|
|
Toronto FC 0 – 0 New York Red Bulls
The Prelude to Battle
Life wasn’t expected to get any easier for Toronto FC on Saturday as the team endeavoured to earn their first win at BMO Field in over a year. Coming off their two worst league performances of the year in losses to Sporting Kansas City and Chivas USA, the Reds faced off a Red Bulls squad peppered with exactly the type of quality that the home side is currently lacking.
With Darren O’Dea and Luis Silva jettisoned by the club in recent weeks and Toronto’s two top strikers, Robert Earnshaw and Danny Koevermans, injured, TFC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen did not have a plethora of options at his disposal as he looked to find a winning combination with his starting eleven.
Doneil Henry and Jeremy Hall returned to the lineup in place of Gale Agbossoumonde and Darel Russell and Justin Braun got the start up top beside Jeremy Brockie.
The Opening 45
New York came close to opening the scoring in the 4th minute when an unmarked Thierry Henry had a good chance in the TFC box, but shot the ball directly at Reds keeper Joe Bendik,
In the 13th minute, it initially looked like Toronto had taken the lead when Ashtone Morgan delivered a cross that was redirected into the back of the Red Bulls net. Unfortunately for the BMO Field faithful the play was called offside.
Toronto actually generated the majority of the chances in the opening forty-five, but were especially poor with their free kick delivery on several occasions.
TFC had what looked like a clear penalty kick not called in the 22nd minute when Jeremy Brockie looked to have been fouled by Markus Holgersson in the Red Bulls box.
TFC’s best on side chance of the half came in the 32nd minute when fullback Richard Eckersley delivered a dangerous cross right through the New York box, but there wasn’t a TFC player near the far post for the easy tap in.
|
|
The fact that @torontofc hasn't won a home game in over a year is actually pathetic #SignForlan
– @ijaffer07 |
|
|
The Second Half
Toronto had an excellent chance to open the scoring early in the second half on some genuinely brilliant play from Matias Laba, who set up Jonathan Osorio for scoring chance. Unfortunately for TFC, the usually excellent Osorio to neglected to shoot when he had an opening and was then closed down by the Red Bulls back line.
The Reds came within inches of scoring in the 74 minute when Richard Eckersley blasted a shot that Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles just tipped over the cross bar.
New York almost found an injury time winner when Red Bulls substitute forward Marius Obekop got the best of Eckersley deep in the Toronto box, but an excellent piece of help defending by Laba snuffed out the danger and sealed the point for Toronto.
The Final Word: Work ethic is there, but holes in roster again evident for Toronto.
Toronto were back to their usual competitive selves on Saturday against the Red Bulls. However, that statement once again comes with the caveat that while the Reds gave it their all in an admirable fashion, they were again not quite competitive enough to come away with all three points.
While it should be said that there is a clear argument that Toronto were again hard done by with a call or two by the referee going against them, the fact of the matter is that New York were very much there for the taking and Toronto did not take advantage of a very lacklustre performance by a superior team.
TFC certainly worked hard and did well to overcome both the fact that the Reds roster is very thin and the fact that they were playing their third match in nine days while having travelled across the North American continent prior to this fixture. At the same time, the fact that Toronto has now gone more than a year without winning a match at BMO Field is inescapable.
In many ways, Toronto’s performance on the day was very much a microcosm for their entire 2013 campaign to date. TFC looked organized defensively and kept their shape well while outworking their opponent for the majority of the match. Unfortunately, while Toronto came close to scoring they could not break through and get the goals that would have been the cherry on top of what was another decent performance.
It’s no secret that the biggest hole in Toronto’s roster is the need for an offensive orchestrator who can create chances and connect the defence and the offense. Until the Reds can bring in a player of the ilk of former TFC midfielder Amado Guevara, Toronto are likely going to continue to struggle regardless of how well they play defensively and how hard they work.
One area that Toronto looked particularly poor on today was on free kicks and set pieces, as the delivery into the New York box was continually very poor regardless of which TFC player stepped up for the dead ball situation.
One other noticeable negative was Toronto’s lack of movement off the ball, particularly when it was at the feet of Matias Laba in the centre of the pitch. Yes, it was hot and the players had endured considerable travel over the past couple of weeks, but the impressive Argentine midfielder really needs consistent outlet options in order for him to be effective.
In terms of the positives, the fact that Toronto bounced back to grind out a draw after their two poorest performances of the season on the west coast was something the team can build on going forward.
In terms of standout players, Doneil Henry and Steven Caldwell again looked very solid as a central defense duo. Furthermore, Richard Eckersley looked like he is rounding back into optimum match fitness and Bobby Convey delivered a solid ninety minutes. Jonathan Osorio once again looked like a young player that Toronto can build around and Jeremy Brockie looked like a performer who should be able to engineer a goal or two purely on work ethic and tenacity.
Special mention goes to Matias Laba, who was again Toronto’s best player. While his pressing and defensive work was again impeccable, he showed flashes of a developing offensive game that is particularly promising for TFC looking forward.
Toronto FC Lineup
12 Joe Bendik
27 Richard Eckersley
4 Doneil Henry
13 Steven Caldwell
5 Ashtone Morgan
20 Matias Laba
25 Jeremy Hall
15 Bobby Convey
21 Jonathan Osorio
17 Justin Braun
22 Jeremy Brockie
Substitutions: Reggie Lambe in for Justin Braun (88’).
|