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Posted by
Ian Clarke,
October 21, 2011 |
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New England Revolution: Foxboro, Massachusetts
Record: 5-12-16, 27 points, 9th in Eastern Conference
Goalscorer: Shalrie Joseph, 8 goals
Playmaker: Benny Feilhaber, Chris Tierney, 4 assists
Players to watch: Matt Reis, GK, Benny Feilhaber, M, Diego Fagundez, M
First thoughts
Toronto FC are back home for their final match of the 2011 campaign, and there is no opponent more fitting than the New England Revolution. Five years ago to wrap up TFC’s first ever season, the Revolution came to BMO Field and in the dying seconds Danny Dichio added another classic moment to his career in the red and white to level the score at 2-2.
It has been a roller coaster ride for the two teams since that fall afternoon back in 2007, Toronto have barely gotten off the ground in terms of any real on field success, and New England, who would go on to the MLS Cup Final, are a shell of their former selves and languishing as the worst team in the league. Both sides have gone through this season looking ahead to better days, with Toronto looking to be a few steps in front their competition this Saturday. A string of solid results for the Reds, compared to New England’s five game losing streak, is all that is needed to know that should TFC come in focused to finish the year on a high note, it can be done in style..
Keep thinking
The last time these two met, Toronto were presented a very rare opportunity to take on an opponent, on the road, they should have been favoured to win. A 0-0 draw in a drab affair was certainly a wasted chance that Aron Winter won’t want to repeat.
With the season done and dusted, with no playoffs at stake, their Champions League ticket punched, there is a real threat that TFC could come into this final fixture lacking the necessary motivation to put in a comprehensive display to secure what is a legitimately favoured three points.
New England have had an abysmal season and they are finishing it par for the course as they are currently on a five game losing streak, their last win coming against, somewhat coincidentally, FC Dallas. Since Toronto and the Revolution met in mid-June, they have only won twice.
Of course the difference maker has been the moves that TFC made in July to secure the quality of talent that has helped them finish the campaign on a high note. Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans have taken their teammates to another level, with Frings bringing stability to the backline, even when he’s not directly a part of it, and Koevermans having his hand in almost every goal the team scores.
It is critical the Reds simply don’t mail it in on Saturday afternoon, as despite a woeful run of form and overall record, the Revolution still possess the players to cause problems and steal a result. Early season signings such as Didier Domi and Ousanme Dabo could not even make it through the year, while Rajko Lekic, on paper, should have been able to do better at this level. However, Shalrie Joseph continues to be a bright spot, as does veteran keeper Matt Reis.
The new faces this year who have been positive and TFC need to pay heed to are defender Kevin Alston and pedigree midfielder Benny Feilhaber. Toronto have their 18-year old phenom Joao Plata to peg as a top player for the future, however, New England might be able to one-up the Reds with 16-year old wonderkid, ala Andy Najar and Luis Gil, Uruguay-born Diego Fagundez.
As noted, the real key in this game for TFC is motivation. Quite simply put, if they can bring the same kind of composure, execution and determination that was seen mid-week in Dallas, there is no question this is a team that would be fighting in the top half of the table. It was described in that countdown that there can be no passengers, which should be the mantra for this team moving forward.
The players who’ve performed on the fringe: Julian De Guzman, Andy Iro, Nick Soolsma met and exceeded some of their teammates who have been more consistent. These players, added to the likes of Joao Plata, Danny Koevermans and Torsten Frings, should they keep their form for one more day, will be enough to send supporters home happy.
In the end
In many respects, Toronto and New England have a lot in common this 2011 season. Both likely will want forget all (New Engalnd) or most (TFC) of what happened through the last seven months. Fortunately for the Reds and their support, the light at the end of their tunnel is shining a bit brighter. The Revolution have some encouraging pieces in place, however, TFC has a few more to make them more of a legitimate threat in the league.
It was against New England on a cold, overcast October Saturday afternoon that TFC wrapped up their expansion season in MLS and it is somewhat fitting that in a year that has felt very much like an expansion year, they would do it again. On that day, Danny Dichio came on late to score the tying goal, sent the fans into raptures and finished the year with a sense better days are ahead. A disciplined effort is all that is needed for Toronto to not only repeat, but surpass that outing and hopefully signal the next five years will be much better than the last.
Prediction:
Toronto FC 2 – New England Revolution 0
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