Vitti Scores First MLS Goal As Toronto FC Downs New York 2-0
Posted June 24, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Pablo Vitti scored his first Major League Soccer goal and Dwayne De Rosario continued his scoring streak as Toronto FC downed the lowly New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Wednesday night at BMO Field.
Vitti scored his first goal with Toronto FC in the 28th minute on a nifty play from defender Nana Attakora.
With Toronto enjoying its first spell of sustained pressure, Attakora scooped a pass to Vitti in the penalty area. Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero charged towards the Toronto striker, who let the ball bounce once before heading home to the delight of the crowd of 20,902 fans.
The goal made up for a sluggish start by Toronto (6-5-1), which looked like it might have been suffering a hangover after a stunning 6-1 win over the Montreal Impact last week. De Rosario scored a hat trick in that game as Toronto claimed the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
In the second half, New York (2-11-4) seemed to come out more inspired with Nick Zimmerman whistling a shot off the bar of the Toronto goal in the 47th minute.
But with Toronto clearly in control, De Rosario made it 2-0 by lobbing a ball over Cepero in the 59th minute after a left-footed cross from striker Chad Barrett.
De Rosario had another chance in the 61st minute, but his shot from well out went harmlessly over the bar.
The Red Bulls tried to make a game of it after that with Seth Stammler charging through the Toronto defence, but was denied a shot on goal by Attakora and Adrian Serioux in the 64th minute.
Barrett got a rousing ovation in the 65th minute after being subbed off for Danny Dichio.
De Rosario nearly made it 3-0 in the 84th minute, but Cepero made a good save to push his shot over the bar.
Serioux was assessed a yellow card in the 77th minute when a minor scuffle ensued.
Vitti’s strike in the first half seemed to wake up the home side and the Argentine went from goalscorer to playmaker in the 38th minute, playing a ball wide to Attakora. The defender controlled and cut towards goal, but his shot went low and wide.
It wasn’t all smiles for Toronto as the first half closed, however, as Carl Robinson was handed a yellow card in the 41st minute for dissent.
Vitti could have doubled his goal total for Toronto FC in one half of play in the 43rd minute, fighting off a defender in front of goal before seeing his shot trickle past the post.
De Rosario, playing much more inspired after his team took the lead, gathered a pass on the edge of the New York box before cutting inside. With the Cepero and the Red Bulls’ defence completely committed to blocking his shot, De Rosario cut back against the grain but his shot was cleared off the line by New York defender Andrew Boyens.
The first half started tentatively for both sides with neither creating much of anything until Vitti’s strike.
A New York corner in the 25th minute could have been dangerous, but Stammler skied a volley over Stefan Frei’s goal.
Wednesday’s game was New York’s second visit to BMO Field in 11 days with Toronto winning that one 2-1. Toronto finished the night with six shots on target to New York’s two.
