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Posted by
Mat Rooney,
July 24, 2016 |
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Mat Rooney
On Twitter:
@Canucks_Abroad
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Super Seba is back! And he announced it loud and proud. Toronto FC played what might just have been their most entertaining game of the season so far against DC United and secured a much needed, especially after last week, 4-1 victory. Not only were the goals and chances aplenty but the return of Jozy Altidore and the debut of Canadian Tosaint Ricketts made the match all the more spectacular.
The drought is over!
The Opening 45
Out of the gate, Toronto looked strong with some great early chances by Jay Chapman and Jordan Hamilton. In the 20th minute, Giovinco returned to his goal-scoring ways with a beautiful free kick giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. But it was enjoyed for only a moment as DC's Jared Jeffrey beat Drew Moor and Eriq Zavaleta to slide the ball passed Alex Bono to tie it up in the 24th.
In the 29th, Marco Delgado gave Toronto the lead when he knocked a Giovinco rebound in to give Toronto the lead again and 10 minutes later Giovinco scored another great free kick. A pair of great late saves by Bono assured Toronto a 3-1 lead exiting the first half.
The Second Half
The strong play continued in the second with great chances for Tsubasa Endoh and Giovinco but no one seemed able to get goal #4. And then things got fun.
In the 71st minute, the current top scorer for the Canadian men's team Ricketts made his much-hyped debut for Toronto and a minute later Altidore made his long-awaited return to the pitch. The two were felt right away with Ricketts hitting the post and Altidore going wide, each within minutes of arriving on the pitch.
Ricketts said of arriving in Toronto: “It was amazing. I was saying during the national anthem that I felt something I've never felt before and I knew I was in the right place and it was a great feeling.”
DC did manage to get some offense going but Bono and the boys were able to hold them back.
In the first minute of extra time, Toronto found a way to give the game the perfect ending: A Giovinco hat-trick.
After last week's nightmare, this was a welcomed win.
“It was a big game, obviously, last week's game wasn't exactly what we wanted but we came out today with a point to prove and to show to the rest of the league...,” said Marco Delgado of the game, “...Overall we played well, came out, pressured them, didn't let them get too comfortable out in the field and the results showed at the end of the day.”
Man of the Match
Sebastian Giovinco
There should be little doubt that Giovinco was the “Man of the Match” for anyone that watched the game. Aside from the hat-trick (which included two amazing free kicks), he also played a crucial role in Marco Delgado's goal and created several key rushes.
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