Whitecaps FC suffer more heartbreak at Toronto FC

TORONTO, ON - In a dramatic Canadian derby clash in Major League Soccer, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8W-5L-6D) suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 away defeat to Toronto FC (3W-11L-4D) on Wednesday evening.

In a match that came to life after halftime at Toronto’s BMO Field, ‘Budweiser Man of the Match’ Darren Mattocks scored twice for the Blue and White, with his second goal in second-half stoppage time looking set to earn Vancouver a point in Southern Ontario.

However, The Reds continued their strong showing over Whitecaps FC at home after second-half goals from Luis Silva and Torsten Frings set up former Whitecaps FC midfielder Terry Dunfield to win the match with a dramatic header deep into second-half stoppage time.

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed to lose,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. “It always hurts when you lose, but to lose this late in the game after equalizing late in the game is very frustrating and something that we're not happy about. But it's something we'll have to bounce back from, and when we've had disappointments before, we've bounced back well. Hopefully, we'll do that again.”

Playing their fourth of five straight matches on the road, Rennie had to make two changes in his 4-2-3-1 formation. With Davide Chiumiento departing Whitecaps FC for Swiss club FC Zürich on Wednesday and striker Eric Hassli suspended, Mattocks and Camilo Sanvezzo returned to Vancouver’s starting XI.

In the hot summer sunshine at BMO Field, Whitecaps FC looked sharp with their passing and possession in spells, with Camilo and Barry Robson each having a pair of chances inside the first half-hour.

Having looked more solid under new head coach Paul Mariner in recent matches, TFC had a handful of half chances before creating the two best opportunities of the half, as Ryan Johnson had two late breakaways. Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Joe Cannon saved from the Reds striker on 41 minutes before Johnson hit the post in two minutes of first-half stoppage time.

Where the first half was lukewarm, the second half was an explosion of action, with all five goals scored after the break. Whitecaps FC broke the initial deadlock with a well-taken goal from Mattocks on 50 minutes. The youngster slotted his rebound home from a very tight angle after Robson found him in the TFC box.

Vancouver’s advantage lasted until just past the midway point of the second half, as TFC turned the match around with two goals in four minutes. Silva flicked home his first goal in MLS from Ashtone Morgan’s low cross on 68 minutes before Frings drilled home TFC’s second goal on 72 minutes after Whitecaps FC failed to clear a Toronto corner.

Suddenly, the ‘Caps were chasing the match, but they kept pressing forward in the dying stages. After Young-Pyo Lee agonizingly struck the TFC post with a shot on 85 minutes, Vancouver levelled the match through Mattocks one minute into stoppage time.

Showing incredible leaping ability in the Toronto box, Mattocks out-jumped TFC defender Logan Emory and goalkeeper Milos Kocic to Jordan Harvey’s looping cross and headed home his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-2.

Destined for a draw, TFC earned the final corner of the match, and used it to decisive effect in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Frings swung in his set-piece and found an unmarked Dunfield. His header planted in the top corner of Vancouver net to give The Reds their third league win of the season.

Whitecaps FC will have to put Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat behind them quickly, as they wrap up their schedule of regular season matches versus MLS Eastern Conference clubs at Chicago Fire on Saturday.

MATCH DETAILS

Budweiser Man of the Match: Darren Mattocks
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Attendance: 19,821

Scoring Summary:
50' - VAN - Darren Mattocks
68' - TOR - Luis Silva (Ashtone Morgan)
72' - TOR - Torsten Frings
90+1' - VAN - Darren Mattocks (Jordan Harvey)
90+5' - TOR - Terry Dunfield (Torsten Frings)

Match Stats:
Shots: Toronto 16 – Vancouver 12
Shots on Goal: Toronto 7 – Vancouver 3
Saves: Toronto 1 – Vancouver 4
Fouls: Toronto 10 – Vancouver 8
Offsides: Toronto 2 – Vancouver 1
Corners: Toronto 7 – Vancouver 2

Cautions:
38' - TOR - Luis Silva 
63' - TOR - Terry Dunfield
71' - VAN - Alain Rochat

Toronto FC
30.Milos Kocic; 25.Jeremy Hall (4.Doneil Henry 29'), 27.Richard Eckersley, 2.Logan Emory, 5.Ashtone Morgan; 11.Luis Silva, 23.Terry Dunfield, 22.Torsten Frings, 6.Julian de Guzman (8.Eric Avila 60'); 14.Danny Koevermans, 9.Ryan Johnson

Substitutes not used: 40.Quillan Roberts, 3.Miguel Aceval, 15.Matt Stinson, 21.Aaron Maund

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1. Joe Cannon; 12.Young-Pyo Lee, 15.Martin Bonjour, 6.Jay DeMerit, 3.Jordan Harvey; 28.Gershon Koffie, 4.Alain Rochat; 7.Sebastien Le Toux, 14.Barry Robson, 37.Camilo Sanvezzo (13.Michael Nanchoff 82'); 22.Darren Mattocks

Substitutes not used: 18.Brad Knighton, 8.Etienne Barbara, 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 27.Jun Marques Davidson, 31.Russell Teibert, 32.Greg Klazura