Message Boards

MEXICO CITY -- Toronto FC stymied CONCACAF Champions League scoring leader Javier Orozco for a second in just over a month, holding Cruz Azul to a 0-0 result and earning only the third draw by a Major League Soccer team in Mexico.

Despite playing with seven reserves and having to make two substitutions for injury in the first 30 minutes, Toronto became only the third MLS team in 20 tries to earn a draw in Mexico in the CONCACAF club championship.

Cruz Azul, which had won six straight at home, finished with 10 men after Fausto Pinto was expelled in the 80th minute but extended its home unbeaten streak to 16 in all competitions.

The result moved Cruz Azul alone atop Group A with seven points, one ahead of Real Salt Lake, which plays at Arabe Unido on Wednesday. Toronto improved to four points, one ahead of Arabe Unido.

Orozco, who has 10 goals in fivegames to lead the Champions League and has 16 goals in 13 all games for Cruz Azul, had two clear opportunities, including his best chance in the 49th when he sent an header unmarked over the cross bar from the edge of the six-yard box.

Cruz Azul dominated possession from the start, as Toronto struggled to maintain any possession. Jon Conway, playing in place of regular Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei, was busy defusing several chances by punching clear crosses, corners and free kicks and coming off his line to cover loose balls.

But he wasn't severely tested with Cruz Azul frequently shooting high and wide, including one by Alejandro Vela, who hit the left side netting in the 77th minute as Conway scrambled to get back in position after punching a ball clear on the other side.

Toronto was hampered in the ninth minute when Joseph Nane was forced off with an ankle injury. But his replacement, Martin Saric, had to be replaced himself - by Dwayne De Rosario -- 21 minutes later when he had to leave the field with a hamstring injury.

Cruz Azul was reduced to 10 men when Pinto earned two yellow cards in 30 minutes. He received his first from Guatamalan referee Juan Carlos Guerra for reacting to a hard foul by Fuad Ibrahim, and then was sent off with 10 minutes remaining for knocking Julian De Guzman over with a shoulder charge.

The match was a testy affair with 10 yellow cards issued, including the pair to Pinto.