Reds focus on form, not revenge on Seattle
While memory of MLS Cup shootout is still raw, overall TFC needs to keep legs fresh
Greg Vanney doesn’t wince when referring to the Seattle Sounders as “the champions” but it doesn’t exactly roll off the Toronto FC coach’s tongue, either.
The Reds dominated last fall’s MLS Cup against the Western Conference representative, but a scoreless draw after 120 minutes meant penalties, which the Reds went on to lose 5-4.
That Seattle failed to register a single shot on net during open play on its way to lifting the cup didn’t make for the most authoritative win. But lift the cup it did, earning the right to a moniker Toronto so desperately wanted to claim as its own.
“No matter how you do it, you’ve got to give credit to the team that goes home with the cup,” Vanney said. “It’s a hard thing to say but it’s reality. And it’s motivation, too.”
Such incentive could come into play on Saturday afternoon, when the two sides meet up for the first time since that chilly night at BMO Field last December. It’s the only scheduled game between Toronto and Seattle this year.
There’s no way of making up for a final in a regular-season game, Vanney said. Saturday’s game is first and foremost a chance for Toronto to stretch its win streak to four games.
But Vanney doesn’t expect the loss will be far from his team’s mind.
“Once the guys get there and are ready to take the field and are preparing, I think there will be a little bit of a hunger that you want to try to get one back over against this team,” he said. “But in the grand scheme of things in terms of preparation, it’s another game, it’s another opportunity to get three points.”
Seattle has reintroduced forward Clint Dempsey to its team after he missed out on the playoff run last year due to an irregular heartbeat. Vanney calls Dempsey “unpredictable” and lauds his ability to conjure attacks out of thin air.
But the Reds have also have a wild card on the pitch in midfielder Victor Vazquez, who currently leads the league with six assists.
Seattle (2-2-4) sits just out of playoff contention heading into the match. Toronto has climbed to third place in the East.
While all but one of the players that represented Toronto in the MLS Cup are still with the club, how many will play is up in the air. The lengthy trip to the west coast also comes with a quick turnaround after Wednesday night’s home win against Orlando City SC. In the big picture, Toronto has another six games to play in May following Saturday’s match.
“We keep saying we have a deep roster, so it’s important that at some point guys will see the field,” Vanney said. “Especially with this short turnaround, we’re in between opponents that are Eastern Conference (teams) that are important games, we will mix it up a little bit and we’ll see how things go.”
Being ready should be easier after the perfect three-game homestand, goalkeeper Alex Bono said.
“Momentum’s a huge thing in this league so we’re going to try to keep it in our favour,” Bono said.