“Not a good tactician, you say?” Greg Vanney must have thought, after Toronto FC executed a tactical peach against the New York Red Bulls.
The Toronto head coach has come under fire during most of his tenure for lacking tactical eloquence. However, his team’s performance against New York must have silenced his critics for now. Toronto beat the Red Bulls away from home for the first time in eight attempts.
2016 first round draft pick Tsubasa Endoh won a penalty in the 81st minute when he was taken down by Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence, all provoked due to a spicy cross by reigning MVP, Sebastian Giovinco. Obviously, the Italian put the spot kick away.
Ten minutes later, the frustrated Red Bulls were put away for good when a counter attack saw Giovinco play a precise ball for Marky Delgado, who made no mistake to slot past Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
The scorecard read a convincing 2-0 result for Toronto FC. The actual game was a battle, with Toronto looking to be on the ropes for extended periods.
Here are four storylines to summarize a massive win.
- Toronto FC new-look defense can actually defend
Toronto played their first game of the season with five new regulars in the team. Three of those new members formed part of the defending core; goalkeeper Clint Irwin, defenders Steven Beitashour and Drew Moor. While the defense had been improved dramatically over the summer, with proven MLS veterans being added, the lack of chemistry was a recipe for disaster. Not only was the defense solid, they even kept a clean sheet.
How rare is that? Toronto kept five clean sheets in all of last season, while conceding a league high 58 goals. Last year’s starting goalkeeper, Chris Konopka, was 19th in clean sheets amongst starting goalkeepers- meaning 18 teams’ goalkeepers had more clean sheets than Toronto’s.
The Red Bulls looked dangerous as they tried to carve open Toronto’s defense for much of the game. Toronto’s defense looked calm and composed. Damien Perquis, who was part of Toronto’s abysmal defense last year, was barely noticeable this game. For a defender standing out by being caught in no-mans land consistently last year, him being invisible was great news for Toronto FC. The one chance Bradley Wright-Phillips did find himself all open in Toronto’s box, Clint Irwin stormed out and foiled any attempt on goal.
- The youngsters look good
Rookie Tsubasa Endoh put in a gutsy effort in his first competitive start for his new club. If he was nervous, he sure didn’t show it. His footwork was effective and he had Toronto’s best chance before the first goal, taking a hard shot at Robles. He was required to track back and support his defenders for much of the game, and put in a responsible performance. He showed his persistent “engine” when he raced to the six-yard box for a 50-50 ball and won his team the penalty, sealing the three-points for Toronto.
20-year old Marky Delgado, in his second season at Toronto, came in as a late game substitute and made a significant impact. As well as scoring the go-ahead goal, he was his usual efficient self; making sound decisions with the ball, defending when needed, and joining the attack when required.
Next up is striker Molham Babouli, the 23-year old local who will get his chance very soon. He was just signed by Toronto FC after impressing for the Toronto FC academy two years ago, Toronto FC II last year, and then in pre-season this year.
The youngsters performing well isn’t just good news for Toronto FC. It is vital. With all three designated players possibly missing extended periods of time due to international duty, Toronto’s season will rely on the youngsters. With Altidore being called up to the US national team, and Giovinco a possible selection for the Euros, the only recognized forwards on Toronto FC’s roster will be Endoh, Babouli, and Jordan Hamilton. Those three form an average age of 21.3 years old.
- Seba’s still got it
After a monster year where Sebastian Giovinco won the golden boot and broke numerous league records last year, his first in North America, many expect Giovinco to have a sophomore slump this year. Early indications suggest that Giovinco will not be having any of that, as he picked up right where he left off, scoring a goal and an assist in minimal opportunities. Heck, he even set up the penalty.
The game was a frustrating affair for the talented Italian. Leading the line against a dangerous opposition, he found himself isolated at the top of the park. With his strike partners playing deeper to complete defensive duties, Giovinco had next to no service. However, once he got a sniff in the last ten minutes, he capitalized and made the Red Bulls pay.
If early signs are an indication of what to expect from Giovinco, he will have another big season in MLS.
- Toronto FC showing they can win more than one way
Probably the most impressive part of the Toronto FC win was the fashion in how they did it. Last year, Toronto would try to trade blows with any team they faced. Reckless defending and all-out attacking lead many to believe that this team did not know how to win. Toronto came out with a game plan to soak up the pressure and catch New York on the counter. It actually worked. The discipline, determination, and personal sacrifice for team success left many fans excited and surprised. For example, Michael Bradley barely even featured in the opposing half of the field. Simply put, every player knew the role they had to play and believed in their teammates. This attitude was not always present last season.
