Nothing like a little rivalry revelry to add a little intrigue to a match-up between two teams. Saturday night marks the first of three Trillium Cup ties in 2015 between Columbus Crew SC and Toronto FC. Not only that, but the game marks the home opener for the Black and Gold at newly named MAPFRE Stadium, the latest in a series of moves the franchise has undertaken to enliven their brand.
For the visiting team, the beginning of their 2015 MLS season from a frequent flier miles standpoint would make the average jet setter jealous. Their foray into Columbus is the second of seven straight road contests as BMO Field undergoes a $65 million facelift that will eventually expand capacity to 30,000. Another $40 million in upgrades that include a canopy protecting fans from the elements and new sound and lighting equipment will be ready for 2016.
After a massively disappointing 2014 campaign that saw Toronto FC miss the playoffs despite the presence of several high-priced designated players, the club has done a bit of reshuffling. Head coach Greg Vanney is entering his first full season after replacing Ryan Nelsen late last year.
Jermain Defoe and Jozy Altidore swapped clubs and perhaps the biggest acquisition both for the team and the league as a whole arrived in Italian sensation Sebastian Giovinco. Altidore will join fellow U.S. national teamer Michael Bradley (signed last year) on a club finally looking to put the pieces together correctly and make their first ever playoff appearance as they enter their ninth MLS season.
2014 was not kind to Crew SC if we’re talking about their record against those pesky rivals from north of the border. They dropped all three matches which included two at home and were outscored 8-4. Since TFC joined the league in 2007, the two sides have met a total of 17 times with the Black and Gold faring a little better overall, sporting a 10-5-7 combined mark.
Given the relative proximity between the two teams’ home fields (a mere 421 miles), expect there to be quite a bit of traveling support in the stands of MAPFRE Stadium.
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Crew SC-TFC Trillium Cup Part One: Five Things to Look Out For
As the two Trillium Cup combatants prepare to take to the field in Columbus Saturday night, there are certainly a few pressing question marks concerning the final result. Here are five key points that have the potential to have a major impact on this game at some point.
1. Finishing quality from Crew SC needs to improve
The Black and Gold were certainly not lacking in chances at goal in the 1-0 defeat in Houston last weekend. Crew SC as a whole outshot the Dynamo 18-8 with forward Kei Kamara accounting for six of those including three on target. While it’s true that Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric played lights out in making some spectacular reaction saves, the name of the game for any go-to scoring weapon up front is finish, finish, finish.
Kamara showed a great deal of potential in terms of what to expect from him in 2015. Though unable to get on the score sheet in week one, rest assured he’ll be figuring prominently in that regard at some point. I’m especially impressed at his ability in the air. Rarely will you see him lose a battle when he needs to get his head on the ball off a set piece or cross. In that sense, his play tends to resemble that of Crew SC legend Brian McBride who of course was never afraid to get airborne and use his head to punch it into the back of the net.
2. Back line needs to be wary of the Giovinco-Altidore combo
These were the two potential game-changing acquisitions for the Reds (although don’t discount the importance of also being able to sign French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou). If the club is to finally exorcise their playoff demons, it’s going to come from the rapport these two guys generate on the field between one another. Look no further than TFC’s opening goal of the season to get a glimpse of what to expect from them all year.
If this side isn’t creating chances down the wings, expect a great deal of centrally oriented through balls originating from the feet of Giovinco at the top of the penalty box. It’s how Altidore’s first goal with the club came about and you can expect more of the same between the two. Don’t forget about Robbie Findley as well who partnered with Altidore up front in Vancouver. Findley has a new lease on life of sorts after being picked up by Toronto FC in the re-entry draft upon having his option declined by Real Salt Lake.
3. Can Crew SC use the long ball to their advantage?
If there was anything that Toronto FC looked most vulnerable to in their 3-1 win at Vancouver on Saturday, it was over-the-top play from defensive to attacking third. Whenever TFC’s back line pressed too far forward, particularly in the first half, the Whitecaps had chances to pounce. This was readily apparent during the sequence that led to their only goal of the game off the feet of their own big splash DP, Octavio Rivero.
Both Wil Trapp and Tony Tchani are certainly effective downfield distributors of the ball. I’ve harped on their skills quite a bit in my writings about the Black and Gold. If you follow the league at all, you’re well aware of their capabilities. Unfortunately for Crew SC, it was announced Thursday that the latter defensive midfielder will be suspended for Saturday’s match after the league disciplinary committee took another look at his yellow card-inducing challenge on Houston’s Leonel Miranda.
Wow. Tony Tchani will be missing this weekend. Huge loss for #CrewSC
— Andrew (@AndrewKingCbus) March 12, 2015
Tchani’s absence will definitely test the depth of the squad and it’s for reasons such as this that the club was as busy as they were on the acquisition front in the offseason. Expect Swedish newcomer Mohammed Saeid to get put into the mix and make his first career start. Saeid is similar to Trapp in stature meaning they lose a bit of size given Tchani’s towering 6’4″ frame.
4. Meram or Steindórsson at left mid
Kristinn Steindórsson got the start in Houston if anything out of necessity since Justin Meram was suspended due to the red card he received in the second leg of the playoff loss to New England. The Icelandic international had an exceptional 80 minutes before being subbed out in favor of Ben Speas. Steindórsson was quite active in all facets of the game down the left flank.
Whoever gets the nod at kickoff Saturday night, having two players of their caliber to call upon at any time is certainly a good dilemma to have. Both are do-anything attacking wingers who have the ability to win the ball, get it downfield and paint as broad a stroke as possible whether that entails servicing it from the corners or putting the ball on goal themselves.
5. What to make of Gregg vs. Greg?
This is the first ever coaching match-up between these former U.S. national team regulars. The two have a combined 80 international appearances between them and were teammates on the roster at times in the early 2000s. Vanney was never able to break into any World Cup squads (he was an alternate in 2002) while Berhalter played on the 2002 and 2006 teams.
Is it going to be a clash of styles come Saturday night? Berhalter favors possession-oriented play and it showed in week one against Houston when they controlled the ball nearly 60 percent of the time. Both love to get the ball into the box by pushing down the wings. TFC was quite effective in this regard against Vancouver, successfully connecting on 75% of their crosses. Findley’s goal to open up the scoring in the second half was evidence of that.
One thing is as certain as certain can get, though. This is a duel between front offices that do things a bit differently. TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko has never been afraid to open up the checkbook to bring in big names that command seven-figure paydays. On the other side of the coin, small-market Crew SC’s highest paid player in 2014, Federico Higuain, had a total compensation of $744,000. His recent extension is probably more lucrative but you know MLS and their disclosure rules on contracts. Long story short, Toronto FC’s effective payroll likely exceeds that of Crew SC’s by quite a few factors.
Nevertheless, two rivals will be squaring off in Columbus on Saturday night in the first game that officially kicks off a new era at home for one of Major League Soccer’s charter members.
