The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
With fans in the stands, Toronto FC rallies for key win
In a season that could only be termed as surreal, Toronto FC added another chapter in a bizarre odyssey that has a chance to end with a Supporters’
Shield to bring back to Toronto.
Taking the field in a driving rain storm not long after MLS-leading Philadelphia lost, Toronto rallied for a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami CF on Sunday night where fans were allowed into Rentschler Field for the first time in six games.
Having fans on their side had a bit of a different feel to it.
“I was saying to the coaches on the bench, at first it kind of feels like an exhibition game because they were fans, some were supporting us, some were supporting them and some were there to watch a game and it didn’t really feel like a home game so to speak,” Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney said. “It had a strange vibe to it and also the speed that we were playing [in the first half ] was not at the tempo that we needed to play to get the result that we wanted and compete for the Supporters’ Shield which is what we talked about at halftime, just the whole thing had an interesting vibe to me. When it came down to the stretch and we were battling to get the result, it was nice to have some fans in the stands, they reacted to the plays. I would say it wasn’t very partisan, it was pretty balanced, they were soccer fans more than for any specific team.”
They didn’t have much to cheer for in the early going with Miami having multiple scoring chances in the first half. The expansion team finally broke through in the 43rd minute.
Lewis Morgan forced a turnover by Toronto’s Tony Gallacher. His initial crossing pass was stopped by Chris Mavinga, but the ball came back to Morgan. Toronto keeper Quentin Westberg did get a piece of his second crossing attempt but the ball bounced to Blaise Matuidi who took one step forward and his left-footed blast eluded Michael Bradley and snuck
inside the post.
Ayo Akinola tied it in the 55th minute, settling down a crossing pass from Patrick Mullins and calmly delivered.
Alejandro Pozuelo sailed a shot just wide in the 59th minute for Toronto.
Gonzalo Higuain rang a shot off the post in the 80th minute. The ball landed at Rodolfo Pizarro’s feet but he was quickly surrounded by multiple Toronto defenders.
Toronto took the lead on a Pozuelo penalty kick in the 84th minute after Richie Laryea was taken down in the box.
Westberg had to make a one-handed leaping save in stoppage time and then another save just as stoppage time was drawing to a close as Toronto picked up three vital points that will give them a chance to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs depending on how Philadelphia fares in its final regular-season game.
With injuries to key players and playing six “home” games 500 miles from Toronto because of restrictions of U.S. teams coming into Canada due to COVID-19, somehow this Toronto team is tied with Philadelphia for the best
mark in this phase of the MLS season with one game remaining.
“A lot of sacrifices, just being away from our family,” Akinola said. “I think it shows you how determined and how relentless we are trying to get this trophy and just pushing forward, it means so much to us. Just to defend, we didn’t move here just to lose games, we
really want to push and try to hopefully win that title, the Supporters’ Shield, and even an MLS Cup, that is our goal. It is just a huge sacrifice for everyone, I am glad everybody’s head is in the right place, we have a couple days home to recuperate, see the family and after that go onto the final game against the Red Bulls and we’ll see where it goes
from there.”
Philadelphia plays New England and Toronto travels to meet the Red Bulls. Philadelphia would win the tiebreaker so Toronto needs a better result than Philadelphia to win the Supporters’ Shield.
Toronto (13-4-5) was 4-1-1 at Rentschler Field and will host at least one playoff game.
BEST OF THE BEST
MLS released the ballot for the best 25 players in MLS history. Vanney is joined by current Toronto FC players Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Omar Gonzalez on the ballot along with former Southern Connecticut State star Mike Petke, a three-time AllMLS defender who played for three franchises from 1998-2010.
Pozuelo, the only Toronto player to appear in all 21 matches during this phase of play, and Chris Mavinga are MLS MVP candidates, Akinola is up for Young Player of the Year, Westberg is a Goalkeeper of the Year candidate while Mavinga and Richie Laryea are among 44 in contention for Defender of the Year. Justin Morrow is on the Humanitarian of the Year ballot with Greg Vanney a Coach of the Year candidate.