Tonight marks TFC’s second match back since the World Cup break ended. I mention that fact because having been completely swept up in the hype of the World Cup, their first match back against the Red Bulls last Saturday completely caught me off guard…I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.
I would be remissed if I didn’t at least make a few comments to sum up that match before moving onto tonight’s mid-week clash against Chicago at Toyota Park.
It would appear that TFC was doing their homework, studying the teams participating in the World Cup, because they’re style of play and attacking mentality looked nothing like the pre-World Cup break team we knew and loved.
A goal 10 minutes before half by Peguy Luyindula didn’t even seem to faze the Reds. Jermain Defoe brought TFC on level terms 10 minutes into the second interval.
Then the unexpected happened in the 72nd minute. After briefly arguing with Jermain Defoe, Gilberto insisted on taking a free-kick from roughly 25 yards out…and what a blast it was! The Brazilian DP gave TFC a 2-1 lead, FINALLY breaking out of his funk and opening his MLS and TFC scoring account in fine fashion, all while Defoe smiled and laughed. The two quickly made up after the goal, celebrating with eachother…no hard feelings between them I’m sure.
But then late in the match, with only 1 minute remaining in added time, the completely expected happened…as has happened countless times in the past.
Toronto gave up a late equalizer after a simple mental defensive lapse, costing them 2 big points and punishing their fans who thought that surely this one was in the bag. A point was a decent outcome, but it was a tie that felt like a loss.
Having said that, I was impressed by the teams’ chemistry and their ability to claw back and take a lead having been down a goal. However, I don’t know what it’s going to take for these guys to learn how to close out games consistently. The curse is real!
Moving on to tonight’s match, based on standings and play as of late, TFC should be able to come back home with all 3 points against a Chicago team that struggled quite a bit throughout the first half of the season.
But the parity across this league makes it difficult to make any sort of prediction. Historically, Chicago has been the better team, winning 8 of 16 meetings. However, with their inability to pick up much needed wins as of late, tonight could be a turning point.
Scoring hasn’t been the Fire’s problem. They have managed to score 22 goals through their first 14 games of the season, while Toronto has managed only 17 in 12 games. Chicago’s defence has been far from air tight, allowing 25 goals this season so far – 4th most in the Eastern Conference. That being said, Chicago is not out of the playoff picture, despite their current position in the standings. Two wins brings them level on points with Toronto.
All things considered, you should never take a team that has Quincy Amarikwa and Mike Magee for granted. Anything can happen.
TFC should be able to field a full squad tonight, barring a possible hip flexor injury that seems to be nagging Gilberto.
A win tonight leaves TFC sitting pretty, and firmly in playoff position with games still in hand, and on top of that, fans will welcome back Michael Bradley, our best midfielder by a mile, on Saturday evening at home.
The prospect of what could be is really quite exciting. Come on you Reds!
As a short aside, I just want to give a huge shout-out to all those who supported the US Men’s National Team through their World Cup run. You guys did an amazing job. Being the polite and apologetic Canadian that I am, the whole “I believe that we will win” chant reeked of American arrogance in a tournament that a large part of the population writes-off as a waste of time. But I have to say that I am a bit jealous of that arrogance and that never say die mentality of the US team and their supporters, because I know that one day, when Canada finally does qualify for the World Cup again, I will be displaying that exact same sentiment. Cheers to you all. You put on quite a show.
(image courtesy of Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
