Heading into their seventh game in just over three weeks, TFC continue their midsummer grind to try and get out of last place and catch the equally struggling Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon. After another road draw Wednesday night, Toronto faces yet another MLS underachiever that presents a real opportunity at three points.
Philadelphia's woes are well known as they began their year with a bizarre purging of talent starting with Sebastien Le Toux and ending with head coach Piotr Nowak ultimately losing his job. Like Dallas midweek, TFC face a team who were on the brink of real success but have stumbled and tumbled into the basement. Toronto has already taken advantage of their decimation, earning their first win of the season against the Union.
TFC's purpose and organization has looked improved since Paul Mariner took over in June. A stronger midfield who have been able to support the backline as well as supply the attack has been integral in Toronto's re-emergence in competitiveness. The Union, however, are regaining form as well and the Reds will need to continue doing the right things, but eliminate the obvious mistakes defensively, if they are to bag another rare win.
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Toronto continued their zig zagging course across North America Wednesday night as they went back to Texas, this time to face FC Dallas. In the midst of a streak against weaker MLS opposition, the Hoops presented a real opportunity for Toronto to get a point and possibly steal all three. In the end a 1-1 draw showed much of what is becoming a clearer picture of what the team has to offer under their new head coach.
Now six games under Paul Mariner, the Reds have a win, a loss and four draws. Save for the win, the five other results proved the team has looked better organizationally, weak links under Aron Winter have become stable components, but inexperience at the back continues to be the glaring weakness as miscommunication and confusion have cost the team all three points.
The main difference from this stretch and the first third of the season, without question, is Danny Koevermans finally finding the touch that brought so much promise at the end of 2011. Koevermans had his chances early on in the year, but now it's as though he couldn't miss the target even if he tried. He has certainly benefitted from Ashtone Morgan's improved deliveries, but also on Torsten Frings taking all set pieces and sending in excellent balls nearly every time.
The recent run of TFC has given a glimmer of positivity for supporters amounst a miserable season. Even with a positive month of May under Aron Winter, the run of 0-9 is what his reign will be remembered by and this current stretch has signs of something to build off of.
However, Philadelphia, a team nearly as awful as Toronto for most of this season, have also begun to find their feet as of late. Firing their head coach as well, they have had a mini resurgance that has seen them not draw games, but take all three points. As Toronto were fighing tooth and nail for a draw in Dallas, the Union were in Los Angeles and robbed the Galaxy of all three points in the dying seconds to earn their third win over the last two weeks.
It is not a stretch to peg Toronto's run on Danny Koevermans, and Philadelphia have also benefitted from 19-year old John McInerney having the touch as he's scored four goals over the last three games, in all competitions. Paired with Lionard Pajoy, a team who has missed real potency from losing Sebastian LeToux and Danny Mwanga, right now the Union are looking better up top.
The one advantage they will have over TFC is they have been able to bring in defensive reinforcements, in former Chicago Fire centre back Bakary Soumare. A Soumare/Carlos Valdes pairing will certainly create envy in Toronto as they will have the ability to match up with both Koevermans and Ryan Johnson.
A remaining question is knowing Toronto's biggest weakness, which is their back line and inability to consistently deal with balls into the 18 yard box, do Philadelphia have the players to take advantage of it? A balance of technical deliveries and physical attackers have sunk TFC recently and it remains to be seen if the Union are more like Houston and Kansas City in their make-up, or Montreal.
As stated at the beginning, TFC's midfield has been the heart of the recent run and games where they have been able to match up and compete, the team has done well. A group of veterans as well as young legs are certainly in Toronto's favour and this, as is often the case, where this game will be won or lost. If their legs can get through this match, there is a real chance at three points. The best course is to stay the course - feed Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson through deep runs, and if those fail, win corners for a Frings delivery into the area. With the back line still looking incomplete, the offense will need to carry the day.
In the End
Toronto were fortunate to get through their initial set of matches after the international break relatively unscathed. Now they have been presented with an opportunity against one of the weaker sides in MLS to not only earn a coveted win, but one on the road. Philadelphia are shockingly a shell of the side that only last year looked to be an emerging force in the league. With no real pedigree players to latch on to, TFC have a real advantage when it comes to experienced players such as Torsten Frings, Danny Koevermans, Julian De Guzman and Terry Dunfield. Calling on that experience, and quality, will be paramount Sunday for TFC to come away with another result. If they are able to keep digging deep and finding the determination, mentally and physically, to keep up the pace, Toronto will be able to secure another win and get themselves out of last place.
Prediction
Toronto FC 2 - Union 1
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