Chivas USA falls to Toronto FC, 2-1
TORONTO — Toronto FC continued it’s home dominance with a 2-1 Major League Soccer win over Chivas USA on Saturday at BMO Field.
The Reds improved to 7-6-5 overall and 6-0-4 at BMO Field, where they haven’t lost yet this season.
The game was also the first for Toronto FC coach Preki against his former club. Preki led Chivas USA to a 40-29-21 regular season record and three playoff appearances from 2007-09.
With the loss, the Goats (5-10-3) snap a four-game unbeaten run and drop deeper into the Western basement.
Toronto jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute when defender Nana Attakora headed home a long throw-in from the right side. Attakora skied above the defense in the six-yard box to knock the ball past Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for his first goal of the season.
TFC doubled its lead just after the half-hour mark when striker Chad Barrett scored his sixth goal of the season.
Barrett volleyed the ball home from inside the penalty area after a hard service into the box by Jacob Peterson was deflected to him by Maicon Santos.
Chivas USA pulled a goal back on a 67th minute penalty kick after a handball by a TFC defender in the area.
Giancarlo Maldonado easily slotted the shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make the score 2-1, but all that did was break up the home side’s clean sheet.
Toronto will aim to build on its home success at Red Bull New York on Wednesday, while Chivas USA hopes to rebound when it hosts Seattle Sounders FC at The Home Depot Center on July 14 in its next MLS match.
