L.A. Galaxy at Toronto FC, 3.7.12

Given the early-March date and location, Toronto FC’s decision to play this CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals match in the domed Rogers Centre instead of the outdoor BMO Field is a defensible one. Combine the cold with the fact that Rogers holds more than twice the number of spectators that BMO holds, and the decision was probably foreordained.

Still, the playing surface at Rogers tonight (it would not be right to call it a playing “field”) was visually repulsive and must have been hell to play on. It put me in mind of the old Veterans stadium in Philly, probably the worst NFL playing surface of all time: matted indoor/outdoor carpeting laid in imperfect sections over concrete. That was Rogers too. If soccer is the beautiful game, this was likely one of the crappiest canvases it’s ever been played on. Fans and commentators talk about players needing to “respect the game,” but what about team ownership and management? The decision to play inside Rogers may be defensible financially and on the grounds that doing so would be more comfortable for the fans, but it cheapened a good and exciting game.

The Toronto crowd—all 47,000 of them—was into this one, sending down dozens of red and white streamers at David Beckham every time he took one of the many corner kicks earned by L.A. But it was Toronto who went up early, scoring an opportunistic goal in the 11^th minute off a corner kick, which was cleared poorly by the L.A. defense. Toronto struck again just six minutes later. Rookie Luis Silva got on the end of a long cross from the right wing, heading the ball into the ground near the far post from about twelve yards out. Silva was wide open on the play. It was a reminder that Los Angeles relied heavily on their defense last season, rarely blowing out their opponents on the way to the title game, which itself ended in a 1-0 victory. You have to wonder how deeply the Galaxy will be affected by the loss of center back Omar Gonzalez to injury.

Still, the Galaxy remains a quality team, and that showed during most of this game. Designated players Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane were all in good form. Edson Buddle, back with the Galaxy after a year in Germany, had a rough first half but looked dangerous in the second. Keane, on the other hand, looked very strong early but faded a little near the very end. Those two hooked up for a nice give and go in the 57^th minute, Buddle back-heeling a pass to Keane, whose shot was just wide.

Donovan and Beckham were good throughout, the latter hustling on defense and as usual sending long, dangerous passes down the field in the run of play and into the box off corner kicks. Donovan was involved in both goals, setting up a Sean Franklin pass that found an open McGee at the back post for the Galaxy’s first score, which came in the 29^th minute. Donovan scored the equalizer in the 88^th off a Beckham corner. Becks took his time on that one, clearly and understandably pissed off that someone from the stands had thrown an empty beer can in his direction. When he eventually teed off, his kick found the head of Buddle, whose shot ricocheted back to him. Buddle got off another rather weak shot in traffic that fell to Donovan, who quickly knocked it in the net.

After the score was leveled at 2-2, Beckham turned to the crowd and gave them an earful of richly justified trash talk. It was the first meaningful game involving MLS teams since last year’s final, and its intensity and generally exciting play boded well for the upcoming MLS season and for the remainder of the CCL tournament.