonderful if we can get certain guys through the door next year," said Johnston. "We're looking and we're looking strong."
Off the pitch, the season has been a huge success, with soccer-starved Toronto fans turning out in record numbers. While the team struggled on the field, attendance remained steady at approximately 20,000 fans per game.
The team did a lap after Saturday's game to salute the fans.
"I hate doing a lap of honour when you haven't won anything, but we had to because the fans deserved it, the way they came and showed up each week," Johnston said. "And for me, we'll go out and try to get the best possible to make them happy, because they are the best in the MLS easily."
Early on Saturday, it looked like the fans would have little to cheer about. Parkhurst put New England on the board with a flukey goal in injury time before the break. The defender caught Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos out of his net, launching a ball from centre - the first shot on net of his career - past the sprinting Stamatopoulos to give New England a 1-0 lead at halftime.
"It's something I've thought about taking for a long time," Parkhurst said. "I was at midfield, I took a peek, I got one quick chance to do it, so I hit it.
"I thought about it as soon as I saw him off his line. It was a tough wind behind me and that helped it go in."
Twellman made it 2-0 for the Revolution, heading in a corner kick in the 47th minute.
Despite the team's record on the field, Toronto should continue to enjoy similar support from the fans next season. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which also owns the Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs, capped season tickets at 14,000 for its first year - an MLS record - and the franchise is boosting that to 16,000, which it expects to sell out, for next year.
Toronto captain Jim Brennan, a Newmarket, Ont., native, addressed the fans before the game.
"Thank you for being the best fans in the league," Brennan said. "It's been a roller-coaster season ... Next year will be a playoff year, next few years a championship - that's what we'll bring to Toronto."
Early in Saturday's game, when New England's Steve Ralston lined up to take a corner kick, he was pelted by a sea of red and white streamers, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. The game was delayed a couple of minutes while security cleaned up the mess.
NOTES: Toronto Raptors Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa and Carlos Delfino were at the game. ... New England (14-8-8) is headed for the playoffs, facing the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals.OK, not a great season, admittedly. But for that stretch of 6 or 7 there where the whole team was healthy, we looked like one of the top teams in the league. At least it's something to build on for next year... And hopefully Mo will get rid of Collin Samuel, he's like Peter Crouch in that he misses about 30 chances per one goal, and he doesn't even have the added advantage of being tall.:roflmao:
And as always, Danny Dichio > everyone else. :red: