Sunday, August 21, 2011. 7:00pm EDT.

Toyota Park. Bridgeview, IL.

Watch: GolTV Canada, MLS MatchDayLive

Listen: Fan 590

U-Sector Away Game Viewing: Duke of Gloucester

Photo courtesy TFCpics.com (May 8, 2010)

So here we are in September, once again counting points and doing the math on TFC’s playoff chances.

Another 0-0 draw against an opponent that is right alongside Toronto in the race for the elusive eighth playoff spot did absolutely nothing to aid those cloudy calculations.

In an all-too-familiar scenario, The Reds once again let a very winnable game slip through their fingers, this time to host Chicago Fire. It would be fair to say that Toronto controlled the game for the most part, yet the glaring lack of quality in the final third betrayed the performance.

Chicago seemed completely disinterested in trying for the three points, instead opting to minimize TFC’s chances while conceding most of the possession. Perhaps the Fire are comfortable with their two-games-in-hand-while-two-points-behind predicament, but that’s a bit of a fool’s game, as points in the bag always trump possible points at this time of year. And especially when Chicago is still seven points off an actual playoff spot.

The Fire did have a foray or two into Toronto’s penalty area, but aside from a 15-minute spell — that included a laughable breakaway-gone-wrong from Freddie Ljungberg — the Illinois club did nothing to truly threaten its visitors.

(Side note: Anyone who bemoans Julian de Guzman’s lack of offensive prowess as a designated player needs to look at Ljungberg, who hasn’t scored a single goal this year for Seattle or Chicago. And he’s an attacking DP.)

The game in Chicago went pretty much exactly the same for Toronto as Saturday’s game in Dallas did, with The Reds looking industrious and the more enthusiastic of the two sides, but with nothing to show for it. Unlike Dallas, however, the Fire couldn’t nick an offside goal for the victory. Not that the officials didn’t try.

This time it wasn’t a double offside that went against Toronto, but rather two handballs by Fire players inside the penalty area that had they been committed by TFC players would likely have been called for penalties, but instead were ignored. Just one of those being called correctly would probably have turned the game in Toronto’s favour, as the toothless Chicago offence didn’t look to be able to respond to any potential TFC goals.

Regardless, the calls will not always go as they should (especially in this league), so Toronto will need to learn to put some complete games together, and fast. That means maintaining the same level of intensity we’ve seen over the past two games, but also going for the jugular when the opportunities present themselves.

Time is running out.

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Pros and Cons for the match played between Toronto FC and Chicago Fire on Wednesday, September 8, 2010:

PROS

• Intensity and possession levels are high
• O’Brian White playing his second consecutive game where he looked like he gave a damn
• Stefan Frei continues to exude confidence, allowing his defence to push forward more often
• One point is better than none, especially on the road

CONS

• Another game with no goals for
• No killer instinct in the side, not even from Dwayne De Rosario
• Quick through balls are the TFC defence’s Achilles heel
• Completely poor officiating on the handball non-calls

HIGHLIGHTS

… AND THE TWO HANDBALL NON-CALLS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Terrible conditions, a listless opponent, and Chad Barrett’s awakening combined to give Toronto FC its biggest victory since the historic “Miracle in Montreal” back in June, 2009.

And while Saturday’s victory over the visiting Chicago Fire wasn’t nearly as monumental as last year’s Voyageurs Cup finale, it certainly was just as satisfying.

Make no mistake, TFC dismantled the Fire. That the conditions surrounding the game were a convergence of factors that will likely never coincide again just added to the fun.

In the bitter cold, intermittent rain, and driving winds that was more reminiscent of a spring day in the Arctic Circle rather than an early May afternoon in Southern Ontario, The Reds finally exploded in a hailstorm of its own, unleashing four goals on an unsuspecting Chicago side that looked ill-equipped to handle either the weather or TFC from the get go.

Toronto chose to kick off with a powerful wind at its back, and took full advantage by smartly playing Route One football towards rookie Fire netminder Andrew Dykstra. Nick Labrocca found Dykstra in no man’s land with a cross that caught the wind and looped directly into the Chicago goal, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead.

After the half, TFC – now playing into the wind – changed its tactics and kept the ball on the deck, instead choosing to counter Chicago ‘s inevitable attempts at using the wind to its own advantage. The plan worked to perfection, with half-time substitute O’Brian White the ultimate benefactor of a textbook counter-attack that involved Barrett and Dwayne De Rosario. White nudged an inch-perfect De Ro pass into the gaping Fire net and Toronto saw itself up by two goals mere minutes after the second half began.

Barrett then got himself on the scoresheet not once, but twice. Following a Logan Pause wondergoal that caught the same wind that assisted Labrocca’s first half strike, Barrett’s hustle and intelligent runs finally paid off. His first tally was the result of White’s terrific play down the right side in which the Jamaican beat his man one-v-one, drew another defender over and smartly found a wide open Barrett, who easily left-footed the pass home.

Barret then notched his second of the match three minutes later, running onto a De Rosario through ball that cut right through the heart of Chicago’s defence. That Barrett calmly chipped the onrushing keeper for TFC’s fourth goal rather than blasting it directly into Dykstra’s hands speaks to the TFC forward’s growing confidence.

The Reds will hope that confidence spills over into Wednesday and a key encounter with Montreal, as a Toronto win at Saputo Stadium would eliminate the Impact from contention in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Barrett will no doubt be a big part of Toronto’s plans on Wednesday, as he has thus far notched a perfect three goals in three matches against the NASL side.

