REDS SLUGGISH IN RECORD-TYING WIN OVER IMPACT
FC Toronto matches 1998 Galaxy for MLS’s points record of 68
Unconvincing. Pedestrian. Lacking.
Coach Greg Vanney used the word “fortunate” at one point following TFC’s 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact.
“It was probably the strangest 1-0 win I’ve ever been a part of,” he said after Jozy Altidore scored the only goal of the game. “It could have very easily been 6-5 or something like that.”
Whatever it was, it wasn’t what the Reds wanted heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Sebastian Giovinco wasn’t sharp. The club’s defence had multiple bad turnovers. And, questions surround goalkeeper Alex Bono.
The best team in the league isn’t playing like it at this point in the season, despite having a chance next Sunday in Atlanta to break the all-time points record.
“I just thought it lacked continuity,” Vanney added. “I knew some of that was possible given we haven’t been together as a group for a long time.”
The rust was evident, most notably in the Atomic Ant, who started Sunday night for the first time in more than a month.
Never mind the double missed penalties. Giovinco wasn’t connecting up front, leaving fans to wonder if he’ll regain his golden touch in time for the playoffs.
“One of the big things tonight for Seba was getting 90 minutes, working through it, building up his match fitness and getting his legs underneath him,” Vanney said.
That’s fine, for now, but next week has to be about adding goals and assists and about once again looking like the most dangerous striker in MLS.
Last year’s Giovinco would have bagged a hat-trick in a game like this, with the opposition completely out of sorts and looking to pack it in for the offseason.
The question now is whether or not Giovinco can replicate the magic he produced at Yankee Stadium 11 months ago. Is there time for him to round into form?
Questions also persist at the opposite end of the pitch, where defenders have been increasingly careless with the ball.
Vanney stressed the need to eliminate the self-inflicted wounds that have dogged TFC since the last time Montreal came to BMO Field and roughed up the Reds, 5-3.
“We have to be sharper. We have to be better with the ball,” Vanney said. “Otherwise we’re going to put ourselves in some difficult moments.
“The most important thing going into the playoffs is you just can’t make mistakes … Not dropping a ball down to a centreback who’s going to get pressed is probably one of those things.”
He was referencing Alex Bono without saying so on a night in which TFC’s ’keeper made a number of errors.
Never mind that game-saving, second half save, Bono — and the Reds as a whole — hasn’t been as solid as he was this summer.
“We can’t lose back passes,” Vanney added. “There are a number of things in there that I thought needed to be sharper as a group.”
And still, there the Reds were post-game, lifting the Supporters’ Shield in front of home supporters after matching the 1998 Galaxy’s all-time points (68) record.
They’ve been void of criticism for pretty much the entire season, which they’ve earned amid putting up numbers that likely won’t be matched anytime soon.
That said, Toronto FC’s poised to embark on a second competition in two weeks. There always are questions heading into what’s essentially a new season.
“Emotionally and mentally (the players) have moved beyond (the Supporters’ Shield) and are concentrating on the next step for our group,” Vanney said.
“I would say a lot of them know tonight we needed to be sharper and needed to be better and that’s going to be what they’re going to be thinking about tonight.”
Toronto FC will go for the all-time points record on a day branded “Decision Day.”
In truth, the Reds will be searching for a reassuring performance on the final day of the season.
We have to be sharper ... the most important thing going into the playoffs is you just can’t make mistakes.