Toronto FC continue home dominance

Win moves Reds to 5-0-2 at BMO Field on season

Toronto's win moved their all-time record to 6-1-3 when Danny Dichio scores at least one goal. (AP)

Danny Dichio's team-leading fifth goal put TFC ahead, and the Reds cemented their victory thanks to a pair of second-half goals from Rohan Ricketts. The win improves Toronto's record at BMO Field this season to a league-best 5-0-2. TFC are unbeaten in their last nine at home, with their last BMO Field defeat coming last season on Sept. 22.

Some early disorganization from the TFC back line led to a pair of turnovers that gave Colorado possession deep in Toronto territory. The Reds' failure to clear a throw-in led to Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson getting a clear chance on goal, the first of the game, that required a stop from TFC goalkeeper Brian Edwards.

It was the Reds, however, who had the best chance in the opening stages. In the sixth minute, a Ricketts crossing attempt was blocked and the rebound came right back to a suddenly wide-open Ricketts on the left side of the box. Ricketts' cross this time found a diving Jeff Cunningham in front of the Colorado net, but his header went just over the crossbar.

Ricketts was a key figure for the Reds as they took control of the attack for most of the first 20 minutes of the game. The midfielder was a constant threat down the right flank and frequently drew an extra defender to try and control his crossing attempts. Fortunately for the Rapids, control him they did, as Ricketts often found himself swarmed and stripped of the ball before he could pass to a teammate.

The Rapids kept Toronto honest on defense and nearly caught the Reds on the counterattack. Defender Stephen Keel and striker Omar Cummings made a nice series of passes to each other as they rushed up the left side, with Cummings finally rifling a shot that Edwards was able to stop.

Both sides were missing several notable players due to international duty. Colorado was missing its 2007 team MVP and defender of the year in Pablo Mastroeni and Bouna Coundoul, respectively, as well as defender Ugo Ihemelu. As for TFC, they were missing five regulars --- team co-captain Jim Brennan, midfielders Maurice Edu and Amado Guevara, starting 'keeper Greg Sutton and center back Tyrone Marshall.

In the 25th minute, TFC defender Marvell Wynne collided with Colorado's Colin Clark in a hard tackle that left Clark lying on his back on the sideline. In spite of cries for a foul or at least a stoppage of play from the Rapids bench, play continued, and in the confusion Jeff Cunningham collected a long pass and then outpaced two Rapids to get a shot on goal. The attempt went past 'keeper Preston Burpo but rolled just a few feet wide of the net.

The Rapids took their time in getting the ball back in play to earn some recovery time for Clark, who was then booed by the BMO Field fans whenever he touched the ball for the rest of the match.

After controlling the pace of play for much of the half, Toronto finally broke through with the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute. Cunningham and Keel both jumped for a clearance pass deep into the Rapids penalty area. Keel's head made contact first, but the ball bounced right to Dichio. The TFC striker quickly sent an arcing volley that curled into the right side of the net to give his side the lead. It was a potentially fateful goal for Toronto, who entered the match with a 5-1-3 all-time record in games where Dichio has scored.

There was a moment of concern for TFC late in the half when Dichio went down to the turf after taking a knock in search of the ball. Play was halted while a team trainer attended to Dichio, who has dealt with a variety of back, foot and groin ailments in his two years with TFC. The forward was able to get back to his feet and play the last two minutes of the half.

The Rapids came out with more attacking vigor after the break, collecting two shots in the first 10 minutes of the half. Team assist leader Christian Gomez, who wasn't in the starting XI for the first time this season, came on at the half in place of Kosuke Kimura in an attempt to generate some offense.

It was Toronto, however, that next found the back of the net. Edwards launched a long clearance downfield that Keel misjudged, and Ricketts raced past to collect the ball. The Rapids defense didn't close him down, allowing the midfielder to reach the edge of the penalty area, and he launched a low, hard shot that eluded Burpo and found the back of the net.

Burpo provided the save of the game minutes later. Robert rocketed a free kick from some 25 yards out and Burpo dove at full stretch to his left, touching off the goalpost.

With his first league goal out of the way, it took Ricketts just nine minutes to collect his second. This time, the Englishman took a pass from Dichio on the left side of the penalty area and used some keen footwork to keep control of the ball in spite of being challenged by two Rapids defenders. Ricketts then completed the class play by firing the ball over a leaping Burpo and under the crossbar.

The brace ended a long scoring drought for Ricketts, whose last professional goal came on April 30, 2005 when he was playing for English side Wolverhampton. Ricketts became the third Toronto player ever to score twice in one game -- Guevara and Dichio also achieved the feat earlier this season.

The deflated Rapids seemed powerless against a Toronto attack that just kept coming, and the score was nearly even more lopsided. Just a few minutes after Ricketts' first goal, Cunningham just missed his 100th career MLS goal when his attempt went to the right of the net.

Colorado managed a bit of consolation by ending Edwards' clean sheet in the 80th minute. Following an Olivier Tebily foul on Conor Casey, Christian Gomez cut his side's deficit to two with a well-placed free kick that flew through the wall and found the left side of the TFC net.

The goal was Gomez's third, tying him with Cummings and Tom McManus for the club lead. It was just the second goal allowed at home by TFC this season.

The Reds remain at home next weekend when they play host to the Kansas City Wizards for the second time this season, having defeated K.C. 2-0 on April 26. Colorado heads back home to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to welcome the MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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