Yellow card issue could cost Toronto FC
MEXICO CITY Of course there’s confusion. It’s CONCACAF.
As of Monday, Toronto FC brass weren’t entirely sure if yellow card accumulation suspensions carried over into this month’s final.
Coach Greg Vanney called it an “oversight” debacle.
Now Toronto FC enters Tuesday night’s return leg with four key players — Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan Osorio — in jeopardy of missing the first leg of the final if they survive Estadio Azteca.
“We initially heard (cards) wouldn’t carry over into the final, but that doesn’t sound like it’s the case,” Vanney told Postmedia. “My take on it is the format changed and I’m not sure (CONCACAF) revisited the yellow cards. It seems like oversight. Now, that it is what it is, they’re not going to change it.”
It means the bogus caution Bradley received for “time-wasting” two months ago in Colorado could play a massive part during the rest of this tournament.
“It was a ridiculous thing,” Vanney added.
“There’s a lot of emotion in this. It’s a long event. There are lots of different things. It’s a little harsh, for sure.”
It’s not how it used to be. In previous editions, yellow card slates were wiped clean following the quarter-final stage. Now, it seems, CONCACAF believes players should get through seven consecutive matches with just a single caution. It’s nonsensical given the magnitude of these games.
“Win the game, don’t take any dumb yellows,” was Vanney’s advice to his players.
“If you have to tackle somebody and stop a situation you have to do it. You have to win the game or else there is no next game.”
Easier said than done — especially with Club America trailing 3-1 and their coach looking to validate his claims that Liga MX is far superior to MLS.
“The emotions early on are going to be big,” Vanney said. “What will be interesting is, over the course of this game, how much energy their players have. They’re going through a lot of games — a lot of travel themselves.”
Club America drew 1-1 with Necaxa in league play Saturday while the Reds were already in Pachuca preparing for Tuesday’s return leg. Las Aguilas might have lost Cecilio Dominguez (hamstring) in the process.
Vanney added he didn’t think Club America’s weekend performance was as lively as what he saw during last week’s opening leg at BMO Field, but said he still expects the opening portion of Tuesday’s return leg to be high-energy.