Toronto FC headed into New York City and Yankee Stadium looking to even the score after losing 2-0 in the home fixture three weeks back. The story of the first encounter between these two sides was a bruising approach to the game from Jason Kries' side and TFC seeming to have no answer to Giovinco being physically marked out of the game. How would Toronto deal with New York on their field and could Giovionco make an impact?
The key match up to this game would be the two marquee DPs and front runners for league MVP. Giovinco, however, had gone three games without a goal, while David Villa was on six goals in his last six games. New York were buoyed by the signing of Andrea Pirlo and arrival of Spanish defender Andoni Iraola. On a sunny afternoon in the Bronx, it would be an interesting affair to see if Toronto could bounce back from last weekend's 4-0 loss, or New York continue their decent run of form of late.
There were a few significant changes to TFC's line up going into this match with Daniel Lovitz slotted at left back and an attack that consisted of Giovinco and Robbie Findlay up top, with Jackson in the hole and Marky Delgado, Collen Warner and Benoit Cheyrou rounding out the midfield. Nick Hagglund got the nod beside Damian Perquis as Eric Zavaleta would get a rest.
The Opening 45
To say this might have been the most exciting first half of MLS football might be an understatement. What followed the opening whistle would be back and forth, non-stop excitement to only add fuel to the fire as to who is the best player in MLS right now.
Off the hop it appeared as though Toronto FC once again buried themselves early. After some feeling out and chances that just missed the final touch, in the 17th minute New York won a free kick on the edge of Toronto's 18 yard box. David Villa had already scored from this position before in 2015 and confidently whipped in a short side strike to the back of goal to give New York the 1-0 lead.
While TFC likely were hanging their heads, one must not forget that time and time again Giovinco has single-handedly brought them back into contention in games where they have looked completely lost. Only minutes later, what some would call a soft foul, Giovinco would earn a penalty at the other end. However, the Italian DP would strike it cleanly to the left side of goal but hit the outside of the post and the score remained the same.
Into the 28th minute, with New York looking the part and controlling much of the play, Mehdi Ballouchy would chip the ball over TFC's defenders into the 18 yard box. Tommy McNamara appeared to be just slightly offside, but the flag stayed down and in the process Damian Perquis bumped McNamara from behind, the midfielder went down and it was a penalty for New York. David Villa stepped up and shot right side, but Chris Konopka make the diving save. However, even with three TFC defenders chasing down the ball, Patrick Mullins struck it back towards goal, off Perquis and into the back of the net. The Reds were down 2-0 and it look like the beginning of a long afternoon.
Fortunately, Toronto FC have perhaps the biggest X-Factor in the league right now and the final fifteen minutes of the half would further cement Giovinco's status as one of, if not the best, in MLS right now.
At the 34th minute, with Daniel Lovitz working hard at left back on the overlap, he chased the ball into the edge of the 18 yard box and promptly fouled by New York's Kwame Watson-Siriboe. Giovinco stepped up to the spot and struck an identical shot to the left corner, but made no mistake and the Reds were back in it at 2-1.
Just over five minutes later, TFC threaded a ball upfield to Jackson who was working off the New York defence, he fed a backheel into space and a surging Giovinco and the Italian picked up the ball, fought off a tackle and slotted home his second of the game, it's now 2-2.
When that certainly would have been enough for a breathtaking half of football, TFC and Giovinco weren't done. At the 43rd minute, another long pass upfield from Delgado found the New York defence stretched and Robbie Findlay received the ball wide right, who saw Giovinco heading to goal and passed into his path. New York keeper Josh Saunders came out to challenge, but Giovinco neatly chipped it over and into goal for his first half hat-trick and 3-2 lead for TFC.
The Second Half
Certainly after that half things would have quieted down and both sides would come out with a more measured approach. Fortunately for those watching live and on tv, both sets of defenders were having a howler of a game and the second half was just as dramatic as the first.
There were still several good chances on goal, especially from Giovinco. At the 57th minute he intercepted a brutal pass between centre backs, took on both players, and in cutting wide right and knocking the ball far post, just missed scoring by inches.
TFC would rue that chance because referee Ted Unkel was giving out penalties for fun. In the 64th minute, New York sent a through ball to David Villa wide in the 18 yard box and when it looked like there was no shot available Chris Konopka had already committed to the ball and Villa had committed to the dive. Unkel saw it as a foul and Villa got his penalty, shot left side and the match was tied at 3-3.
Not to be outdone by the Spaniard, Giovinco was not finished for the afternoon and his brilliance continued. Intercepting the ball again at the 82nd minute, this time at the half, Giovinco would carry the ball past everyone and to the byline, slot it back into the centre of the 18 yard box where Marky Delgado was running onto the ball and cooly slotted it in for the 4-3 lead.
As though it was meant to be, only minutes later New York would earn a free kick in Toronto's half. The ball was swung into the 18 and recent substitute Warren Creavalle made the error of knocking the ball back into the area instead of letting it carry wide. The ball would rattle onto the path of Patrick Mullins and he would send in the tying goal.
The match would end 4-4 and even though Toronto can look at a road point as a positive, there certainly will be questions as to a very poor outing defending and goalkeeping. Added to that was the substitution of Creavalle who was shaky in his short period on the pitch and contributed to the tying goal for New York. Even though it was an exciting affair, there is a sense that Giovinco's superheroic effort was put to waste by an awful display from the back four. With the window opening for additional players, TFC desperately need to look at upgrading their defenders and possibly even seeking out a keeper.
Man of the Match
Giovinco
It seem a bit absurd having to put forth any kind of rational for this pick, as it is obvious to anyone who witnessed this game Giovinco once again went above and beyond previous displays to add to his reputation as the possibly the best signing in MLS history. On the ESPN telecast the commentary tried to make a case that David Villa is up there with Giovinco but Villa's overall effort does not even come close to the array of talent Giovinco is demonstrating right now.
Quite simply, the Italian DP can do it all - scores on penalties, scores from distance, fights off defenders, chips it over keepers and sets up his teammates. Even when he makes mistakes or narrowly misses, it only adds fuel to his competitiveness. A hat-trick in nine minutes and heroic effort on the fourth goal where he took on several players once again makes him the easiest choice for TFC's Man of the Match.
Toronto FC Line-up
1 Chris Konopka
2 Justin Morrow
6 Nick Hagglund
24 Damien Perquis
19 Daniel Lovitz
26 Collen Warner
8 Benoit Cheyrou
18 Marco Delgado
11 Jackson
10 Sebastian Giovinco
55 Robbie Findley
Substitutions: Eric Zavaleta for Perquis (76'); Creavalle for Jackson (83')
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