|
|
Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
October 18, 2015 |
|
Email
Steve Bottjer
On Twitter:
@BottjerRNO
|
|
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Despite qualifying for the MLS Playoffs for the first time in the club’s history, there was still plenty at stake for Toronto FC as they faced off against the Columbus Crew on Saturday afternoon.
Toronto went into play sitting in 2nd place in a crowded Eastern Conference table. If Toronto could retain that spot at the season’s end, they would move automatically into the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Saturday’s match also represented a marquee matchup of the two MLS strikers vying for the Golden Boot trophy. Sebastian Giovinco and Kei Kamara went into this match tied for the league lead in scoring with 22 goals each.
With Jozy Altidore suspended, Damian Perquis injured and Jonathan Osorio held out the fixture after taking a hard shot to the head midweek, TFC Head Coach Greg Vanney made a number of changes to his starting eleven, with Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco returning and Ahmed Kantari, Collen Warner and Robbie Findley getting starts as well. Keeper Joe Bendik also got a start between the sticks, as Vanney elected to rest Chris Konopka and allow Bendike the opportunity to shake off the rust ahead of the MLS postseason.
Listen to ESSU:
TFC's playoff position comes down to the wire
Toronto vs Columbus Crew
|
|
The Opening 45
With both Jozy Altidore and Jonathan Osorio absent, Toronto FC struggled to generate much offensively in the first.
Toronto generated a half chance in the 21st minute when Giovinco delivered a pass into the box that a bit out of sync with the run of Michael Bradley.
TFC’s best chance of the half came one minute later when Giovinco delivered a well-placed corner kick to the back post that Robbie Findley headed off the goalpost.
Overall, Toronto looked positionally solid while also delivering a number of sloppy giveaways on passes in the midfeld.
Columbus opened the scoring in the 40th minute off a corner kick in which Ethan Finlay pounced on a loose ball and tapped it into the back of the Toronto net.
Toronto almost responded immediately on the next play, with Findley cutting the ball back to Collen Warner in the Crew box. However, the Toronto central midfielder was unable to get his shot on target, with the ball sailing just wide of the post.
The Second Half
Toronto continued to struggle to deliver service to Giovinco for much of the second half.
The Reds came close to an equalizer in the 63rd minute when Giovinco delivered a fine free from 30 yards out that was ultimately stopped by a diving save from Crew keeper Steve Clark.
The Crew came close to doubling their lead in the 76th minute when Joe Bendik made a fine save to tip a blast by Federico Higuaín over the cross bar.
Columbus sealed the victory in the first minute of second half injury time when Higuaín showed determination to beat TFC defender Josh Williams shoulder to shoulder and then chip the ball over Bendik into the Toronto net.
Overall, this was a disappointing performance in which Toronto never really got out of first gear. Many will question the tactics, starting eleven and formation selected by Greg Vanney for this match, as Toronto generated almost nothing going forward and delivery to Giovinco was nonexistent.
Man of the Match
Benoit Cheyrou
This was a match in which none of the Toronto players were especially deserving of a designation as Man of the Match. That said, the quality of midfielder Benoit Cheyrou was evident in stretches in this match. He passed well and shut down Crew attacking plays in the midfield before they really got started.
Toronto FC Line-up
12 Joe Bendik
2 Justin Morrow
4 Ahmed Kantari
23 Josh Williams
11 Jackson
26 Collen Warner
8 Benoit Cheyrou
4 Michael Bradley
18 Marky Delgado
55 Robbie Findley
10 Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutions: Herculez Gomez for Robbie Findley (65’); Luke Moore for Collen Warner (65’); Eriq Zavaleta for Marky Delgado (76’).
|