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The Good
Yes, there were plenty!
Stepping Up
Luis Silva, Reggie Lambe and Jeremy Hall stepped up today in a big, big way. Silva was dominant in the 78 minutes he played; Lambe was a revelation today, breaking through the entirety of Houston’s midfield and wreaking havoc on the Dynamo defence; Hall scored (again!) against the Houston Dynamo and showed today that he is truly a box-to-box midfielder. Performances have been strong from the regulars like Bendik and Earnshaw, but on the day, this trio stands out.
The Fundamentals
Today was a demonstration on how to play beautiful football. Toronto FC absolutely dominated the Houston Dynamo. The passing, the movement, the positioning, the defensive discipline and the offensive output, each and every turn, flick, cut-in, step-out, header, chested ball, controlled pass and feint was close to perfection. Toronto showed today that the football at BMO Field has indeed improved, and the results will soon follow.
Spots Earned
The amount of depth Toronto FC has at this point is shocking. Joe Bendik has solidified his place in the starting spot between the posts, while Stefan Frei looks on from the bench; Gale Agbossoumonde has done the same at centerback, giving Nelsen a headache in team selection. The two, along with many others on the team, have earned their spots, and the initiative to win them back is on those who now see themselves on the bench – competition is always good!
The Bad
Clinical finishing would have made the difference
Finishing Chances
Robert Earnshaw’s first shot on goal dipped, curled and smacked against the crossbar. His bicycle kick beat the goalkeeper but didn’t drop quick enough; Ephraim’s cross hit the post, Lambe’s hit was on target, shot after shot after shot and Toronto FC only scored the one goal. It’s unfortunate, considering the result – a second goal would have won Toronto FC the game.
Wounded Tiger
Ryan Nelsen described the ten-man Houston Dynamo as a “wounded tiger.” It’s an interesting comparison. Before the game, many would have been happy with a 1-1 result, but the feeling of loss comes in a genuine loss of two points; this was a game that Toronto FC should have won. Plain and simple. Houston were wounded, down a man, no Brad Davis or Oscar Boniek Garcia to call upon. Unfortunately, even a wounded tiger can be deadly, as the Dynamo showed.
Added Time
Just an observation: regardless of circumstance, whether it be a scrappy, stop-start game such as last week’s encounter with Philadelphia or a smooth, flowing match as the one against Houston, the added time at the end of the game is a minimum of four minutes. Not blaming the referees this week, but it would be nice to get two, maybe three minutes of added time when holding a lead, like the rest of the league seems to get (like Dallas, at BMO Field).
The Ugly
Should I describe it? The video seems like more than enough:
Quoteworthy
“We’ve played a Houston team who’s four and two coming into this game. I don’t think you could see which team was in the MLS Cup finals last year. What I’m so disappointed in is because I’ve seen them from day one to where they are now; they have grown up, they’re such a better team, they’ve all improved individually and as a team, and to throw these points away, they’re very hard to get back. Their work ethic is great, they’re a great bunch of guys, and all the hard work they put in during the week should be rewarded with three points.”
– Ryan Nelsen
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