TFC falls to Orlando
Canadian Akindele scores winner against Reds,
ORLANDO, FLA.—The learning curve continues for Toronto FC under new coach Chris Armas.
Six games into the season, Toronto (1-3-2) has just one win after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Orlando City SC. An early goal by Canadian Tesho Akindele helped Orlando (3-0-3) extend its unbeaten start to the MLS campaign to a club-record six games.
After collecting just one point and being outscored 8-4 in its first three league games, Toronto came into Saturday’s contest having taken four points and outscored the opposition 3-1 over its previous two matches.
Toronto manufactured chances Saturday — outshooting Orlando 18-10 (6-5 in shots on target) and holding a 9-4 edge in corners — but lacked a clinical finish against a well-organized Orlando defence. And it paid for an early defensive letdown.
Armas preferred to see the glass half full.
“I think we’ll be disappointed at the goal we let in,” said Armas. “But the attitude, the approach, the pressing, the commitment to when we don’t have the ball, the ability to create chances, the structure, I think there’s a lot of positives.”
None of them were on display on Orlando’s goal.
Dutch winger Silvester van der Water, acquired in February from Heracles Almelo of the Dutch top flight, made his MLS debut for Orlando and set up Akindele for the opening goal in the 12th minute.
After an Omar Gonzalez clearing header went to Orlando’s Chris Mueller at midfield, the ball made its way four passes later to the right flank where van der Water sent a cross past Chris Mavinga who had been dragged wide from his centre back position. Junior Urso and Akindele were both left unmarked with a gaping hole in the middle of the Toronto defence.
The cross found Akindele, who headed it past goalkeeper Alex Bono for his second of the season — and the 39th of his MLS career. Akindele has been part of all three game-winners for Orlando this season, scoring two and assisting on Mauricio Pereyra’s strike in last week’s 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Toronto winger Yeferson Soteldo and fullback Kemar Lawrence had both moved away from the left sideline, allowing Orlando a clear path down the flank and forcing Mavinga to move over.
Still there were seven or eight Toronto bodies in the penalty box. None was in position to close down Akindele or Urso.
TFC, which suffered through a pandemic-disrupted pre-season, is 2-5-3 in all competitions in 2021, including the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
The club remains very much a work in progress with injured Spanish playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo yet to feature and newcomers Soteldo and Lawrence finding their way. Star striker Jozy Altidore, his start interrupted by injury, has yet to hit high gear.
Armas’s confidence may be well placed, but it’s a question of when Toronto puts it all together.
“We created chances we didn’t finish. That’s a part of the game,” said Lawrence.
“I know that will come with the quality we have and the depth we have. But for me, we’ve got to be tighter in the backline … And that doesn’t come overnight.”