MLS

• Robert free-kick goal leads TFC to win in home opener

  
  

  By Pat Martin, MLS Editor

  Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - It was a tale of two halves for Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon.

  After RSL came out passive in the opening 45 minutes in it's Major League Soccer fixture at Toronto, the Salt Lake City club fell behind and couldn't equalize after the break, despite pressuring the home goal repeatedly.

  "Definitely a tale of two halves there," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "I think we came out tactically and played that game wrong to be honest. I think the coaching staff takes full responsibility for sitting back."

  Toronto FC improved to .500 for the first time in franchise history with a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in its home opener after going ahead in the first half.

  Former French international Laurent Robert scored the game's lone goal on a free kick to lead the new-look Toronto squad to its second consecutive victory.

  "I felt good because it was the first game we win today (at home)," Robert said through his thick French accent. "I feel fantastic for everybody. We needed only one ball. I had one free kick and I am very lucky, the team win 1-0, it worked out for me."

  New additions this month - left winger Robert, attacking midfielder Amado Guevara and right winger Rohan Ricketts - added much-needed creativity to the Toronto attack in their first game together on the pitch.

  "I thought the first half he showed glimpses of excitement which is why we got him," Toronto coach John Carver said of Ricketts' performance, his first start in MLS."

  The additions of the three experienced veterans are turning TFC's early season weakness - its midfield play - into an apparent strength moving forward.

  "I thought the midfield knocked their socks off the way they defended, as well as (forward) Danny Dichio and (attacking midfielder/forward) Guevara," Carver said.

  The game started with Toronto controlling the play in the first 45 minutes, allowing Real Salt Lake just one weak shot on goal by midfielder Javier Morales.

  TFC (2-2-0) broke through just after the half hour mark when Guevara was taken down just outside the RSL penalty area by defender Matias Mantilla after working a give-and-go with Dichio to get free, earning a free kick.

  Robert took the chance, firing a shot through the right side of the seven-man wall and past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando. It was the 32-year-old veteran's first Major League Soccer goal after being signed by the Canadian club at the beginning of this month. He became available after being freed from his contract by the last-placed club in the English Premier League - Derby County.

  "His goal was scored on a free kick that goes through our wall, that's pretty lucky," Kreis said.

  TFC came close to doubling its lead just before the break when fullback Marvel Wynn drove in on goal from the right side and fired a hard shot on Rimando. The veteran 'keeper dove to his right to make the save with Dichio knocking the rebound over the crossbar.

  Real Salt Lake (1-2-1), which was coming off a 4-0 domination of D.C. United in its last league fixture, came out like a different club in the second half, showing much more energy in an effort to get back in the game.

  "Perhaps we should have pressured them from minute one, a tactic we took up in the second half," Kreis said

  The Salt Lake City squad had a flurry of shots blocked away in the box just after the break after a Morales comer kick, but were unable to get a quality chance on goal.

  RSL forward Kenny Deuchar headed a Morales cross from the left side of the box right at TFC goalkeeper Greg Sutton about 10 minutes later. The Canadian international 'keeper did well to make one of his three saves in the game.

  Dichio had a chance to give Toronto an insurance goal after being set up by Guevara in the box in the 70th minute, but defender Nate Borchers slide and knocked the ball out before get could get a shot off.

  RSL's next best chance to equalize came in the 85th minute when forward Robbie Findley got behind the defense, but a sliding play by defender Marco Velez knocked the ball out, over the endline before the speedy U.S. international could get a shot off.

  Toronto will try for its third straight league win next Saturday when it hosts Kansas City while RSL plays at D.C. United later the same day.

  Game Notes: Sutton earned his first shutout of the year and second as a member of TFC. ... Toronto FC improved to 2-0-1 vs. Real Salt Lake all-time ... Toronto is now 6-7-3 all-time at BMO Field, earning six of its eight all-time wins at home. ... Toronto picked up where it left off a year ago when it sold out every home game. Carver had this to say about the atmosphere at BMO Field: "You can talk about it but once you get out there and experience the occasion, there is nothing better. I've had some great occasions in my life and that has to be at the top of my list."

  04/19 16:21:19 ET