Toronto FC proved that last night when they advanced to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League by way of the biggest draw in team history. Up 1-0 on aggregate heading into the match, TFC knew that a draw with C.D. Motagua of Tegucigalpa would be enough to allow the Reds to move on. Even a loss would do the trick, provided that Toronto managed to score a goal along the way and keep within one of their Honduran hosts.

As the game kicked off, it looked as though TFC would be chasing the latter option. Perhaps it was a little shell-shock of simply being in the famed Central American atmosphere, but within minutes of the opening whistle, the Reds found themselves down a goal courtesy of friend-turned-foe Amado Guevara, who clearly had a point to prove to his old club after a lackluster first leg in which the the Motagua captain was substituted at halftime for what his coach called “poor form.”

Guevara took advantage of a gaping hole in the makeshift TFC backline, featuring 17-year-old Academy product Doneil Henry in his “real” debut for the big club (the already-decided Voyageurs Cup finale and Bolton friendly don’t really count).

Henry started the game at right back, a position that TV announcer Jason DeVos said the kid had never played before. Considering the magnitude of the game, and the non-familiarity Henry has with not only his teammates on the backline, but also the position he was playing, it was no surprise that the youngster’s presence would be disruptive enough that a wily veteran like Guevara could exploit it for an early goal.

After the initial shock of going down a goal so early, Henry and his TFC colleagues settled down quite a bit, and traded possession with Motagua for much of the first half. When Preki decided that an out-of-position Academy kid was not the answer to marking stud left winger Emilio Izaguirre, the TFC coach shifted Dan Gargan into that role, allowing Brazilian Maicon Santos to take Henry’s spot on the fiekl.

The difference was immediately apparent, as Maicon’s hold-up play and vision up top completely changed the complexion of the game. With the former Chivas USA man causing havoc for the Motagua central defenders, the slick-passing trio of Dwayne De Rosario, Julian de Guzman and Chad Barrett were afforded more time and space on the ball.

The change paid off in the second half, as numerous TFC attacks culminated in a sublime through-ball from Maicon to the awaiting De Rosario, with the Reds captain doing what he does best, scoring goals in clutch situations.

Toronto’s joy was short-lived though, as once again Guevara beat Stefan Frei, putting Motagua ahead on aggregate but still one goal away from taking the series. That set up a ridiculously nerve-wracking final twenty minutes in which wave after wave of Motagua attacks were narrowly averted, either through hilariously bad finishing or the amazing talents of Swiss keeper Frei.

With Motagua pushing for the clinching goal, Toronto was afforded plenty of counterattacks, and once more a Maicon pass found an onrushing TFC teammate, this time Barrett, who held off his defender and right-footed the ball into the back of the Motagua goal at the 80th minute.

That would be the final action of the game for Barrett, who was immediately substituted for Mista following the goal. If Barrett never scores another goal for TFC, it wouldn’t matter, as the American forward has proven himself just as clutch in these cup competitions as his captain.

After the second Toronto tally, it was apparent that Motagua had run out of ideas. The 2-2 draw would hold up as the final result, with TFC winning on aggregate 3-2, two goals clear of their opponents thanks to the away goals rule.

Considering some of the amazingly inept away performances Toronto has put on this season, a draw in the inhospitable environs in the heart of Central America is as good as a win.

Now it’s on to the next round, and a group featuring Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul (who won their preliminary series 9-2 with mostly a reserve side), MLS Cup champ Real Salt Lake and their incredible home record, and last year’s CCL quarterfinalist Arabe Unido from Panama. Oh, and there’s the little issue of the MLS playoff race, in which Toronto is currently just holding onto the final spot and would surely be hindered by six additional games stretching an already thin roster.

But let’s worry about that later. We won. Ok, we drew, but it sure as hell feels like a win.

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

Pros and Cons from the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round match played between Toronto FC and Club Deportivo Motagua on August 3, 2010:

PROS

• TFC keeping its composure in the face of incredible adversity, especially after going down a goal in the opening moments.
• Maicon Santos’ presence, which adds that extra something to the Toronto attack.
• Dwayne De Rosario’s yeoman effort, dude was all over the field and highly motivated. A true captain.
• Stefan Frei putting in yet another stellar performance in goal.
• Chad Barrett once again scoring in the big games for TFC.

CONS

• Doneil Henry being thrown into the fire by Preki.A 17-year-old kid playing out of position in an extremely hostile environment is not likely going to end well, regardless of how good he is.
• The fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants defending by Toronto in the second half.
• Laughable CONCACAF officiating.

