Spanish playmaker Vazquez making his presence felt with Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club midfielder Victor Vazquez comes as advertised.
“He makes guys around him better,” Toronto captain Michael Bradley said approvingly after Saturday’s 2-0 Major League Soccer win in Vancouver.
The 30-year-old Spaniard wasted little time making his presence felt after coming off the bench in the 64th minute against the Whitecaps. He opened the scoring 12 minutes later, drifting into the space between the defence to head home a ball from Jozy Altidore.
Four minutes later, Vazquez played provider from the flank by finding Jonathan Osorio with a beautifully weighted pass between defenders. Osorio spotted a crease in the defence, sending the ball to Altidore, who pivoted to make space for his shot and slammed the ball home.
Two lovely strikes, with Vazquez helping chart the way to goal.
“He has an eye for finishing off plays whether it’s getting goals himself or final passes for assists,” said Bradley.
Listed at just five-foot-nine and 167 pounds, Vazquez is elegant to watch.
The former player of the year in Belgium has a fine football brain and the technical ability to act on it.
“He understands decisionmaking in the game,” said coach Greg Vanney.
“He thinks fast ... We need a player like him,” added striker Sebastian Giovinco.
It helps that Vazquez is happy in Toronto. After five successful years with Club Brugge, he had an unhappy 2016 with Mexico’s Cruz Azul. The fit wasn’t right and his family chafed in Mexico City.
Toronto is a different story. The Spaniard is all smiles as he recounts how his wife is exploring the city and their young son is happily ensconced in his new school. “They are really happy. It’s a big change from Mexico.”
Vazquez points to his new neighbours and how helpful they have been.