Toronto FC won their second home game of the season on Sunday, edging the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 in their first game following John Carver's resignation as head coach.
Danny Dichio scored for Toronto in the 54th minute after receiving a well-placed pass from 20-year-old Samuel Cronin, who is playing his first season in the MLS.
Pablo Vitti, named man of the match, came close to making the score 2-0 after snaking his way through no fewer than two Kansas players, but the shot was just inches wide of the net. It was one of his many good scoring chances of the match.
The home side, under the leadership of assistant coach Chris Cummins in Carver's absence, stuck to an identical lineup that earned them their first home win of the season Wednesday, with Dichio, Vitti and Chad Barrett partnering at the front.
Mo Johnston, director of soccer, says the team will name an interim coach on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Johnston says Carver's resignation had been brewing for two to three weeks and he's confident Carver will coach again in the future
The 44-year-old Englishman said in a statement he resigned due to "personal" reasons, but in a post-game press conference, Johnston revealed more about Carver's departure. Johnston told reporters Carver was feeling "disillusioned" with the MLS, amongst other reasons given for his resignation.
Coaching changes aside, Toronto was able to put on a solid effort, climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference with the win.
Amado Guevera sent a powerful shot on goal in the 34th minute after the ball was chested down to him by Danny Dichio at the perimeter of the 18-yard box, but Kansas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman blocked the shot, sending it out for a corner kick.
Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a crucial save just before halftime, denying an attempt by Wizards' scoring leader Davy Arnaud to keep the score level at 0-0.
After Dichio's second-half goal, Toronto kept on applying the pressure, with Barrett feeding the goal scorer in front of the Kansas net in the 63rd minute. Dichio, last season's scoring leader, couldn't get enough of his foot on the ball to deliver a threatening shot.
Kansas' Santiago Hirsig had a chance to level the game in the 73rd minute, but his shot went just wide to the left of the net.
Chad Barrett was substituted off for Rohan Ricketts in the 81st minute after suffering some sort of lower body injury following an attempt on goal. Barrett was assisted off the pitch, covering his face with his jersey as he limped away.
Cummins said after the match that Barrett was just cramped up.
The Wizards' Herculez Gomez's delivered a strong shot on goal in 87th minute, but his attempted was saved by Frei.
Toronto FC is now looking for its third coach in three seasons following Carver's resignation.
Their next game is Sunday against the Columbus Crew.
