Toronto FC eliminated from playoff contention
Some 10 months after the euphoria of winning the treble, Toronto FC is struggling with new emotions.
Anger, frustration, disappointment and embarrassment were front and centre Saturday after the Major League Soccer champions were eliminated from playoff contention following a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Toronto coach Greg Vanney.
“It’s not like this happened overnight. It’s been a season-long challenge and journey. Those emotions have developed over the course of the season, not just one night. But tonight was another one of those nights.”
Vanney, who has gone from coach of the year to playoff specdall tator, then found the perfect words, calling it “a pride-kick in the gut.”
Toronto (9-16-6) joins the motley crew of already-eliminated Chicago, Orlando, Colorado and San Jose.
It was the same-old, same-old for Toronto, which dug itself a hole that it couldn’t get out of.
Russell Teibert scored in the fourth minute and Kei Kamara delivered the coup de grace in the 78th minute for Vancouver (1212-7), which got some stellar defence from centre backs Ken- Waston and Doneil Henry and goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic.
Things went from bad to worse for the MLS champions before a muted BMO Field crowd of 22,886 when Toronto defender Gregory van der Wiel was sent off in the 66th minute for a second yellow card.
Both times the Dutch veteran was caught bodychecking a Whitecap to the ground.
The win keeps Vancouver’s slim playoff hopes alive, at least temporarily.