For the second week in a row, Toronto FC will be facing their biggest match of the season head on, as they take on a Mexican side that hammered them away from home two weeks ago in a crucial fixture that will likely decide if they will remain alive in the CONCACAF Champions League. Last week, Toronto rose to the challenge with a commanding victory at home over Panamanian side Tauro FC, but they will likely need to raise their games that much more against Group C leaders Pumas, who defeated the Reds 4-0 in Mexico City. Ask any number of the TFC players if things will be different in the rematch and three words are invariably uttered: home field advantage.
"Obviously, there were certain circumstances that we had to deal with against Pumas in Mexico, but now they are going to have come into our environment, where it's going to be a little chilly, which they might not be used to playing in. It is going to be in front of our crowd and their passion is going to show and will bring our passion and play out. So I think it's definitely going to be a different environment for them," says TFC forward Peri Marosevic.
Fullback Richard Eckersley, who was unable to play in the previous match against Pumas due to suspension, concurs with Marosevic and believes that Toronto will be fully motivated to get some revenge for the pasting they took at the hands of Pumas the last time out.
"It's massive, especially with the home crowd behind you. Like you said, there's no altitude and hopefully we'll having fresher legs because he haven't had to travel to them. We're not going to take anything for granted and we're going to give everything. I think all the lads are wanting to redeem what happened in Mexico. I don't think that they are going to come here and show like they did in Mexico, but we're just going to have to take everything as it comes and give everything we have got," says Eckersley.
As a player who has excelled in the Champions League thus far, forward Ryan Johnson is also anxious to make amends for the away loss to Pumas and the Jamaican International believes the 12th man will be vital in propelling Toronto to an improved performance in the rematch.
"To have our home fans behind us, it just gives us the energy we need to pull off the win, keep a clean sheet and score goals. I'm always excited to play in front of our home fans," says Johnson.
Marosevic believes that Toronto can some take confidence from the manner in which they defended their home ground against Tauro, as well as the manner in which they have defeated quality MLS teams such as Columbus and Colorado in recent weeks.
"We wanted to compete in this competition and we knew we had a little bit of a setback away against Pumas, but we came back, regrouped and proved that we still want to play well in this competition. We came out focused and played with passion (against Tauro) and it showed on the field. Obviously, you never want to lose to a team 4-0 and the good thing is that we are going to get a chance at revenge against them. If we just stay on form with the way we have been playing - how we played against Columbus, Colorado and Tauro - when we have been full of team effort. It's all about team work and you can see that on the field. It's full of passion. We'll bring that against Pumas. We just have to continue with the right mindset, which is about playing for one another," says Marovic.
Asked if Toronto will be making specific adjustments to prevent the defensive breakdowns that caused the loss in Mexico, Johnson believes TFC need to both build on the better defensive play they exhibited in the second half of the lopsided away loss to Pumas and finish any scoring chances that present themselves against a high quality opponent.
"I think there might have to be some adjustments. Pumas are a quality team, so it is going to have to be something where we really concentrate more on keeping a clean sheet like we did in the second half of the previous game against them. And we just need to try and get the goals and capitalize on the chances we have against them, because we can score against them. Their keeper made some saves (in the last game), but we're not afraid of them at all. I'm looking forward to that game," states Johnson.
With so much on the line on Tuesday, many are pointing to the match as the one that could define whether or not the 2011 campaign has been a success. And with Toronto having played so many games and travelled so many miles in recent weeks, the team has something of a built in excuse if they fall short in achieving their goal of making it to the next round of the Champions League. That said, Marosevic does not believe there any inherent excuses that TFC will be able to point to if they are unable to come up with what is essentially a make or break victory for the team.
"We are not the only team in the competition that has had to go through playing midweek games and weekend games. There are a lot of teams that are having to do that. We are taking our recovery seriously and have taken the days off that we need to take off to rest our bodies, so we can come out ready to play in the next game," finishes Marosevic.
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