TFC’S rout of Rovers falls short of team record

TORONTO • After putting semi-pro Simcoe County Rovers FC to the sword in a 5-0 win Wednesday in Canadian Championship preliminary-round play, Toronto FC coach John Herdman wanted more.

“We were looking at the record,” he said, referencing Toronto’s 6-1 cup win over Montreal in June 2009.

“So the target was to hit seven,” he added. “We fell short. (I’m) disappointed. We probably could have had a few in the second half but for the ’keeper (Rimi Olatunji). To be fair, he made some great saves ... He stood on his head second half.”

It wasn’t, perhaps, the most gracious victory speech. But it shows where Herdman is coming from in looking to turn around a team that finished last in MLS last season at 4-20-10.

“We came here to set records. We came here to be first at as many things as we can,” he explained. “That’s the standard I’ve set for the club, the team. And we missed that standard tonight . ... I told these men we missed a big opportunity tonight to make history.”

Prince Owusu, Cassius Mailula, Kevin Long, Jonathan Osorio and Tyrese Spicer scored for Toronto, which led the League1 Ontario champions 4-0 at the break with three of the goals coming in nine minutes. Owusu could have had a hat trick or more in the first half.

Herdman emptied his bench in the second half.

Simcoe County showed flashes of its skill but Toronto, despite having dug deep into its roster on the night, had too much. The MLS club’s flank attacks overwhelmed Simcoe, which kicks off its regular season on Sunday.

Toronto, which has won the Canadian Championship eight times, will face either the CPL’S Halifax Wanderers FC or Quebec champion CS Saint-laurent in the quarterfinal.