TORONTO (AP) - Former Toronto forward Edson Buddle scored his 99th MLS goal - from close range in the 77th minute - to help the Colorado Rapids beat Toronto FC 1-0 on Saturday.
“There was only a few spells of decent soccer being played out there,” Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “The rest of it was grit, rolling up your sleeves, second balls and battles. That’s what I said to the guys going in. This game is not going to be about soccer, it’s going to be about determination and will and fight and getting those second balls and shielding and putting balls in dangerous spots.”
Colorado (3-1-1) had lost all six of its previous games at BMO Field against Toronto although it did win the MLS Cup in Toronto in 2010, beating FC Dallas.
“Bitterly disappointing,” Toronto captain Steven Caldwell said. “We just feel if we put in performances like that, we’re going to win a lot more games than we’re going to lose.”
Colorado scoring leader Vicente Sanchez missed the game to remain in Colorado because his wife is expecting their first child.
Toronto (3-2-0) played without injured starters Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Michael Bradley (quadriceps), whose combined salaries are almost $13 million this season. Also missing were Jonathan Osorio (hamstring) and Alvaro Rey (hamstring) and Doneil Henry (knee).
“I think their depth was tested today,” Colorado defender Drew Moor said. “I’d be lying if I said when we saw the team sheet that it didn’t make us a little more hungry.”
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