Toronto 1 Philadelphia 1
Toronto FC earned themselves a respectable result in Philadelphia, coming back to tie the Eastern Conference leading Union 1-1 at PPL Park Saturday afternoon. It was an encouraging result in many ways for the Reds as they were able to leave with a point and very competitive showing, as well as resting key players ahead of their Champions League decider Tuesday night against FC Dallas.
The Prelude to Battle
It was an important game for TFC in many ways as they wanted to maintain a good run of results, confidence and stamina for their next match. It would be a tall order to accomplish all of these, and added to that there was an underlying sense of redemption needed.
Philadephia hammered and embarrassed TFC back at the end of May 6-2 through braces from Justin Mapp and Danny Mwanga. Four months later, and almost a 100% turnaround in the starting eleven, Aron Winter had his chance to prove how far this team has come and show they are on the right track.
The Union have ascended to the top of the Eastern Conference and with a win would clinch a playoff spot, but a New York loss to Kansas City would mean any result would see them to the post-season in just their second season of play. They have reached this point through good coaching and a strong core of character players. Specifically Sebastian LeToux – who had only one goal in the first 21 games this season, but going into today’s match has put away nine over the last ten.
Toronto FC would be without Terry Dunfield and Julian De Guzman, who stayed in Toronto to rest up, as it was cited they were exhausted from the week of international duty. Danny Koevermans and Stefan Frei would also begin on the bench.
The Opening Forty-Five
Out of the gate it was almost a horrifying case of déjà vu as Philadelphia were able to generate a scoring chance in the second minute. The man who caused so many problems in their first encounter, Justin Mapp, would once again set the tone in the early going by sending a perfect through ball to a streaking Freddy Adu. Adu would go 1v1 with Andy Iro then feed the overlapping defender Sheanon Williams into the 18-yard box. Williams' first shot would be blocked by Torsten Frings, and his follow-up shot Kocic would parry wide.
Toronto would hang in with a strong backline once again anchored by Torsten Frings in the middle and Ty Harden and Andy Iro off his shoulders. The return of Joao Plata would mean that despite missing Danny Koevermans, the Reds would have a creative impact player at their disposal.
Plata’s confidence 1v1 would be on display in the first half, as he would link up well with Ashtone Morgan early on and in the 16th minute some nice back and forth passing with him and Eric Avila just outside Philadelphia’s 18-yard box would create a left-footed shot for Plata that was lifted just too high and wide of goal.
At the other end, a nice run of form from Milos Kocic would continue as in the 29th minute he got on his horse to chase down and tip wide a perfectly placed free kick from Freddy Adu. Not only a minute later, Philadelphia would create another close chance as Sebastian LeToux sent a perfectly weighted through ball into the 18-yard box for Justin Mapp, but Kocic had no hesitation and charged it down to smother it just before Mapp could reach it.
The story of the first half was composed defending and good work moving forward that was necessary to keep Philadephia honest. However, all the work put in was undone in the 42nd minute as a sloppy pass from Milos Kocic wide to his right was almost sent directly out of bounds. Ty Harden chased down the ball and instead of letting it run out slid to save it and put it right to the feet of Justin Mapp.
Caught well upfield, there were few TFC players in a position to defend and a ball to Sebastian LeToux just outside of the 18-yard box was met with no resistance as Torsten Frings dropped off to cover a second attacker coming in. With plenty of room and time, LeToux clinically sent the ball far post to open the score and send the Union into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead.
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#TFC pick up a decent point in Philly. Question now is, can they bring everything they've got to Dallas on Tuesday? #biggamesneedbigplayers
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The Second Half
Toronto looked game in the first half and had done well to be competitive and earn back some respect from their match four months ago. A point was not out of the question at this stage, but just seven minutes into the half Aron Winter would make a substitution that was necessary, but might have ended any chance of Toronto staying in the game.
Torsten Frings did very well in the first half defending and in his place would come in Nathan Sturgis who has seen limited time this year in the midfield, let alone in the sweeper position. Against a very potent and in-form Philadelphia offence, this could signal the end of what was a solid defensive effort.
As the saying goes the best defence is a good offence, and Toronto continued to push forward. Shortly after Frings went out, at the 56th minute, Joao Plata received the ball in Philadelphia’s half and spotted out Nick Soolsma cross field.
A pin-point ball was well received and sent Soolsma down the wing as his deceptive pace and dribbling got him to the touchline. He found just enough space to swing in a cross along the carpet that would be met by the jostling Ryan Johnson who got enough of a foot on it to knock it past keeper Faryd Mondragon and level the score at 1-1.
A good result was within reach, but with plenty of game left TFC would need to keep focused and composed defensively. Milos Kocic would be called upon several times down the stretch to keep a point within reach.
The 63rd minute saw Philadelphia sub John McInerney get behind Ashtone Morgan and cut back to have a clear shot on goal. Fortunately he did not get enough on it and Kocic simply had to gather it up.
Not long after, in the 67th minute, a Philadelphia long ball would go right into the box and Veljko Paunovic would parry and one-touch a shot on goal that Kocic brilliantly would turn away.
Several more chances would come Toronto and Milos Kocic’s way down the final minutes, but nothing that could not be handled and TFC were able to remain defensively sound without falling into a complete shell. They continued pushing towards the Philadelphia goal and in the end earned themselves much respect in a 1-1 draw.
The Final Word: You CAN have your cake and eat it too
By far the biggest challenge for Aron Winter going into this game was finding a way to rest up his key players for the only remaining match of importance, but still putting forth a strong competitive display that would keep confidence high for Tuesday night.
Sitting Danny Koevermans and subbing Torsten Frings early should have given everything required for Philadelphia to find a way to win the game, but a solid team effort anchored by a strong game from Milos Kocic was all that was needed to steal a point.
Once again, Aron Winter has been able to use a break in the schedule to formulate a gameplan and improve overall team play to, in the end, have his cake and eat it too. Not only did he leave PPL Park stealing a point from the top team in the Eastern Conference, he was able to do it without Danny Koevermans, Julian De Guzman, Terry Dunfield and sub out Torsten Frings and Joao Plata with plenty of game left.
Toronto have won one battle, now they have to go in to Dallas and finish the job. They have done everything needed to go into Tuesday’s tilt with fitness, form and confidence on their side. All that is needed is another display of this caliber and they will starting their 2012 campaign a month early.
TFC Line-up
30 Kocic
5 Morgan
20 Harden
22 Frings
3 Iro
4 Henry
15 Stinson
8 Avila
18 Soolsma
7 Plata
9 Johnson
Substitutions: (54) Sturgis for Frings; (59) Zavarise for Plata; (69) Davies for Henry
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