Canadians in action: Cavallini earns point for Xolos
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Lucas Cavallini stayed hot for Tijuana, while Steven Vitória found the scoresheet and a trio of Canada internationals helped Toronto FC to their first win of the season. Here's a look at Canadians in action over the weekend.
Lucas Cavallini, Tijuana - It's been just over a month into Lucas Cavallini's return to Liga MX and he's started to heat up. On Friday, the 30-year-old Toronto-born forward played a big role in earning Xolos a point in a match that looked like it had long gotten away from them against Toluca. In the 22nd, Xolos fell behind on a well-worked team move by Toluca that was started and finished by Maximiliano Araujo. The Uruguay under-23 winger sent a ball the length of the box to Ivan Lopez, who spotted the run of Jean Meneses towards the touchline. The Chile winger crossed the ball back towards the front of goal where Araujo's free header made it 1-0. Araujo was at it again only minutes later. An attempted Xolos clearance fell to Brayan Angulo near midfield inside the Tijuana half. He darted forward before spotting Araujo and sent in a fine pass to split a pair of defenders. Araujo shook off Federico Lertora and beat Tono Rodriguez to make it 2-0 in the 24th. Angulo would get in on the goal-scoring himself before the end of the half in another fine team move. After a give-and-go with Marcel Ruiz, Angulo beat Rodriguez with a booming left-footed shot that hit the inside of the crossbar before bouncing into the net in the 35th. The rout was on and Xolos went into the locker room at halftime with a mountain to climb, but they were up for it. Xolos would pull one back quickly after the restart thanks to some lax defending by Toluca. A series of very unconvincing back passes finally came to the feet of goalkeeper Tiago Volpi, whose attempted clearance landed right at the feet of Lucas Rodriguez, who quickly made him pay to make it 3-1 in the 47th. Buoyed by the first goal, Xolos would be back for more. After a period of sustained pressure, Xolos broke forward with Cavallini streaking into the area after a quick give-and-go with Leonel Lopez. Cavallini's hard shot from close range was parried away by Volpi, but only to Carlos Valenzuela, who headed into the empty net. Xolos would complete the turnaround in the 77th thanks to Cavallini. Coming down the left side, Alexis Canelo burst into the box with Volpi coming forward to dispossess. While Volpi prevented Canelo's shot, the ball fell to the trailing Cavallini, who hammered home with the goalkeeper well out of position to make it 3-3. The goal was Cavallini's second of the season and second in his last three league matches. The goal was enough to earn a point as the match finished at 3-3.
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Steven Vitória, Chaves - Chaves is the epitome of a midtable club this season in the Primeira Liga. They're in no danger of relegation and are very unlikely to qualify for Europe, but that door might be slightly ajar. Steven Vitória and his team did their best to open it up a little wider on Saturday when they visited Estoril, a club that can ill-afford to be dragged into a relegation battle. In the 31st minute, the visitors got on the board. Bernardo Sousa nutmegged Cassiano to spring Juninho in on goal, but before he could latch onto the ball, he was bundled over from behind by Pedro Alvaro. Despite the protestations of a very angry group of home supporters, the referee pointed to the spot. Team captain Vitória stepped up to take the attempt. After a quick runup, the 36-year-old Toronto native hammered under the bar with one of those impossible to save penalties to make it 1-0. The goal was Vitória's sixth of the campaign, setting a new career-high in the Primeira Liga. Having begun his senior career with Estoril, Vitória did not celebrate his goal. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts midway through the second half. As Jo attempted to latch onto a pass in the area, he was taken to ground by Joãozinho with a high challenge. Already sitting on a yellow, the Brazilian defender was sent off. João Teixeira stepped up to take the penalty, sending Daniel Leite the wrong way to make it 2-0 in the 71st. The match would finish on that scoreline. The loss has Estoril sitting 15th in the table in the final safe spot, six points clear of Maritimo with 11 games remaining on the season. As for Chaves, they 11th in the table and also have 11 games left on the season. They are eight points behind Vitória for the final European place, but have five teams in between them.
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Jonathan Osorio, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Richie Laryea, Toronto FC - On a cold night by Lake Ontario, three Canada internationals provided the warmth as Toronto FC picked up their first victory of the MLS season on Saturday night against Inter Miami. The Reds had opened their campaign with a loss and two draws and were frustrated in a first half where chances came at a premium and neither side could do anything with the few opportunities they had. But quickly after the restart, the hosts were ahead. Jonathan Osorio collected the ball near midfield and found Mark-Anthony Kaye. Kaye sent a cross to an unmarked Federico Bernardeschi at the edge of the area. The Italy forward played off to a streaking Richie Laryea, who sent a ball across the face of goal where Osorio deftly poked home to open the scoring in the 47th minute. The goal was Osorio's first of the season and 43rd MLS goal in his 263rd league appearance for the Reds. The story of the young season for TFC thus far has been an inability to protect leads. In all of the Reds' previous three matches, TFC has been ahead, but failed to stay there. Through three games, the team has already dropped seven points from a winning position. On Saturday night, they were determined to not make it four straight. In the 69th, the Reds were awarded a free kick from a dangerous position. Bernardeschi sent his effort towards the far post where Kaye delivered a looping header with his back to goal that lofted past Drake Callender and into the Miami goal to make it 2-0. For Kaye, it was his second goal of the season after failing to reach the scoresheet in eight games with his hometown team last season after a midseason trade from the Colorado Rapids. TFC would see out the remaining 20 minutes to pick up their first three points of the season and help give Sean Johnson his first clean sheet in a Reds uniform.