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Pros and Cons for the Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire match played on Saturday, May 8, 2010:

PROS

• TFC wins at home, again. Toronto is a perfect 4-and-0 at BMO in 2010 so far
• Chad Barrett and O’Brian White emerging as a real strike partnership
• Four goals from TFC, and none from Dwayne De Rosario
• De Ro still getting on the scoresheet, with two assists
• Adrian Cann proving to be Toronto’s best acquisition of 2010. He completely nullified Chicago’s Brian McBride

CONS

• A couple of sloppy giveaways that led to Fire chances on goal, but nothing substantial
• Terrible weather at BMO, yet again

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Between now and the MLS-mandated World Cup break (which starts following the June 5 match vs. Colorado), TFC will play eight matches. The Reds will see MLS action five times in that span, as well as three more matches in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

By the time this stretch of games is over, the NCC champion will have been crowned, and TFC will have completed more than one-third of it’s league campaign. To say that the picture of TFC’s season will be much clearer by then is an understatement.

But first things first, today’s game against Chicago is a crucial encounter against a conference opponent. The Fire have been remarkably consistent over their first six league games this year, amassing a 2-2-2 record that consists of identical 1-1-1 records home and away. Hey, I said consistent, not stellar.

Last year, the Fire were the antithesis of the conventional MLS paradigm of “win at home, eek out results on the road”, as they were markedly better when away from Toyota Park. It’s too early to tell whether they will be traveling giants this year, but I’m sure Preki has considered Chicago’s performances on the road last season in his pre-match preparation.

New coach Carlos de los Cobos is, like his TFC counterpart, still attempting to stamp his own mark on his squad, with new players having joined the side and a different tactical approach than his predecessor Denis Hamlett.

The Fire are a work in progress, although talented attackers like Brian McBride and Marco Pappa can turn a game on its head through individual talent alone. New striker Collins John – who has a pedigree as good or better than anyone else in the league (save the designated players) – has struggled with fitness and finding his place in the side, but even if he doesn’t start he will provide a threat for de los Cobos off the bench.

Big Wilman Conde has not been as dominant in the backline for Chicago as in previous years, but he can still control the game and will look to shut down Dwayne De Rosario. The loss of Gonzalo Segares has weakened Chicago’s defence a bit, but they are still fairly organized and the core is familiar with one another enough to make up for the Costa Rican’s departure.

Given today’s weather conditions, not to mention Preki’s tactics, the match should be a fairly scrappy one, with the wind and cold asserting itself down by the lake.

Perhaps one day we will be able to enjoy decent weather for an MLS match, but unfortunately that day will have to wait.

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Join U-Sector at Maro (135 Liberty St.) for pre-match bevvies, starting at 12:30pm. Our post-match gathering spot is the Done Right Inn at 867 Queen St. W.

Posted by Rudi Schuller

The Galaxy won their series by a single goal, courtesy of a successful Landon Donovan penalty kick in the 73rd minute of the Galaxy home leg. The 1-0 scoreline in the second leg was a complete reversal compared to the relative goalfest (a sloppy 2-2 draw) that was the Goats’ home leg a week previous.

Team Beckham now faces off against perennial contenders (and often champion) Houston Dynamo, who finally figured out how to score in the 126th minute of a 120-minute series. Slump-ridden Brian Ching, who has looked a shell of his former self in recent months not only for his orange-clad MLS club but also for the US nationals, rediscovered his scoring touch in extra time after Houston and the upstart Seattle Sounders couldn’t tally a single goal between them over the course of two regulation matches.

Ching figured the best way to break out of a scoring slump was in dramatic fashion, spinning nearly 180 degrees to volley a bullet past Seattle keeper Kasey Keller, off the inside of the nearest post, and into the goal. Houston then held on for dear life for the following 24 minutes as Freddie Ljungberg and company tried their damnedest to continue the expansion side’s Cinderella story for at least a few more days. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, but Sounders fans can still hold their heads high as their side just completed  arguably the most successful expansion launch in MLS history (yes, I’m including Chicago in that statement, who won the Cup in a much less competitive MLS back in ’98).

Speaking of the Fire, Chicago dispatched New England from their seemingly annual playoff matchup, winning 2-0 at home after spotting the Revs a 3-2 lead in the New England leg. Old Man Blanco continues to defy time itself, having tallied the second of Chicago’s goals and thereby clinching the series with one kick of his well-travelled foot.

The Fire now play host the Salt Lake, who flipped confrerences in MLS’ CFL-inspired playoff crossover format as the eighth and final seed. The Utah side gave downtodden TFC fans a small reason to smile by expelling defending champion (and two-time Supporters Shield winner) Columbus Crew.

Columbus inexplicably rested reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schellotto in the first leg in Utah, and paid for the foolish mistake by going down 1-0. Upon his return to the lineup, Schellotto did his best to revive the Crew’s chances in their home leg by notching two goals and putting his side ahead in the aggregate with little more than a half of soccer to be played, but Columbus seemed determined to falter, allowing Salt Lake to score three unanswered goals in what was not-too-long-ago an inpentrable Crew Stadium. One has to wonder what impact Schellotto would have had in the first leg of the series, but it’ll never be known.

So the MLS Cup semis are set, with LA hosting Houston and RSL visiting Chicago. If I were a predictions kind of guy, I’d say LA takes the West while Chicago keeps the East crown within the actual Eastern Conference, leading to a star-studded Cup Final in which The Beckham Experiment finally achieves the ultimate success on the field with an LA Galaxy MLS Cup Championship.

But since I’m not a predictions kind of guy, I will not make such proclamations. Unless I’m proven correct, in which case I’ll point back to this piece as evidence of my superior prognostication skills.

Posted by Rudi Schuller