(Toronto, ON) — Always wanted to write that. Unfortunately this will not be a standard match report.
Toronto FC’s home opener was a smashing success against all odds. While that’s overly dramatic the fact was the Reds hadn’t won a game since July 18th, 2012 — a 15 game span.
I went to the game rather than watch on the TV’s at theScore towers. I had been to several games over the years but this one was different in the sense that I brought a notepad and pen to document the key moments. Almost as if I was an actual reporter. Unlike most writers commissioned by their newspapers, I spent the game in the supporters section surrounded by the people that have made this club what it is.
Outside of a few clowns who found it necessary to chant ‘put the flag down’ while fans cheered on a blistering start, the opening 25 minutes could not have been better. Robert Earnshaw’s goal in the third minute–accompanied by a perfectly executed back flip–sent the Rogers Centre into frenzy.Earnshaw said it would take him three to four games to get match fit. Try two.
John Bostock was fantastic, endearing himself as a fan favorite in his first game as a member of Toronto FC. Bostock’s run in the 20th minute drew a clumsy challenge from Sporting KC’s Paulo Nagamura, setting up Earnshaw’s second goal, this one from the spot.
Aurélien Collin played role of villain, getting away with two hand balls in the first half with only a yellow to show for it. Other observations include patrons of the Renaissance hotel throwing rolls of toilet paper down from the windows. A flare was lit, only to draw the ire of the most typical group of security guards ever assembled. Overly gelled hair and a slight gut have to be included in the resumé.
Toronto nursed a two goal lead until Claudio Bieler reduced the deficit to one in the 77th minute. Like so many times before, the Reds willingness to sit back and let the play come to them was nearly their undoing. Playing kick and run against one of the better sides in MLS will not end well most of the time. The final 13 (plus five minutes of extra time) saw some changes from failure’s past. Darren O’Dea and Danny Califf performed admirably under duress. Though Califf’s needless yellow for getting into it with the referee was followed by Bieler’s goal.
The positives bear repeating. Sporting KC talisman Graham Zusi was a non-factor. Off the ball Ryan Nelsen’s squad was tactically sound for most of the game, closing windows, pressing and sticking to their formation.
Bostock was good, Earnshaw was what they needed and the defense, more than adequate. Hell, a home opening win is pretty damn huge considering the treacherous past this club has enjoyed.
Onward to Montreal. It should be noted the ‘put the flag down’ chants were led by a dude in a Barcelona jersey. That pretty much says it all.
Once again, a glimmer of hope for TFC fans. Let’s just hope this one doesn’t end up being a freight train like all the glimmers before.
That was a good game..Earnshaw was excellent, Bostock is good but needs to be more aggressive. Zusi was excellent, he did not score but caused panic every time he touched the ball.
The team can play better and they will.
2-0 at the Dome! Raise the flags!
pretty sure it’s 1-1-0. I think they tied last year…
Pretty sure he meant the score at the time of the flag issue.
I see…seems pretty clear now that you point it out.
The team was well organized defensively. The dmids in front of the back four were effective and underrated in their contributions and both fullbacks did a good job on the defensive side of things. I thought O’Dea had a really strong match back there and his cross field distribution was effective. Lambe was hard working in his own end.
But what were the possession stats for this match? I’m guessing SKC had the ball for over 70% of the game. By midseason if the team is still struggling with that kind of lack of possession than the results will eventually be the same as last year, with late goals and eventually being conceded.
Nice to win, but people need to keep a lot more perspective and not get carried away with one (lucky) home opener result.
Well if Dunfield and Hall are your two central midfields possession is going to major problem, their technical skills are between slim and none.
yeah, 70/30 ish.
I was the one waving the giant flag in row 1. I have always, and will forever continue to fly flags in the supporter section. That’s what supporter sections are for.
I’m always mindful of the play on the field, however, I will not hesitate to wave the flag to a song or chant that warrants it. Mr. Barcelona was made aware of this.
Football in this city was built on the supporters and it will be that way as long as the passionate ones are around. Security can approach us all they want on this issue. They will NOT win the fight.
Mr. Desai, next time you find yourself in the supporters section, please come and introduce yourself. I would like to shake your hand.
in your note pad you should have made note that it was a front flip, not a back flip….
Criminal mistake.
MLSE Honcho Tom Anselmi bought us a round of beers just before the match started. He is now my favourite MLSE exec!
really? a beer makes up for years of mismanagement? interesting.
hopefully the first half of this game is a sign of what is to come this year. the second half was a familiar story of dropping deeper and deeper in defense and inviting pressure. This along with the tactic of just thumping the ball up the field (and immediately ceeding possession again…) made for a nerve wracking final 20. People cheered every time we kicked it forward but man that is the wrong way to take back control of a game.
Bostock/Earnshaw will be legends if we can keep them beyond the loan periods.
Reggie should have passed to Earnshaw for the hattrick….. (should have been 3-0 at the half…)
CJ Sapong is an effing beast. It was his introduction at half time that changed the game the most. He was strong down their left but Bostock and Ecks held him off. once he and zusi switched though Lambe and Ashtone had more trouble with him.
SKC have a great team but their use of frustration tactics (shirt pulling, pushing off in 50/50s, heel clipping etc) and outright cheating (3 deliberate handballs, none called) is pathetic. that said hopefully Bostock won’t feel the need to embellish what would have been a PK even without the ‘archers bow’ ……
all in all a good game and hopefully the play on the field will start to bring back some of those who have drifted……it’s all in your hands now TFC
Didn’t catch this game but I did see the first one. From what I saw in the first game there seems to be an attempt to play more possession based football and not simply dump and run which is the way footy should be played.
Hopefully they can keep this up although we need a more skilled player to replace Dunfield or at least to allow him to play the roll of a destroyer on defence. His only role on offense should be to head balls from corners and free kicks, or to dump the ball off to a midfielder who can create and get back in formation.