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Toronto FC are out on the road to square off against another rebuilding Eastern Conference club, as they face the Philadephia Union Saturday afternoon. Both teams have gotten off to respectable starts to the 2013 season considering how they struggled in the previous campaign. TFC have done well against stiff opposition so far, earning a win and two draws, while the Union have been able to secure seven points with two wins, but against two of the weaker teams in the league.
The Reds are nursing injuries going into this game and that will no doubt factor into their potential at coming out of PPL Park with any points. Despite this, if there is anything TFC supporters can take away and draw from over the first month of play it's that Ryan Neslen has been true to his word in making his team very tough to beat. Keying in on specific players will be required, and doing the right due diligence, if Toronto are to come away with points. Given the mentality and attitude the team has shown so far this season, there is no reason to think they can't earn something out of this match.
Keep thinking
It has been a bit of a roller coaster for TFC supporters early on in the 2013 season. Starting off with almost no expectations, the team earned a big win against Kansas City and followed it up with revealing performances against the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, both ending in 2-2 draws. While TFC were in the driver's seat in their first two home games, last weekend showed that the top teams in the league can still come into BMO Field and face little offensive resistance. A massive effort in the final minutes that demonstrated the character of the players assembled for Toronto gives promise that they will be fighting every week, to the final whistle, regardless of the scoreline.
Out of that match though comes the concern of Richard Eckersley's fitness. Going down late to an apparent hamstring injury, reports are that he will not be available for this fixture. Terry Dunfield, one of TFC's polarizing players among supporters, will also be missed as he has been effective paired with Jeremy Hall and an integral part of maintaining possession, being an available outlet and his movement was clearly needed against Dallas as seen through 85 minutes of poor ball control.
Philadelphia are coming out of a similar 2012 to Toronto where they fired their inaugrual manager Piotr Nowak and are now in the midst of trying to get back to the surprise sophmore season they had in 2011. They are a step closer by reaquiring fan-favourite Sebastien Le Toux, who has been a consistent threat in MLS for the last three years, and former Rapids scoring threat Conor Casey. The Union are sitting on two wins this year, and two more points than Toronto, however, it must be noted that both wins came against two of the poorer MLS teams over the last two seasons, Colorado and New England. The most encouraging sign out of Philadelphia is the continued development of Jack McInerney, who has bagged three goals in their opening five games.
Looking at this game, and from what TFC have offered thus far this year, it is still difficult to formulate how exactly they will go about earning a result. The Reds have yet to become a team that knows how to go out and get all three points, but rather are a team that goes out and makes it very hard for their opponent to win. This is most obviously seen through a lack of clear goal scoring chances and effective build up through the middle and final third of the park.
Robert Earnshaw continues to be the team's only real threat on goal, as his high energy approach makes him dangerous all game long. From those available, Luis Silva is the only proven supplement to Earnshaw available who can score and set up his teammates. The remainder of John Bostock, Hogan Ephraim and Reggie Lambe will need to begin contributing aside from short passes and dribbling if they are to make it to the end of the season. Ephraim was able to contribute last weekend with a nice cross from out on the wing for the opening goal, and Ryan Nelsen might want to give him a look again out wide instead of being in close proximity to Earnshaw up top.
For Toronto they know who to watch for - McInerney, LeToux and Conor Casey will be the names to neutralize. Darren O'Dea has steadily grown into the backline anchor and whoever is ready to go beside him, whether it be Danny Califf or Gale Agbossomonde, this area of the park looks secure. It will be around them that TFC will need to be sharp as the potential fullback pairing of Ashtone Morgan and Darel Russell have been inconsistent, Jeremy Hall's partner in front of defence is still a question mark and support from the remaining midfielders will be imperative. But Toronto will also need to score and this should be the match where Luis Silva gets the nod from the beginning to give the Reds a better possession game and chance at creating something outside of long balls.
This is where Toronto will need to improve, as trying to spring Robert Earnshaw over the top, or even cross balls into him, is not a strategy that will reliably yield goals. Along the ground is when Toronto has looked their best, as seen early against Kansas City and through the middle part of the draw with Los Angeles. This will require Jeremy Hall and whoever he is paired up with to effectively link up with the midfielders in front of them by consistenly showing for the ball and providing an option to easily switch the field if the likes of John Bostock or Reggie Lambe carry the ball towards the touchline.
Toronto might get lucky as we've seen in their first five games by creating turnovers, winning penalty kicks or pressuring the defence for successful last gasp attempts. However, this is not a sustainable approach to staying in games and even though Ryan Nelsen has been steadfast in his message of being defensively sound first, for Toronto to come away with points in Philadelphia, he will need to continue the steps in improving the offence.
In the end
Back on the road, where TFC have been better than last season, but still without a point, Philadelphia presents a challenge, yet opportunity for the Reds to come away with something. The Union might be ahead of TFC in the table, but their wins have not come against top opposition, while Toronto have been able to get points off of the best teams in MLS. It will come down to Ryan Nelsen's approach and if he has kept the side pushing towards a rounded game and not just a defensive one. Away from BMO Field it seems unlikely they will be able to overcome a defecit and if Toronto are composed and determined from the opening whistle, they should be able to earn their first road point of the year.
Prediction
Toronto FC 1 – 1 Philadelphia
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