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Posted by
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April 17, 2018 |
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Aaron Nielsen
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@ENBSports
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Like the past two years in MLS, Toronto FC has not only qualified for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League but made it to the finals. If you include the Canadian Championship, this will be TFC's fifth cup final in a little over two years time. Since Will Johnson scored his last second goal to beat Vancouver, Toronto FC has not only been a team of destiny, but a dominant club in every competition. Since June 29, 2016, Toronto FC has an overall record of 43 wins, 21 draws, and 16 losses, which includes the the slow start to the current MLS season.
Unfortunately, it is still said by some in North America that Toronto FC are a good team, but not a great team, and will use games such as knocking out Montreal in 2016, New York in 2017, and UANL Tigres and America in the recent CONCACAF Champions League as examples that they've been lucky and equal or worse than their opponents. This is not giving Toronto FC the credit they deserve, and the record speaks for itself, where a great club like Barcelona has 13 losses over the same period of time. In those results noted, Toronto were always the better team, and the only game during this time which was not a fair result was the 2016 MLS Cup final against Seattle, Toronto's only final blemish over this period so far.
I feel the lack of respect Toronto FC still receives, which is mostly coming from an MLS fan base, is because Toronto FC doesn't have the Beckham's, Henry's or Zlatan's, which people assume equal greatness, and as ridiculous as it sounds, there are some that still do not include Sebastian Giovinco among these names. Yet, if you compare Toronto's results in MLS to past MLS clubs, or even top clubs in other leagues, Toronto has as many comfortable victories as any other club you could compare them too. It might also seem inappropriate analysis coming off a loss to Colorado, but an average MLS side at full-strength could only beat the least-used Toronto FC players at home 2-0, just showing how far the team has come in terms of a league comparison.
This recent CONCACAF Champions League run confirms to me that LigaMX is still a better league than MLS, but that Toronto FC would compete in LigaMX and it would make them a better club overall. Although the pace that LigaMX clubs play at might be slower than MLS, the attacking intent is much greater, so a club like Toronto FC is threatened much more against LigaMX teams and are forced to play the full 90 minutes. Only a few clubs in MLS can offer an attacking threat at all times, with most teams in MLS concerned more about possession or keeping the ball in the middle of the pitch.
CD Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, are TFC's third straight Mexican opponent in the competition. Like UANL Tigres, and CF America, Chivas has both the history and quality to be a worthy opponent and TFC's current run in the CCL would be similar to a German team beating Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in a UEFA Champions League run. Chivas also got by both Seattle and New York Red Bulls, Toronto's two most difficult opponents in MLS. Although Chivas also looks to be the weakest opponent of the three, which is based on their current record in LigaMX where they are 15th and most likely will not qualify for the Clausura playoffs, but also how both Seattle and especially the Red Bulls could have beaten them in the previous two CCL rounds.
The Sounders beat Chivas in Seattle 1-0 before Chivas, if what might be their best game of the season, beat them 3-0 at home. Chivas then was able to get by the Red Bulls 1-0 at home in a very defensive game, which only saw four shots on target and then held on to the 1-0 lead in New York, despite being outshot 20-0. Chivas keeper Rodolfo Cota made nine saves, although not many were clear chances as New York struggled to produce the chances we've seen regularly from Giovinco and Jozy Altidore over TFC, CCL and MLS Cup runs. Instead, like when most MLS clubs are asked to breakdown a team in defensive positions, New York were forced to attempt a number of crosses and failed pass attempts in the final third, which failed to produce great opportunities to score.
Chivas recent performance should make Toronto favorites for the upcoming home game and like the ties with Tigres and America, I feel it is important for Toronto to establish an advantage during their home tie, although unlike the other games Chivas defensive shape could give TFC trouble. Chivas has the ability to start four-to-five Mexican national defenders in the game, highlighted by their Captain Carlos Salcido, who has played with the Mexican National Team 124 times. Chivas also don't foul often, especially in comparison with America, although they have given up six penalties on the season. I see Toronto having a lot more time on the ball attacking the 18 yard box and trying to overpower the Chivas "bend but not break" defense.
Comparing Chivas to Tigres and America, I would be less concerned with a home tie or even a loss and needing to win in Mexico to claim the title. If Toronto has a lead going into Guadalajara, I expect a different type of game then the last two in Mexico. Even in the 3-0 Seattle win, Chivas didn't win from pressure or shots but by individual skill from an Oswaldo Alanis free kick, to a Eduardo Lopez individual goal, to a Jose Godinez back heel. Chivas also have Alan Pulido, one of my favorite players in North America soccer, who is another player who can beat you on his own play alone. Ironically, this has been one of the issues for Chivas this year as they rely too much on individual skill than team unity, which is surprising from a team that has so many Mexican Internationals.
This is the main reason I think Toronto will win the CONCACAF Champions League, not because of the brilliance of Giovinco or Altidore, which was my main reason for winning the last big matches, but because what we might all underestimate: the total quality of the complete team. Sure all teams at this level of a tournament have star players, but no team Toronto faced has the engine and positional control of a Michael Bradley. Drew Moor has equal experience to any defender, while no opposing team's defenders have the international experience of playing in the top leagues in Europe as Gregory van der Wiel or Chris Mavinga. Meanwhile, by even participating in these tournaments, players such as Alex Bono, Marky Delgado and Jonathan Osorio, for me the tournaments MVP so far, are becoming better players overall.
After Toronto's first MLS Cup victory against Seattle, my only response was well deserved for everyone involved in the Toronto FC organization. I expect a similar response in a couple of weeks time and further excitement down the road as Toronto FC continues this crazy adventure on to the World Club Championship and continues to show just how good of a team they are.
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Aaron Neilsen is a co-founder of Prospect XI (Prospect Eleven), a scouting network and online magazine dedicated to tracking/highlighting young players that refer to as "prospects" as well as their development pathways both within North America and worldwide. Follow PXI via www.prospectxi.com or on twitter @ProspectXI.
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