> ROAD TO THE MLS CUP . . . AND MAYBE MORE
While execution may have frayed during playoff opener, the team’s nerves did not
Last week, 11 Toronto FC players were nominated for MLS awards. On Tuesday, three of them made the cut as finalists. TFC is also up for fair play honours.
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Goals by Sebastian Giovinco, the 2015 MVP who is up for the award again. Other finalists: David Villa, Diego Valeri, Nemanja Nikolic, Miguel Almiron
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Minutes played by Justin Morrow, in the running for top defender. Other finalists: Kendall Waston, Ike Opara
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TFC’s record point total under Greg Vanney, up for coach of the year. Other finalists: Gerardo Martino, Veljko Paunovic
HARRISON, N.J.— Faced with a New York pushback in the second half, Toronto FC served a timely reminder at Red Bull Arena that it can defend as well as it can attack.
Now the sixth-seeded Red Bulls, down 2-1 after the opening leg, face an uphill battle Sunday in Game 2 of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal at BMO Field where league-leading Toronto posted nine shutouts while going 13-1-3 this season.
The Red Bulls need to win and score at least two goals to survive, or at least match Monday’s score to force overtime. And given Toronto’s offence — it scored in 31 of 34 games this season and was last blanked at home on March 31 — that seems a very tall order.
Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, normally a firecracker on the sidelines, was a muted figure in the first half Monday as a loud crowd of 18,107 tried to cheer the hometown on.
Toronto had the run of play in the first half, but went into halftime tied at 1-1 after a stoppage-time Daniel Royer penalty cancelled out an eighth-minute goal by Victor Vazquez.
Toronto coach Greg Vanney anticipated a New York rally in the second and watched his team weather an at-times wild storm.
“We stayed together,” he said. “We are as good a defending team as we are an attacking team. And tonight we utilized that as our method of getting the result.”
Toronto needed just one chance to pull ahead in the second half, with MVP finalist Sebastian Giovinco slotting home his seventh free kick of the season in the 72nd minute.
“We bent, we didn’t break,” goalkeeper Alex Bono said. “Those are the kind of performances we’re going to need to go far in this playoff run.”
With veteran Toronto defender Drew Moor unable to play the second half after rolling his ankle on the penalty play, Nick Hagglund was pressed into action and the 25-yearold did not disappoint.
A former starter who lost his job after a knee injury gave Chris Mavinga time to blossom, Hagglund is one of Toronto’s most athletic presences. When it comes to aerial challenges, he jumps like he’s springloaded and he made two big defensive clearances in the air to ease pressure early in the half.
“We knew if we needed him, he would be ready,” said Vanney.
The stylish Vazquez exited in the 65th minute after taking a hip to the groin. He seemed more sore than anything else, but Moor’s ankle injury looked more troubling.
Toronto forward Jozy Altidore was a physical force, tormenting Red Bull defenders and serving as a transition point from defence to attack. It was his run — and sidestep around Damien Perrinelle — and low cross that led to Vazquez’s goal after goalkeeper Luis Robles could only parry the ball.
Vanney liked his team’s emotion. With19 returnees from the MLS Cup final loss last year, Toronto is hungry.
“As we return back to Toronto, there won’t be a sense of taking their foot off the gas,” Vanney said of his players.
“It’s a great result but it’s only halfway done,” captain Michael Bradley added. “We’re not celebrating anything yet.”