Injury-ridden Toronto FC falls 1-0 to Colorado Rapids at BMO Field

TORONTO – Former Toronto forward Edson Buddle scored his 99th career MLS goal, from close range in the 77th minute, to give the Colorado Rapids a 1-0 win over injury-ridden Toronto FC on Saturday.

Colorado (3-1-1) had lost all six of its previous games at BMO Field against Toronto although it did win the MLS Cup here in 2010, beating FC Dallas.

The drab game reflected the conditions: grey skies and a stiff, chilly wind. Ninety minutes seemed too long.

But Colorado, which had been on its heels earlier in the second half, took advantage of a Toronto defensive letdown to secure the three points.

Toronto (3-2-0) failed to deal with substitute Dillon Serna on two occasions during the attack with Colorado running through the penalty box unpunished. Dillon Powers was also involved in the play, which finished with Buddle banging the ball in from in close.

Seconds earlier, midfielder Kyle Bekker had the perhaps the home side’s best chance, forcing a fingertips save from goalie Clinton Irwin on a free kick. Bekker was off-target with another free kick in stoppage time.

Toronto was without five starters including star striker Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and midfielder Michael Bradley (quadricep), whose combined salaries are almost US$13 million this season. Also missing were midfielders Jonathan Osorio and Alvaro Rey (both hamstrings) and central defender Doneil Henry (knee).

Colorado was missing leading scorer Vicente Sanchez, who did not make the trip because his wife is expecting their first child.

Toronto’s bench was young and green with 18-year-old Jordan Hamilton, 21-year-old Nick Hagglund, 22-year-old Gale Agbossoumonde, 23-year-old Ashtone Morgan, 24-year-old Joe Bendik and Andrew Wiedeman, and 25-year-old Ryan Richter.

Just having Morgan on the bench was a surprise. The fullback was listed as being out with a hip flexor strain, which might explain why he took virtually no part in warmup.

The pitch was an improvement from the home opener three weeks ago but still cut up quickly. The bumpy surface and stiff cross-field wind did not help the quality of the game, with giveaways galore early on.

Colorado looked for a patient buildup while Toronto opted for a more direct approach. Neither produced much of note although there were chances as the first half wore on with Colorado recovering from a slow start to come back at the home side.

Gabriel Torres shot wide and Buddle was stopped in close by Toronto ‘keeper Julio Cesar. At the other end, a header from a sliding Gilberto was just wide of the post after a nice cross from Mark Bloom.

But for a team missing so many regulars, Toronto kept it together. Bekker looked calm in central midfield and his influence began to grow in the game.

Still, it was not pretty soccer for the announced sellout of 22,591.

Toronto began to press in the second half. A Mark Bloom cross flew invitingly through the Colorado box. Then a Dwayne De Rosario header popped just over the bar as Toronto pressed around the 60-minute mark.

Three former TFC players started for Colorado — Nick LaBrocca, Nathan Sturgis, and Buddle — with Marvell Wynne on the bench.

The 32-year-old Buddle played just 10 games for Toronto in 2007, failing to score.

Newly signed Austrian defender Thomas Piermayr did start, despite having to fly to the Austria capital after last week’s game in Vancouver to complete some paperwork.