Toronto FC 3 FC Dallas 0
The Prelude to Battle
This match was billed as the biggest in the short history of Toronto FC and, while that might have sounded like hyperbole to some, the statement really did set the stage for TFC’s second last game of 2011 pretty adequately. With the Reds having missed out on the playoffs for the fifth straight year, this match offered Toronto something of an opportunity to salvage their season and to give their supporters a sign that the team has genuinely turned a corner with their improved recent form.
The last time that Toronto FC played a game of this magnitude was October 24, 2009 and most TFC supporters still have nightmares about how that fixture against the Red Bulls turned out. The pressure on the players on both teams was undoubtedly significant, but probably even higher on the Reds with Toronto needing a win to move on to the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals and Dallas only requiring a draw to move on to the next round. In a match like this one, it was both gut check time for Toronto and a test of just how far they have come as a squad this year.
With Dallas having won three times against Toronto this year and never having lost to the Reds when playing at home, TFC had their work cut out for them. While Dallas entered this one missing some key players with both Jair Benitez and Fabian Castillo suspended, Toronto were going to have to win without some of the players who have been vital to the Reds improved form in the latter part of the season.
Fullback Richard Eckersley, who likely would have marked Dallas stud Brek Shea was unable to recover from injury in time to take part in this fixture. With Matt Stinson suspended and Eric Avila Cup tied, TFC Head Coach Aron Winter was going to need youngsters such as Nick Soolsma and Doneil Henry to step up and deliver breakthrough performances. And if Toronto was going to have any chance in this one, it likely was going to need Danny Koevermans to deliver some big goals and keeper Milos Kocic to come up with some huge saves.
The Opening Forty-Five
This one kicked off with Toronto FC showing good ball movement, excellent energy and tenacious defending, as the visitors set the tone for a competitive game early. Tight marking by both teams in the early going made for an early going with absolute no scoring chances through the first twenty minutes.
Dallas looked to draw first blood in the 21st minute when Brek Shea sent a dangerous ball into the Toronto box that Jackson got a head on but sent just wide of the far post. Less than a minute later it was Ashtone Morgan who sent a great cross through the Dallas penalty area that Kevin Hartman wisely punched away with Danny Koevermans bearing down on him.
In the 27th minute, Joao Plat showed some nice moves to break down the Dallas back line in the box, but he could not get his end result shot on target, as the ball harmlessly went into the side netting.
Undeterred, Toronto pressed forward and opened the scoring less than two minutes later when Plata pulled the ball back to Koevermans in the Dallas box. The Dutchman had his first shot blocked, but he pounced on the rebound and deposited the ball into the back of the Dallas net, giving TFC the lead they would need to advance to the next round of the Champions League.
Dallas had a couple of chances to equalize in the latter part of the first half when fouls by Harden and Iro gave the home side free kicks in dangerous positions just outside the Toronto penalty area. In both cases, Daniel Hernandez and Ricardo Villar unable to get their shots over the TFC wall.
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This is a big night for Toronto FC and a well-deserved night 4 fans who have endured years of disappointment. Finally, something to celebrate
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The Second Half
Toronto FC and Aron Winter entered the second half in a bit of a conundrum with the team having to decide between pressing forward in search of more goals or sitting back to defend the lead they had. With the latter approach having backfired several times for Winter already this season and with Dallas only needing a draw to knock Toronto out of the competition, the Toronto Head Coach elected to do neither, as his side played the second of the half pushing forward in a cautious manner while at the same time focusing on ensuring that they did not leave the back door open.
The approach worked wonders as Dallas did not seriously threaten the net of Milos Kocic until the 64th minute when Jackson unleashed shot from distance that beat the TFC keeper but that also sailed just wide of the far post.
The Reds scored an insurance goal in the 70th minute when Ryan Johnson threaded a perfect pass to Joao Plata, who once again showed excellent poise and ability to put the ball into the back of Hartman’s net.
Toronto almost made it a three goal lead six minutes later when Nick Soolsma sent a cross into the box that Johnson headed over the cross bar.
Fortunately for Toronto, Joao Plata was not yet finished as the Ecuadorian teenager made a fantastic run in the 82nd minute which culminated in the forward beating two defenders and curing a shot past a sprawling Hartman and into the bottom right hand corner for a stunning goal.
Dallas symbolically waived the white flag in the 88th minute when Shellas Hyndman subbed off Shea and both teams played out the clock, as Toronto came away with the biggest victory in the history of the Canadian club.
The Final Word: TFC deliver best ever performance in their short history
This match was very much one of vindication for the Dutch Head Coach, who at times had appeared to struggle as much as his club early in the season when he was still putting his system in place and learning the ins and outs of the North American top flight. To Aron Winter, TFC supporters can only take their hats off and applaud him for outcoaching Shellas Hyndman, who is undoubtedly one of the top coaches in the MLS. Toronto FC were perfectly prepared for this match physically, mentally and tactically and Winter deserves a tremendous amount of credit for that.
Outside of plaudits for Toronto’s off the pitch leader, this was also a game in which the players themselves deserve an equally significant amount of applause and respect for the manner in which they played genuinely determined football and executed their game plan to perfection. Every player left it all on the field and was outstanding in fulfilling their role in the game.
Joao Plata has become an inspiration and fan favourite this year and once again he was magical with two fantastic goals. He deserves his own song and is well on his way to becoming a part of Toronto FC’s building history. Danny Koevermans was brought to Toronto to score goals and it’s impossible to minimize how important it was for him to open the scoring for the Reds in this most pressure filled match. Ryan Johnson has been a Champions League standout for TFC thus far and he delivered a tireless and inspired two way performance that played a huge role in the outcome of the match.
Milos Kocic looked assured and in control behind a back line that many have often called not good enough, but that came through with flying colours against Dallas. Ashtone Morgan continued his ascent as a player on the rise with a great performance and Doneil Henry delivered a gutsy and gritty game in which he showed that his name should not be left out when discussing all of excellent young players on the TFC roster. While Torsten Frings was his usual solid and steady self with another game in which he once again made playing soccer at a high level effortless and look downright easy, Julian de Guzman was fiery, fearless and relentless as he rose to the occasion in a match that had been screaming out for someone in the middle of the pitch to raise their game against as a talented, strong and fast Dallas midfield and front line.
There is not much else to really say about this game. It was the type of win that Toronto FC fans have been dreaming of for five years and maybe for the first time in the history of the club, TFC supporters can feel as much pride for their team on the pitch as they have for being some of the best supporters in the MLS in the stands.
TFC Line-up
30 Kocic
4 Henry
3 Iro
20 Harden
5 Morgan
6 De Guzman
22 Frings
18 Soolsma
14 Koevermans
9 Johnson
7 Plata
Substitutions: (80) Dunfield in for De Guzman; (86) Marosevic in for Plata; (90) Sturgis in for Koevermans
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