Reds ready to take over first place in MLS East
TFC has chance to grab conference lead on the latest date in franchise history
It was a dramatic, and ultimately disappointing, affair for Toronto FC the last time the Reds visited Orlando City SC.
Operating from a thin squad back in late June — thanks to injuries, international duties and a hectic schedule including Canadian Championship matches — the visitors’ battled turf and humidity to twice come from behind during the regular 90 minutes.
But the Reds couldn’t stave off a questionable 100th-minute injury time penalty, one that legendary Brazilian midfielder Kaka put by goalkeeper Alex Bono. The 22 year old had only just entered his first Major League Soccer game, after regular netminder Clint Irwin suffered what would turn out to be a longterm quadriceps injury in the 70th minute. Toronto lost the match 3-2.
Two months less a day later, the Reds and the Lions will again meet in Florida. And Toronto feels its circumstances have improved.
“[That game] does feel like a long time again and it does feel like a different part of our season,” defender Justin Morrow told the Star from Orlando Tuesday.
The team has successfully weathered an injury crisis that began after that late June meeting with Orlando. The Reds are unbeaten in six matches and can go to the top of the Eastern Conference with a win or a draw Wednesday.
Never before has the club occupied first place in the East after July11; the last time it held that spot this season was following Toronto’s opening 2-0 win against New York Red Bulls on March 6.
The team hopes to leave Florida with at least a point in hand, Morrow said.
“Top of the East is where we want to be. We’ve set lofty goals for ourselves and we want to get points from our games. We want to be the team that everyone looks towards and knows that we’re a good team and it’s going to be a challenge anytime they play us.”
That doesn’t mean Orlando will be an easy conquest. The Lions have lost just one home game this season and are currently only one place outside the Eastern Conference’s six playoffs spots, on goal difference alone.
Given the parity within the league, a draw, in almost all circumstances on the road, is a “very reasonable result,” coach Greg Vanney said Tuesday.
“Going into this game, we don’t need to look at this as the one game we must win or anything like that.
“We’re looking at this as our next game and one of several that we have left.”
While he believes his team is ready and poised to take top spot Wednesday, it won’t be detrimental if the Reds don’t manage to snag the point necessary to make that happen, Vanney said. “We’ve made a big enough shift now in terms of our mindset and our mentality that I think were are going to be right there at the top when this is all said and done at the end of the year.”