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Toronto FC kicks off the 2013 season with a bitter result, losing against the Vancouver Whitecaps after performing well for the first half of action. The Reds lost their only encounter with Vancouver by a score of 1-0, with Gershon Koffie scoring the only goal of the game.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from BC Place:
The Good:
Some signs of hope at last!
Defensive Discipline
Much of the problems that Toronto FC faced last season came down to shoddy defending. Indeed, a league-worst 62 goals conceded is no point of pride. However, with a new central defensive pairing, Toronto FC looks a side reborn, at least defensively. Danny Califf and Darren O’Dea work well together, and with fullbacks Richard Eckersley and Ashtone Morgan, this four-man backline could very well work in 2013.
Bekker Brilliance
In his debut game in Major League Soccer, Kyle Bekker showed the professionalism, skill and attitude that his drafters spoke of with confidence. His first touch was class, his ability to turn on the ball eclipsed only by his awareness of those around him. Bekker earns a glowing review, with one minor critique; a touch of fatigue in the final five minutes almost led to a goal.
The British Are Coming!
Just one week ago, Toronto FC looked a side lacking depth and struggling to fill spots on the starting line. However, Hogan Ephraim and Robert Earnshaw certainly performed well on the night, Taylor Morgan found some minutes, and the promise of Darel Russell in midfield replacing Jeremy Hall means the cavalry has arrived in Toronto at last!
The Bad:
Yikes! There’s still plenty of work remaining for a club in need of midfield help.
Midfield Madness
Jeremy Hall, Terry Dunfield and Reggie Lambe; three ordinary players playing ordinary football. The first, a player out of position, trying to figure out life as a midfield general; the second, a hard-working, rough-tackling utility man; the last, a winger caught with his back to his opponent and a tendency to pass to defenders instead of attackers. The trio did not disappoint, nor did they excite – an average day, indeed.
Day One Loss
Toronto FC will feel hard done by the result on the night after a first-half that saw the club dominate the chances and hold an even level of possession (a first in how many months?). Now three points down, Ryan Nelsen will be hoping for a quick rebound at the Rogers Centre against a very powerful Sporting Kansas City, so as to not fall too far back from the rest of the pack.
Bragging Rights
Since Toronto FC is taking on the Montreal Impact in the Amway Canadian Championship, and there is no guarantee in meeting Vancouver again, the Whitecaps may have walked away from today’s match with bragging rights for this season’s encounters. However, if a final between Toronto FC and the Whitecaps should transpire in the ACC finals, well…we know how that’s ended before, don’t we?
The Ugly:
Do you hear that? A noise sweeping by, a grinding crunch? What could it be?
Oh boy…
Quoteworthy:
“I feel really bad for the guys," Ryan Nelsen told MLSsoccer.com. "They worked their socks off and put a real shift in. They had a really good first half in which I really feel they dictated the game and had a couple of very good opportunities. If we had taken one of those, it would have been a whole different ball game. We’ve played away from home and delivered a very good account of ourselves and had some very good chances. This team will only get better.”
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