Crew wilts after promising start
For much of a sun-drenched afternoon at BMO Field in Toronto yesterday, it appeared the Crew would start a daunting stretch of games in advance of the World Cup break in ideal fashion.
The Crew was short-handed, playing against Eastern Conference rival Toronto FC without four of its top players because of World Cup duties (Costa Ricans Waylon Francis and Giancarlo Gonzalez), a knee injury (Wil Trapp) and a yellowcard suspension (Federico Higuain).
Yet, goals by Justin Meram and seldom-used Agustin Viana gave the Crew leads. If the Crew could have held either one, the tough points to be had in the second and third games of an eight-day stretch — against once-defeated Real Salt Lake on Wednesday and at D.C. United on Saturday — might be less crucial.
Instead, English star and Toronto designated player Jermain Defoe scored
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twice and defender Doneil Henry capped a frantic late push when he headed in the winner in secondhalf stoppage time for a 3-2 Toronto victory.
It was a disastrous end to a game in which the Crew had showcased its depth.
“Today was a great opportunity to seal a result under pressure,” coach Greg Berhalter said. “It was a good opportunity to learn how to win… and I’m disappointed that we didn’t do it.”
Viana headed in a corner kick for his first Major League Soccer goal in the 65th minute of his second start of the season. The pass came from homegrown signee Ben Speas, who made his season debut when he came in as a substitute in the 61st minute.
Meram opened the scoring after Ethan Finlay made a slashing run toward the end of a wellbuilt counterattack, and the pair converged at the edge of the penalty area. Finlay, making his second start of the season, nudged the ball to Meram, who split two defenders to give the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.
Defoe converted a penalty kick three minutes later, then scored again in the 81st, ripping a leftfooted shot off the halfvolley past Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark.
It was a world-class finish, set up by fellow designated player Gilberto, who fended off a challenge from Crew defender Michael Parkhurst just outside the penalty area and nodded the ball through to Defoe.
“It boiled down to my mistake,” Parkhurst said. “I make a mistake and they punish us (with) the second goal. If that doesn’t happen, we win the game.”
The Crew, rattled by the late goal, conceded three corner kicks in the final moments.
Henry scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage time after Crew midfielder Tony Tchani, arms flailing, fouled Dwayne De Rosario at the edge of the penalty area. The infraction set up a free kick that Henry headed inside the far post.
“I wouldn’t say it’s mental,” Berhalter said. “Look at the goals they scored. It was simple. We didn’t execute.”
Toronto clinched the Trillium Cup rivalry trophy for the second time since the teams announced they would begin playing for an annual trophy in 2008.
Toronto (5-4-1) moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference and bumped the Crew from the final playoff spot while playing without American midfielder Michael Bradley and Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar because of World Cup duties and captain Steven Caldwell because of yellowcard suspension.
The Crew (4-5-4) did not win for the ninth time in 10 games. It has not won a road game since it defeated Seattle on March 29.