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Another week, another critical match for Toronto FC who have been served up the perfect opponent to get their home form back on track as they host Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon. TFC have been struggling to lock down full points both at home and the road over the last two months and as a result have stumbled out of the playoff picture, but are within a shout if they can reverse their fortunes and start collecting wins. Chivas USA, after a short spell of good form in early July are back to their old selves and should be easy prey.
Of course, that has been said countless times this season, and especially at home Toronto have not been clinical against weaker opposition. Teams that at minimum should be competitive affairs the Reds have been blown out, and ones that should have been overwhelmed were allowed to stay in the game and steal points. Rarely has there been a convincing victory and now is the time, and this is the right team to pull it off against. Chivas USA are in the midst of horrible form, and if Greg Vanney uses the week wisely to get back some key players, but also forge a solid gameplan, it should be a clear victory for TFC.
Keep thinking
If ever there was a fixture that has three points all over it, this is the one. However, TFC supporters have likely felt this way several times this season and been burned for such expectations. Of late, and especially since returning from the World Cup break, the only home win has come against one of the worst sides in the league, the Houston Dynamo. Even in that match, Toronto were hammered from the opening whistle and it was Jermain Defoe who took control and helped secure the win down the stretch.
Of late, and without Defoe who has been a negative influence in recent weeks since Ryan Nelsen was sacked, Toronto have not only struggled at home, but looked completely uninterested in leaving it all on the pitch. Away to Chicago last weekend was the first game since winning in Columbus where Toronto appeared to have fought until the final whistle. There is no debate a much needed win was stolen out of the hands via Dave Gantar and now moving forward the question is whether the Reds wilt or use that as motivation to become more clinical earlier in the match.
A reason for this is Toronto's recent pattern at home has been one where they surrender early goals and in some never been able to switch on. The distractions off the pitch certainly have not helped and the state of the locker room has come into question with rumours of potential transfers out of the team. With Chivas USA coming in as the worst team in the Western Conference, and second-worst in MLS, it would be unthinkable if TFC were not able to soundly defeat the Goats.
It has been several years now since Chivas USA have been a team to take seriously. Bob Bradley did well to build them into a top Western Conference side, and Preki managed to keep them treading water, but after 2010 they plummeted in the table and have never recovered. A team that has had a real identity crisis in recent years, it has shown in their results on the field as they are now perennial contenders for the top draft pick (which TFC have thanks to an allocation trade in 2013).
This season had a brief window in early July where it looked like it was coming together, but since the second week of July, Chivas USA have yet to win a game. In their last five games (all losses) they have only scored in one of them, a 4-2 defeat at home to Seattle. The only real bright spot has been the emergence of a potential future Mexican superstar in Erick Torres. This is the only asterisk TFC need to be mindful of if he is in the starting eleven returning from suspension, as Torres has prove to be a player who can be the lynchpin, and has scored 14 of their 23 goals this season.
Aside from Torres though, Toronto should be able to overwhelm their opponent. Dan Kennedy stands out as one of the better keepers in MLS, but has been stuck on a terrible team for several years now. If Greg Vanney sets out a gameplan to play to TFC's strengths, it should be a clinical win.
What that comes down to is partially allowing players to play to their strengths. Not since the draw at home to Kansas City has Toronto allowed Dominic Oduro to really showcase his speed and isolate him 1v1 with left backs. This would be an approach to consider, as well as pushing him to the touchline to either knock in dangerous crosses to Gilberto, or attempt to win corners. If Vanney has someone such as Kyle Bekker or Daniel Lovitz, then set pieces should be in good hands.
Of course, the one glaring concern with Toronto is defending. TFC surprisingly did not crumble last weekend against Chicago and the return of Doneil Henry offers at least some options as to how to approach defending. If Steve Caldwell is still not ready, Justin Morrow did a decent job at centre back and that would likely be a wiser position than employing either Henry and Hagglund in the middle, or especially Bradley Orr.
Finally, in the midfield Toronto has looked a bit better and Michael Bradley especially appears to have some fire in his belly over the last two games. If he can maintain his workrate and motivation, this will bode well for a result. The only concern is him trying to do too much and perhaps having a player like De Rosario from the start who will be hungry to score at home might give him another good midfield option and pause for trying to do it all. If Bradley is on point, and Vanney gets the right mix in the midfield, a much desired home win should be in the cards.
In the end
After a poor run since the World Cup break, Toronto FC now find themselves on the outside of the playoff hunt desperately trying to fight their way back in. They have had problems putting forth a cohesive ninety minutes, however, Chivas USA come to town winless in ten, losing nine of those matches and present the perfect opportunity to remedy that. The Goats in truth only have two threats and should be a certain win, but Toronto's mentality and determination has lacked. The last two games has seen improvement, but not enough to make any declarations that they can recapture their early season form. However, Chivas USA are simply in the midst of an awful run and as long as any attacking threats are nulified, it should be a much needed home win for the Reds.
Prediction
Toronto FC 2 – 0 Chivas USA
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