U-Sector – The Original Toronto FC Supporters Group

Don’t Worry… About A Thing…

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Photo by Tim Drodge

‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
Singin’: “Don’t worry (don’t worry) ’bout a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, “This is my message to you-ou-ou:”

Sometimes things just don’t go your way.

Toronto FC found that out the hard way Saturday afternoon, when the visiting Red Bulls of New Jersey New York ended the Reds’ seemingly infallible home unbeaten streak with an emphatic 4-1 result.

It was not for a lack of trying on TFC’s part, though.

Toronto employed the same strategy against New York as they did four days earlier versus Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League, feeling out the opponent for the first few minutes, then kicking into the soccer equivalent of a full-court press. Unlike the match against Cruz Azul, however, TFC didn’t manage to get on the board during their high-pressure tactics, instead seeing the Red Bulls answer with a screaming 30-yard strike from Rafael Marquez, his first as an MLS player.

That one kick of the ball seemed to change the flow of the entire match, as it simultaneously energized the New Yorkers while deflating an up-until-then highly energized TFC.

For the rest of the first half, the visitors controlled the pace, stroking the ball around and attacking at their own leisure. That it took a Joseph Nane own-goal just before the half time whistle to finally get New York another goal was a testament to the stellar work done by TFC keeper Stefan Frei and centre back duo of Adrian Cann and Nana Attakora to keep the Red Bulls offence at bay.

Despite being down by two at the half, Toronto came out of the break gangbusters once again, and were rewarded two minutes in with a Dwayne De Rosario goal, his first in the league since May. De Ro slotted home a perfectly-weighted O’Brian White through ball to pull Toronto within one, and once again TFC were on the front foot, pressing for the equalizer and keeping the high-priced Red Bulls on their heels.

And once again, it was a goal against the run of play that turned the game in the Red Bulls’ favour, this time for good. Attakora, who had the unenviable task of shutting down Thierry Henry — and succeeded at it — committed a brain fart of the highest order, as he intercepted a New York cross in to the Toronto area. With his hand.

Red card. Penalty kick. Goal by Juan Pablo Angel.

Game. Set. Match.

From then on out, it was academical, and the Red Bulls, now up a man and with a two-goal lead, played out the duration of the match like sharks drawn to blood. Only the continuing heroics of Frei kept the game from truly getting out of hand, and even the normally rock-solid Swiss keeper fell victim to the brain fart bug that was apparently going around when he completely misjudged a cross, allowing former Red Carl Robinson to easily nod in the fourth and final New York goal.

With that, Toronto fell even further behind the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings, and a BMO Field unbeaten streak that stretched back to August 2009 was broken.

Truth be told, the scoreline flattered the visitors, and even though the Reds did not do enough to win the match, they certainly didn’t play as poorly as 4-1 suggests. Had one on Toronto’s many first half chances found the back of the net — and TFC did come as close as hitting the post — the game likely plays out very differently.

But this game always comes down to which side finishes its chances. New York did, Toronto didn’t.

It’s as simple as that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pros and Cons for the Toronto FC versus New York Red Bulls match played on Saturday, August 21, 2010:

PROS

• Toronto was not afraid to go at the vaunted Red Bulls, opening both halves on the front foot.
• Dwayne De Rosario finding his finishing form with a coolly slotted goal.
• O’Brian White getting much more involved in the play. From chasing down balls to providing the pass for De Ro’s goal, OBW was much more effective than in recent games.
• Carl Robinson’s classy goal non-celebration.

CONS

• Lack of finishing, which ended up being the difference between the two sides.
• Nana Attakora and Stefan Frei’s rare lapses in judgment, both which led directly to New York goals.
• Joseph Nane as a centre back. Sure, he was thrust into the role due to Attakora’s ejection, but let’s hope he never finds himself in that position again.
• The BMO Field crowd, which was the largest in history for an MLS match, yet empty seats were in abundance. Why do people buy tickets and not show up? Also, a little bit of rain won’t kill you.

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller