TFC’s dominant MLS win emblematic of season
The club endured real-life tragedy en route to championship
TORONTO — When fans look back at Toronto FC’s 2017 championship season, they will recall Jozy Altidore’s goalscoring heroics, Sebastian Giovinco’s magic moves, captain Michael Bradley’s unflinching leadership and Greg Vanney’s cerebral coaching skills.
Toronto capped off a recordbreaking 69-point, 20-win regular season with a dominant 2-0 MLS Cup final win Saturday over the Seattle Sounders.
But while TFC kept rolling, there was no shortage of real-life trauma behind the scenes, including injuries, births, deaths and suspensions.
The father of Jim Liston, the team’s director of sports science, passed away the week of the final.
Vanney’s mother — and grandmother of Toronto defender Eriq Zavaleta — died in April.
The same month, midfielder Armando Cooper learned that former CD Arabe Unido teammate Amilcar Henriquez had been shot to death. The tragic news was mixed with the joy of the birth of Cooper’s daughter just days later.
And defender Drew Moor missed seven games after being sidelined with a cardiac arrhythmia in April. Fullback Steven Beitashour found himself in the operating room after a brutal on-field collision in the Canadian Championship final June 27. He underwent surgery for a lacerated pancreas. Giovinco’s season included niggling injuries, the occasional tantrum and another MLS MVP finalist honour. But the mercurial Italian scored what proved to be the key goal — via yet another marvellous free kick — in the fractious playoff series with the Red Bulls.
Giovinco set up both goals in the final. He split the Seattle defence in the 67th minute to set Altidore loose. And then deep in stoppage time he found Armando Cooper.
The Panamanian substitute, who played just 152 minutes in the final 16 games of a disappointing season, sidestepped keeper Stefan Frei with a beautiful move only to see his shot thud off the goalpost. Victor Vazquez was Johnny-onthe-spot, knocking the ball in for the insurance goal Saturday.
Bradley and Altidore suffered through a torrent of abuse in Atlanta, New York and Columbus after the failed U.S. World Cup qualifying campaign. While both shrugged it off, it must have hurt.
Keeper Clint Irwin was the essence of class after losing his starting job to Alex Bono after suffering an injury in the home opener.
Other players kept their lip buttoned as they watched from the bench or the stands. Credit Vanney, his coaching staff and the front office. Toronto has become a model, winning franchise. The team is looked after on and off the field. Players want to come here.
“They enjoy one another,” said Vanney. “That’s really a special thing to have.”
Added Altidore: “When I say this is a special place, I mean it,”
In an era where selfish social media pronouncements, hard-tofathom salaries and me-first attitudes distance some pro athletes from supporters, Altidore and Bradley have consistently gone out of their way to praise and connect with TFC fans.
They understand what the fan base has gone through — and what the BMO Field faithful means to the team.
“It gives you this feeling like there is only one possible outcome. And that’s that we win,” Bradley said of the fan support.
It’s ironic that Bradley was overshadowed when he signed with Toronto the same day as Jermain Defoe in January 2014. While the England striker lasted one season, Bradley became the engine of the team. The U.S. captain shines very brightly in the Toronto locker-room. But he showed his human side Saturday.
He admitted he has to dial down his single-mindedness at times “to make sure I don’t wear guys out.”
But the message got through to his teammates.
“There was never one moment when I looked around and felt like guys were losing focus or were forgetting about what we were trying to do,” Bradley said.
“With this team Everything was about getting back here (to the final) ... every single guy laserfocused to give ourselves another chance.”