Reds anxious to string some wins together
Toronto facing a couple of tough tests with Houston, Orlando making visits
There is no lack of competitiveness in Toronto FC’s practices from week to week, but last week’s dismissal of the Chicago Fire has added a little something to the Reds’ step.
“There’s no denying that after you win, there’s a little bit different vibe,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney said Thursday, as the Reds prepared for a visit from the Houston Dynamo on Friday night.
TFC won comfortably last week, balancing a high press and a nearly impenetrable defensive shape in the 3-1 victory. And, after playing to draws in much of the early going, the Reds, now 2-1-4, are looking to string some wins together.
“We say that this league is about streaks and about getting in rhythm,” Vanney said.”
But Toronto welcomes a Houston team that is third in the Western Conference and boasts three of Major League Soccer’s most productive scorers: strikers Erick Torres, Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto. And Orlando City, the Eastern Conference leader, will visit BMO Field on Wednesday.
It’s not the easiest schedule for a team looking to reassert its dominance after an up-and-down start to the season. Toronto is seventh in the East right now, five points back of Orlando.
Captain Michael Bradley said the Reds will take a similar approach against the Dynamo as they did versus the Fire last week: Take the game to the visitors and gain control. But they have to be careful not to press too much.
“They have a group that can punish you if you’re not careful in transi- tion,” Bradley said.
It will be up to defender Nick Hagglund, the anchor of Toronto’s threeman backline while Drew Moor is sidelined by an irregular heartbeat, to make sure Torres, in particular, isn’t allowed an inch of space.
The Mexican leads the league with seven goals.
“They can make something happen,” Hagglund said of Houston’s forwards.
They don’t need a lot of space; they can do something special. I think it’s just important for us to get organized behind the ball, making sure we have one or two guys looking after each other.”
As for Moor, the 33-year-old underwent a procedure in Boston on Wednesday that the team hopes will rectify his cardiac arrhythmia. Vanney said the defender was doing well and hopes to be back in about a week.
Toronto will need its injured players back in form, and quickly. TFC will play nine games between May 3 and June 3.
Vanney said goalkeeper Clint Irwin (hamstring strain) and defenders Jason Hernandez (calf ) and Chris Mavinga (quadriceps) are all on the fringe of playing.