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Toronto FC have had only a few days to regroup from their disastrous home opener and focus on even bigger problems as Mexican table-toppers Santos Laguna arrive for the opening leg of the Champions League semi-finals. With only three days to prepare, Aron Winter must get his approach mentally, physically and tactically spot on if the Reds are, to be blunt, survive.
Their opponent is perennial Primera Division contenders, and recent addition, as well as USMNT attacker, Hérculez Gómez, has been on fire through the month of March. For a team already full of attacking prowess, Toronto will have to come up with a defensive strategy not yet seen this season. There is no question, given their last two results, TFC have their backs against the wall, but they have surprised everyone several times in this tournament and a result is not impossible. However, for Toronto to come out alive they will need to play like we’ve yet to see in 2012 as any lapse could signal a premature end to a fairy tale run in the Champions League.
Keep Thinking
After an unbelievable quarter finals and away win in Los Angeles, Toronto have crashed back to earth, being defeated in their first two MLS matches with a combined score of 6-1 and losing talisman Torsten Frings in the process. The home opener against San Jose was a particularly bitter result as they did not show up to play until after the visitors had opened the scoring.
Considering TFC had a week to prepare and get their approach right, but failed, Aron Winter now has three days to solve an even bigger challenge in Mexican powerhouse Santos Laguna.
It is a bit of a coincidence that Toronto have surpassed the Montreal Impact as the Canadian team to go the furthest in the Champions League, only to now to be face to face with the team that knocked them out of the tournament in 2008. Gone are Christian Benitez and Matias Vuoso and instead Santos Laguna have a resurgent Hérculez Gómez and Oribe Peralta who have been impossible to keep of the scoresheet through the last month.
Gómez in particular, in all competitions, has netted 8 goals over six games, and Suarez has brought a more balanced output that has been fed by Christian Suarez and Carlos Quintero, scoring 19 goals over the Apertura and Clausura season in Mexico.
Santos have been on a good run, now sitting tied for first with Morelia and over the last month, only lost once, away to Seattle in the Champions League. Any favours Toronto might have expected, ala Pumas in the group stage of possibly playing their youngsters, should be forgotten as at this stage of the game there is too much on the line. The team that faced off against the Sounders and handed them a humbling 6-1 defeat will for the most part be on display at BMO Field.
The one thing to draw from the head to head with Seattle, and that has been an improvement from TFC over the last year, is that all three goals the Sounders scored came off of crosses. All three goals were headed into the back of goal, and this has been one area the Reds have improved upon is bringing more width and delivering balls to the likes of Ryan Johnson and Danny Koevermans. As supporters of the Canadian Men’s National Team will have noted, the defender to mark down is Panamanian Felipe Baloy, but after him there are few names of pedigree that stand out. TFC’s wing play and overlapping fullbacks are no secret and they will need to find a way to not sacrifice defensive duties, but also be effective in creating chances out wide through accurate balls into the box.
Santos were beaten in Seattle and Toronto has not been an easy place for Mexican teams over the last two years. An arguably less talented squad beat Cruz Azul in 2010 and a Torsten Frings-less team drew Pumas last September. Both results centered upon a defensive approach that, although not very attractive, might be the only solution to get a result. The much maligned Ty Harden and Andy Iro were both on the pitch that night and put in respectable performances, so there is no reason why with a similar group at his disposal, Aron Winter cannot hatch a plan to stymie the attack of Santos.
Toronto’s last hope to come away with a positive showing, is to quite simply make a profound adjustment in their mentality that was lacking at the kick off of their home opener. The match against San Jose had nearly every player putting in a casual, average performance. If the Reds had trouble containing the counter attack of Steven Lenhart and Chris Wondolowski, or tracking the technical deliveries of Sam Cronin, they better be ready for another level that will certainly be on display from Santos. Without question, the Reds will have to compete as though their lives depend on it, and one last hope is that the highly criticized Julian De Guzman has looked his best against Mexican and Central American teams – his performance will be one to watch as the midfield will be critical in coping with what Santos Laguna have to offer.
In the End
It has been a roller coaster month for Toronto FC who advanced to the Champions League semi-finals against all odds, but have slipped considerably after losing their first two games of the MLS campaign. Santos Laguna arrive to BMO Field in fine form and possessing one of the most potent attacks in Mexico. For a struggling defence, at first glance this does not bode well. However, Toronto have found ways over the last year to defy many odds, and Aron Winter, albeit stubborn, has made some pragmatic choices in strategy to secure results. It might not be enough to see them through to a strong position in the away leg, but gaining any kind of momentum to transfer back to their league form will be a welcome change.
Prediction
Toronto FC 1 – Santos Laguna 1
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