By Shi Davidi, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Second-half goals from defender Julius James and forward Jeff Cunningham carried Toronto FC to a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in a star-sapped Major League Soccer match Saturday afternoon.
The goals, coming after a dearth of quality scoring chances in the opening half, put a charge into the rain-soaked BMO Field gathering off 20,096 as the sides clashed with depleted rosters due to international callups - most notably among them England's David Beckham - and injury.
After just one shot on goal in the first half, a Sean Franklin foul on Cunningham set up the game's first goal in the 49th minute. Rohan Ricketts lofted a free kick into the box where James, subbed in for defender Olivier Tebily in 18th minute, headed the ball into the right corner of the net past a diving Steve Cronin.
Sixteen minutes later, after a brief downpour, Cunningham instigated more bedlam when he capped a nifty give-and-go with Jarrod Smith by breaking in on Cronin and sliding the ball to the 'keeper's right. Cunningham then bolted in the goal to retrieve the ball, tucked it under his shirt and ran to the FC bench before hurling it into the crowd.
Toronto FC (5-3-2) poured it on from there with a flurry of chances they couldn't bury. The Galaxy (4-4-2), lacking any sort of punch up front, rarely threatened goalkeeper Brian Edwards. His only save came in the 83rd minute, on a shot from Alan Gordon.
The offensive outburst helped ease the disappointment of Beckham, the biggest star of them all, missing another game in Toronto, this time to be with England for a match Sunday at Trinidad & Tobago. Last season, an ankle injury prevented Beckham from making his MLS debut at BMO Field, although he did make the trip.
The Galaxy lineup Saturday was further hampered by the absence of their other marquee player, American international Landon Donovan, who sat out with a right groin injury.
Toronto was also without several key players, as goalkeeper Greg Sutton was with Canada for a friendly with Brazil at Seattle, while Carl Robinson (Wales) and Amado Guevera (Honduras) were also with their national teams. Toronto midfielder Jim Brennan chose club over country and wore the captain's armband for FC.
Toronto had the best scoring chance of the first half, when Cunningham took a clever pass on the right side of the penalty area but his shot was stopped by a sprawling Cronin in the 39th minute.
It was the only shot on goal of the half.
Still, both Cronin and Edwards needed to be alert.
In the 29th minute, James lobbed a ball from midfield at the Galaxy goal and it landed on top of the mesh as Cronin watched.
Cunningham also sent a shot over the goal from the top of the penalty area in the 21st minute.
The Galaxy's lone good chance came in the 37th minute when former Toronto forward Edson Buddle fired over the corner of the net from in tight.
Notes: Toronto also beat the Galaxy 3-2 in L.A. on April 13. ... The suspension to Toronto FC midfielder Laurent Robert for a red card against D.C. United last week ends Sunday. ... L.A. defender Ante Jazic was also with the Canadian national team for the game against Brazil. ... Galaxy MF Peter Vagenas missed the game with right quad injury. ... A spectator ran onto the field during second half injury time, crossing the field before security tackled him.
Copyright © 2008 Canadian Press