The game in 100 words (or less): Chris Konopka had himself quite the game, making a number of draw-preserving saves for Toronto FC, as the Reds went on the road and managed a 1-1 result against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the New England Revolution. A third positive result in four games for TFC, and Greg Vanney’s job is looking more and more safe by the week. As is often the case, TFC played up to their competition on Saturday night (they still play down to the competition too often), and though the contributions of Jozy Altidore (early injury) and Sebastian Giovinco were minimal, Michael Bradley shouldered the load for TFC. It’s quite a luxury when a team has three stars like them, isn’t it?
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Three moments that mattered
32′ — Agudelo heads home Woodberry’s perfect cross — London Woodberry’s curling cross resembled something of a seeing-eye missile into the penalty area, where Juan Agudelo waited patiently and pounded the header home.
53′ — Bradley’s mazy run results in an equalizer — Bradley ran past no fewer than four Revs defenders on his way into the opposing penalty area. No one stepped up, no one made a strong enough challenge to dispossess him, and Bradley finished expertly from a tight angle to equalize.
86′ — Nguyen’s shot rolls inches wide — Lee Nguyen’s show was no more than an inch away from grazing Konopka’s far post, but the 2014 MVP finalist watched as the ball rolled agonizingly wide. The best chance for either team to win the game.
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Man of the match: Chris Konopka — TFC’s back-up ‘keeper made 8 saves on the night, thwarting a number of chances for the Revs to steal the game late. If not for Konopka’s heroics, it’s a 3-1 or 4-1 game in the end.
LINEUPS
New England Revolution: Shuttleworth, Tierney, Goncalves, Farrell, Woodberry, Caldwell, Jones (Dorman 63′), Agudelo (Rowe 63′), Nguyen, Bunbury, Davies (Fagundez 82′)
Toronto FC: Konopka, Morgan, Hagglund, Perquis, Morrow, Osorio (Creavalle 83′), Cheyrou, Warner (Jackson 84′), Bradley, Giovinco, Altidore (Moore 21′)
