On the 27th of June in this 2014 MLS season, Toronto FC played the New York Red Bulls to a 2 – 2 draw in a game that was one of TFC’s better games of the campaign. The game was also memorable for designated player Gilberto’s first MLS goal, a beauty shot on a free kick, seconds earlier wrestled from the hands of Jermain Defoe who had clearly been intent on taking the shot himself.
Even more memorable was the way Toronto FC played. This was the first time this season TFC played with meaningful possession. They rule the midfield and created chances unlike games before in which they were only occasionally able to find an open Jermain Defoe with a crafty an opportune long ball. Even more positive is that they did this without Michael Bradley who was still not back from the World Cup. It was a glimpse that the future was bright and that this team could come together and play as a cohesive unit. They could possibly be for real instead of just some sort of paper tiger, promoted by intensive marketing through media hype.
Playoff Hopes Fade as Toronto FC Fall to Red Bulls
Fast forward to Saturday, October 11th and Toronto FC were pitted against the same Red Bulls in a game that had far more meaning. Coming in as a must win situation, Toronto FC needed to take control from start to finish and win the 3 points needed to keep themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot. In doing this, they would need to prove that they had developed and were a polished version of the team they were on June 27th.
The reality however, is that the time in between had not unfolded in such a positive manner. July had some flashes of brilliance but a series of stumbles through August with only isolated victories over weaker teams proved to be far too little as playoff contention started to fade. Episodes of solid team play were far too heavily punctuated by defensive lapses that harkened back to earlier, troubled times. Competition in the Eastern Conference began to tighten and teams on the rise, such as New England began to arrive at BMO Field and have their way.
Beyond the firing of Ryan Nelsen fired in late August, incoming coach Greg Vanney was unable to instantly find new energy and a game plan before the team had lost a critical home and away double header to the Philadelphia Union. A visit to Chicago and a victory stolen by a bad call seemed to spark some passion as wins against Chivas USA and Portland gave signs that the team was once again on the right track and might compete down stretch.
The most recent 3 matches have brought the most disappointment however. A 3 – 0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy just over a week ago seemed to be taken far too lightly by a group so desperate. Up and coming teams who are gathering steam need to be able to steal games in unlikely places, often in difficult circumstances. They play their own game, stay in line with their own identity, shrug off any air of inferiority, and allow their own heroes to emerge. The game against LA was a classic opportunity, but it didn’t happen.
A loss to the Galaxy might have been forgivable, but falling 1 – 0 just 4 days later at home to a highly beatable Houston Dynamo squad was not. In what was technically Toronto FC’s game at hand and a chance to move into a playoff position over Columbus, Toronto FC did everything but finish. It was a game that captured all the frustration of the season. With a squad that was more complete than usual, and with Jermain Defoe fit enough to play the entire match, the deal should have been easy to close. It was not to be however as Houston stole a goal in the first half. Giles Barnes out-manned Nick Hagglund for an inside body position as he galloped down the wing and slid one past Joe Bendik. That would prove to be enough as the second half saw Defoe miss on a penalty given when A. J. Cochran pulled down Luke Moore in the box. Houston, down to 10 men, defended intensely and crowded the box. They managed to see the game out as goaltender Tyler Deric had the game of his life in acrobatic and heroic fashion. Defoe and company had a performance to forget as several golden opportunities to even and bury the game went begging in barage of unbelievable misses.
Saturday the 11th of October can simply be recorded as the culmination of Toronto FC futility on the season. The 3 goal onslaught by the Red Bulls in the first half was reminiscent of so many visits to New Jersey. Shades of the 5 – 0 disaster in 2009 keep returning and leaving fans wondering if this tide will ever turn. Toronto FC actually had a fairly decent start in this one. The first twenty minutes looked like TFC’s offence might have something to offer as they held possession and threatened. Things quickly went awry when New York was allowed far too much space and displayed their own offensive brilliance in rapid succession. In the second half, Greg Vanney responded as most would and took a gamble by utilizing all his offensive weapons. Bringing on Gilberto and Dwayne DeRosario left little security at the back but it was necessary to find some way back into the game. A goal from Jonathan Osorio aided by some crafty work by Michael Bradley looked promising for TFC but it was not enough. The game took on an ending that resembled Houston, with build up play ending in desperate misses and a “too little too late” kind of finish. A red card to Hagglund and a yellow to Bradley will have both of them miss the next game.
Toronto FC now needs 6 points from the last 2 games and an additional 2 game collapse by Columbus in order to claim the final playoff spot. While mathematically possible, there is nothing in the realm of realistic possibilities that could give any tangible hope. The 2 remaining games against Montreal and New England will more than likely be opportunities to show some pride, maybe exact a little revenge, at least on New England. As the season winds down, the dust will settle and perhaps a little clarity might prevail. Respectfully, Michael Bradley, Steven Caldwell, and Dwayne DeRosario were brave enough to face the media following the loss on Saturday. Unsurprisingly, the air of dejection was common. The comment sections of so many columns will be filled with plenty of the “what went wrong” flavor over the next couple of months. It will be interesting to see where the blame goes and even more so, how management responds through the off season. Toronto FC will no doubt fade as a once hopeful fan base turns its attention elsewhere. The time for blame will come, but it’s tough to do a post-mortem without a body. There are still games to be played and media and fans alike need appreciate soccer in Toronto (and Canada) for the lovely, entertaining notion that it is, and to focus at least for now, on just that.
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