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Last year, it seemed that everyone connected to the Whitecaps was whining high and low about the Montreal Impact “bending over” for Toronto in last year’s final Nutrilite Canadian Championship match.

Montreal was, as you all well know, already eliminated from Voyageurs Cup contention heading into that match, and decided to rest some regulars ahead of a crucial league game against those same Vancouver Whitecaps only two days later.

The result was a right thrashing never before seen in either Montreal or Toronto’s respective histories, which sent ‘Caps fans into a tizzy as TFC needed to beat the Impact by four goals in order to win the Cup. Toronto won by five, and Vancouver – though tied with the Reds on point total and actually holding an advantage in the head-to-head record – were left to watch Toronto celebrate its first ever bit of hardware.

As a result of that match, Vancouver demanded that all three teams enter into a “gentleman’s agreement” for this year’s tournament, in which the teams agreed to play a better calibre side even if eliminated.

So of course, that set up tonight’s showdown between Vancouver and Montreal at Stade Saputo, site of last year’s “disgrace.”  The ‘Caps absolutely needed a win tonight to simply have a chance at remaining in contention next week, and they were facing an already-eliminated Montreal side that had agreed long before to not roll out the reserves should they be in this situation again.

Predictably, Montreal played tonight’s match with far more fire in their bellies than last year’s final match, and Vancouver – lacking any sort of identifiable desire to actually win the match – limped through the 90 minutes en route to a 1-1 draw.

Upon the final whistle, the ‘Caps were eliminated and TFC started looking ahead to old friend Amado Guevara and his Motagua side, the first opponent in this year’s CONCACAF Champions League.

Vancouver got its just desserts after spending the better part of 2009 complaining about that year’s Voyageurs Cup tournament. They wanted Montreal to take it more seriously, and the Impact did just that.

Regardless, Vancouver’s fate was still in their own hands, and they did nothing throughout the competition to step up and grab that brass ring that they claim is so important to them.

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Will Preki become TFC's fourth head coach in four years?

Preki (a.k.a. Predrag Radosavljević) was widely rumoured to be on Mo Johnston’s three-man short list (along with Houston assistant John Spencer and long-time New England head coach Steve Nicol), and was probably the most realistic choice of the three.

The Serbian-born former two-time MLS MVP is the only one of the three who has been the top on-field man at an MLS club and is currently available. While some have been pining for Liverpool and Scotland legend Nicol to take the reigns under his good buddy Mo, the reality is that Nicol is still under contract for two more MLS seasons, and New England would not allow its stellar coach to simply walk into the awaiting arms of an Eastern Conference rival.

Spencer would have been a good choice, if Toronto fans hadn’t already experienced two former assistant coaches working through growing pains as the head man. Johnston knows that this is likely his last shot to get the coaching gig right, and risking his job security on yet another unproven guy could have spelled disaster, despite the fact that Spencer has all of the tools (and MLS experience) to become a very good coach in this league.

So Preki it is (if Ives is to be believed, and why shouldn’t he?). The man who turned sad-sack Chivas USA around is now tasked with doing the same at an even bigger club. Preki’s task-master style of man-management will be a stark turn around from Chris Cummins’ “friends with everyone” approach, and perhaps that’s exactly what this team needs.

But there are some questions that need to be answered.

What happens with Amado Guevara now? Guevara and Preki famously fell out at Chivas, to the point that Guevara – after all of four games under Preki – swore he would never play in MLS again. Of course, when he realized that the pay in his native Honduras is just slightly below what he could demand in MLS, he changed his tune, but only after his rights were traded to Toronto.

Will Guevara and Preki be able to play nice? Or was that horrific 5-0 debace in the Jersey swamp the last we’ve seen of the fiery Honduran?

Much has been made of Mo Johnston’s allegedly meddling ways, especially in the aftermath of Cummins’ inglourious departure. Will Mo be able to keep his hands off and give his new hire the freedom to coach as he sees fit?

Also, while his regular season record over the years has been stellar, Preki hasn’t exactly proven himself as a coach in the MLS playoffs. Will TFC’s vast resources give Preki what he needs to finally lay claim to his first win as a coach in the postseason?

And finally, will an “In Radosavljević We Trust“ banner fit in the BMO Field south-east corner gap?

Only time will tell.

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Discuss the potential Preki hiring here.