Perry holds off Weir
Kenny Perry closed with a 3-under 69 to win the Memorial with Mike Weir finishing second
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Sabres turn over same old LeafsPominville, Roy score two goals apiece to hand Toronto fourth loss in five games Full text |
Kenny Perry closed with a 3-under 69 to win the Memorial with Mike Weir finishing second
TORONTO — Toronto FC head coach John Carver cautions that there is no room for egos in the locker room as his depleted squad looks ahead to next weekend's clash in Texas against the Houston Dynamo.
With six regulars missing from the lineup in Saturday's 2-0 win at BMO Field over the Los Angeles Galaxy, and four more set to walk through the international-duty revolving door this week, the Englishman with the thick Geordie accent and down-to-earth attitude will be forced to look farther down his bench in hopes of maintaining the pace in which his Major League Soccer squad has lost just once in nine games.
“I knew the team would step up [against the Galaxy] because we have a very confident dressing room,” Carver said. “We always knew what we could achieve; but I will be the first to put them back on the floor if they get overconfident.”
Playing in his first MLS game, 18th-minute substitute fullback Julius James outjumped the entire Galaxy backline in the 49th minute and headed home a Rohan Ricketts free kick past helpless goalkeeper Steve Cronin for the winning goal.
“Julius has the best vertical leap of any player I have ever seen in the game,” Carver said.
James, the ninth overall pick in the MLS draft last January, got his long-awaited professional debut after defender Olivier Tébily left the game clutching his leg after a collision with Galaxy midfielder Mike Randolph.
With one fell swoop, an amazing vertical leap and clinical finish shifted the momentum of a match appeared headed for a 0-0 stalemate and seemed to drop all 11 heads of the David Beckham-less Galaxy.
“It was unreal,” said James, a Trinidad and Tobago native who was mobbed by the Toronto bench and starting 11 after he scored.
“Nothing you can experience will give you that kind of feeling. I've been waiting for a while to play – since the preseason – and I got the chance today, and with the help of my teammates and God, things worked out.”
Jeff Cunningham finally capitalized on a number of chances in the match and bagged his second goal of the year and 98th of his career when he collected a deflected pass from Jerrod Smith and ran into the Galaxy penalty area unchallenged, slotting a perfect shot past Cronin.
Both teams played the game without several key players who were away because of international duty, injury and suspension, with Toronto appearing the worst off.
Toronto goalkeeper Greg Sutton was in Seattle for Canada's game against Brazil, while midfielders Carl Robinson (Wales) and Amado Guevara (Honduras) were also absent for international exhibition matches.
“It's like the spine had been ripped out of our team,” Carver said.
Toronto midfielder Laurent Robert was serving a one-game suspension after his red card in last week's 3-2 loss to D.C. United at RFK Stadium in Washington. Defender Tyrone Marshall (hamstring) was scratched from the lineup, as was fan favourite Danny Dichio (groin).
It was unclear whether Dichio, who has scored four goals this year, will be in Carver's lineup at the Robertson Stadium in Houston on Sunday.
On the other side of the pitch, Lost Angeles was missing much of its star power because midfielder Beckham was with England's team for yesterday's game against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. Landon Donovan was also not in the lineup because of a groin injury.
Toronto's win was highlighted by the brilliant play of two reserve-team players, with James and New Zealand international Smith doing much to soften up the Galaxy defence with diagonal runs.
Carver also raved about the performance of 2007 MLS rookie of the year Maurice Edu, who did yeoman's work in the midfield.
Midfielders Todd Dunivant and Kevin Harmse both survived some early jitters in adjusting to tight Galaxy marking and appeared to blend in well with Toronto's offence.
Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Brian Edwards, who was acquired in last winter's draft from Wake Forest University, faced only one shot on goal, but was quick off his line to break up a couple of Galaxy attacks.
Toronto improved its record to 5-3-2, for 17 points, and narrowed the gap between Eastern Conference leader New England (20 points). The Galaxy slipped to 4-4-3, for 14 points, and second spot in the Western Conference after Colorado moved into first place by defeating Dallas 2-1 yesterday.
More Toronto FC players will depart for international duty this week, with Jim Brennan joining Sutton and Canada for an exhibition game against Panama in Florida on Wednesday. Carver said it was uncertain whether the Canadians would rejoin Toronto FC in time for Sunday's match in Houston.
Meanwhile, defender Marco Velez (Puerto Rico) and Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica) will join their national programs for training camps this week, while Edu will join the U.S. team for its exhibition game against Spain.