Normally, a visit to an expansion MLS franchise in their inaugural season is one that most established teams look forward to as an easy match. This won’t be the case however when Toronto FC visits Yankee Stadium to play New York City FC on Sunday, July 12th.
Toronto FC is just coming off a 4 – 0 loss to the LA Galaxy last weekend and with missing four established starters to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the challenge is certainly set for Toronto FC to avenge the 2 – nil loss to New York City FC back in late June.
NYCFC was able to come into BMO field and essentially take Toronto FC’s game away from them by playing a tight, physical game that frustrated Toronto FC’s open style. Up to that point, Toronto FC had grown into their new attack-minded identity; an approach that for the most part, was working quite well for them in a long stretch of games prior.
Both Sebastian Giovinco and Damien Perquis certainly saw the rougher end of the NYCFC experience the last time these teams met, and both will need to adjust their games somewhat and draw the support of teammates as a try to solve the challenge to find room.
Yankee Stadium is anything but ideal with an obvious lack of width and positioned as best as possible yet awkwardly so, it resembles a more makeshift adjustment than the comfortable home of a rising, professional soccer club. According to recent interviews, Toronto FC staff have adjusted the size of their own training ground in an effort to simulate game conditions.
It will be interesting to see how Sebastian Giovinco responds to the situation; limited space and the physical play of NYCFC defenders will force him to find new tricks if he is to create the opportunities Toronto FC fans have come to expect. In addition, without Bradley, Altidore, and Osorio, his combination play and service will need to come from Luke Moore, Benoit, Cheyrou, and from the flanks in the potential form of Marky Delgado or Jay Chapman. Inexperienced wingers in a tight environment, and against an intense, high pressing midfield set, may not be a desirable situation for Toronto FC.
With four wins in their last five games, NYCFC will be as challenging as anything Greg Vanney and company have faced all season. Looking more seasoned than the average expansion team, they will make every effort to take the game to any visitor. David Villa has settled in, with support from Mehdi Ballouchy, Nick Grabavoy, and Poku, among others, this is a group that even when down, has shown resilience on several occasions lately. A backline that has survived an early injury bug is now coming together, and an intensely mobile goaltender in Josh Saunders, will not make things any easier for Toronto. It is early to tell how new, high profile signings Frank Lampard and Andreas Pirlo will fit with Villa. We know that Lampard has been ruled out with a calf strain and will not play on Sunday. As for Pirlo, just coming off the UEFA Champions League final with Juventus, adjustment to new surroundings will be high priority.
Toronto FC will need to ensure a solid start to get any kind of result. Away from home, in perhaps less than hospitable conditions, against a foe that is well on its way to becoming a true rival, they will want to avoid early defensive blunders and quickly take the game into their own hands. Some magic from Giovinco or Moore will be key to turning the momentum. Some might even suggest that a hunker down approach that got results in Philadelphia and Orlando might be best.
Whatever the choice, both teams will see this as critical, though barely into the halfway point of the season. New York is knocking on the playoff door and Toronto will not want to slip from the top six of a weaker but internally competitive Eastern Conference group.
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