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Posted by
Cormac McGee,
July 18, 2015 |
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Cormac McGee
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Saturday’s game saw two clubs right in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race meet for a second time this season. Both squads were missing their captains, with Michael Bradley still on international duty and Maurice Edu suspended for the Union.
It was a tough day to play with temperatures in Toronto rising above 30 degrees Celsius, and it showed on the pitch. There were certainly no 90-yard runs today, but Toronto held their own broke their three game winless streak by putting away a lacklustre Philadelphia team.
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The Opening 45
Dull is the only way to describe the first 20 minutes this afternoon. The crowd watching the Pan Am beach volleyball behind BMO Field cheering louder than TFC fans. Philadelphia strung a couple dozen passes between them in their own half and TFC were happy to let them do so. The Union had a couple of near chances, but a shot into the side of Toronto’s net and a few mishit strikes into Bendik’s hands were all they could muster.
It opened up almost out of nothing just before the half hour mark with Marky Delgado finishing a pretty passing play by the Reds. Collen Warner took control of the ball just inside half and knocked a short ball to Osorio. His patience and opened up a lane to slide a pass through to Sebastian Giovinco, who in turn touched it to a streaking Delgado. Union defender Richie Marquez tried to clear the pass, but Delgado hit the ball just as centre back reached it, with the deflection firing passed goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead.
Minutes later it was Delgado’s turn to start the build up to a goal. His quick run down the right side drew right back Raymon Gaddis and opened the pitch for Ashtone Morgan to send a long bounce throw-in to Jozy Altidore. The lumbering striker flicked it off his head into the path of Giovinco, who drove a howitzer on the volley. Sylvestre made the first stop but sent the rebound out front and a sprinting Giovinco beat both of Philadelphia’s centre backs to the ball and slotted it home.
Philadelphia just couldn’t seem to connect with each other, often leaving striker C.J. Sapong to take on multiple Toronto defenders alone. Just before half, TFC almost struck again. Altidore shoved his way through two Union players to get on a pass out of Toronto’s half, then slid it through Marquez and Ethan White to hit Giovinco’s feet as he cut inside. Sylvestre was off his line quickly, forcing the Italian striker to attempt a slight chip around the keeper, which bobbled just wide of the net.
Toronto went into the dressing room with a 2-0 lead and a crowd that was responding to the stellar performance so far.
The Second Half
The Reds came out confident in the second half, holding tightly between the backline and midfield, careful not to give Philadelphia an inch in the final third. The Union thought they had one back when Eric Ayuk redirected a cross passed Joe Bendik, but he had come back from an offside position to do so.
Throughout the half, TFC struggled to string anything together going forward except for a few counterattacks. Head coach Greg Vanney had obviously one priority for his team, and with a tired Altidore and physically outmatched Giovinco in the air, Toronto’s big boots down the field were finding nobody but blue shirts.
When Jackson came on for Warner, things started to pick up a bit. Altidore missed a sitter of a header from a Jackson cross, sending the free ball into the feet of the defender in front of him. A few minutes later another Jackson through ball found Giovinco, but a sprawling White popped the ball up and into Sylvestre’s hands.
With 20 minutes left to play TFC killer Conor Casey came on for the Union and before the day was out he’d have his eighth goal against the Reds. A flick header from an unchallenged Sapong found Casey who got Eric Zavaleta to bite with a faked shot, then fired a left footed strike passed a diving Bendik.
Toronto’s focus on defence translated into a largely drab second half. It was a professional victory today, not an outstanding one.
Man of the Match
Ashtone Morgan
It was refreshing to see TFC’s longest running player playing with such confidence today. Morgan, who fell down the depth chart earlier this year has grabbed onto the spot given to him due to injuries and held on with ferocity. While hustle and heart are constants for the Canadian, today he shut down everything that came at him and even treated the fans to some fancy footwork, turning Sebastien Le Toux in circles in his own half.
Toronto FC Line-up
12 Joe Bendik
5 Ashtone Morgan
24 Damien Perquis
15 Eriq Zavaleta
2 Justin Morrow
8 Benoit Cheyrou
26 Collen Warner
21 Jonathan Osorio
18 Marco Delgado
17 Jozy Altidore
10 Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutions: Jackson for Collen Warner (67’); Jay Chapman for Jozy Altidore (85’), Daniel Lovitz for Jonathan Osorio (88’).
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