Chris Wondolowski likely ended TFC's playoff hopes with his hat-trick

Is the misery over, yet?

TFC dropped yet another home game on the weekend, this time to a San Jose Earthquakes squad which was — just a couple of months ago — well behind Toronto in the standings.

Now The Reds are looking up at the ‘Quakes, with the California side sitting rather comfortably in 7th place (and a full eight points ahead of Toronto).

This is all getting a little too familiar, isn’t it?

Speaking of which, what was up with Dwayne De Rosario’s goal celebration? After potting a beautiful goal to put TFC to within one, DeRo pantomimed signing a cheque (or possibly a contract), rather than his usual pop-lockin’ strut that has become the norm over his 10-year MLS career.

Seconds later, De Rosario’s old teammate Chris Wondolowski raced down the field (past DeRo himself) and proceeded to cap off a hat-trick that ultimately sealed Toronto’s fate. It was as if the soccer gods had delivered an instant reality check in retaliation for the TFC captain’s selfish antics.

De Rosario made it known in the media post-game that he expected a bigger compensation package from the MLSE overlords, as if the contract he signed less than two years earlier — presumably in good faith and without a gun pointed squarely at his forehead — meant nothing.

This is nothing new from DeRo, who also complained last year around this time on Gareth Wheeler’s show that he felt he was underpaid. He did the same in Houston in 2007 after having signed a new, four year deal (the one that was torn up and renegotiated when he joined Toronto) with that club mere months earlier.

No one will argue that De Rosario’s production on the field probably warrants bigger money than he’s getting, especially in comparison to some of the higher-paid players in the league. Along those same lines, no one can really argue his love for this club, he clearly enjoys playing here and Toronto FC has benefited from his presence.

He is, simply, the best player in TFC’s short history.

But he needs to shut the hell up about his contract situation. He especially needed to do this on Saturday, when he instead decided to put his personal frustrations ahead of the well-being of the team that he captains.

His side was in a (for all intents and purposes) do-or-die match against a team holding one of the two final playoff spots. His goal cut the lead in half, and could have turned the tide in what was actually still a very winnable match for TFC at that point.

What he should have done, like he did three times in Montreal on that famous night in 2009, was grab the ball from the net and head straight for the centre spot. Instead, he chose his contract demand celebration, and — for that moment — put himself ahead of the team that he was ostensibly there to lead.

Ah yes, the team.

To be honest, Toronto didn’t play all that poorly, circumstances being what they were. The Reds knew they had to throw numbers forward in order to secure the full points, which ultimately led to a couple of very nice goals for (and numerous blown chances), and two counter-attack goals scored against (plus a bogus penalty conceded).

The difference between San Jose and Toronto on the day (other than a ref and west-end linesman who only called for one team) was finishing and the number of mental lapses in the back. The Earthquakes had the better of the first and less of the second.

To TFC’s credit, they didn’t allow the crap officiating to become unnerving, and to San Jose’s credit, they did enough to at least draw the match without Kevin Stott’s help.

The end result is a 2010 TFC team that is on the brink of playoff elimination. Of course, they’ll likely go and steal a win in Seattle next week, renewing their faint playoff hopes and prolonging our agony.

Would it really be Toronto FC if it went any other way?

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Pros and Cons for Toronto FC’s 3-2 loss to San Jose Earthquakes on September 25, 2010:

PROS

• Both Toronto goals were the result of well-worked passing and possession.
• Chad Barrett put in a stellar 90 minutes, his first full game since his injury in early August.
• Adrian Cann put in another quiet, creditable performance as the back line anchor.
• Julian de Guzman did what he’s supposed to do, namely break up opposition attacks and make himself a nuisance all over the pitch.
• No lack of effort on display from anyone in red.

CONS

• Dwayne De Rosario’s selfish goal celebration and post-game contract demands. There’s a time and place for renegotiation, and DeRo seemed to choose the worst of both.
• Jacob Peterson could not score in a brothel.
• His teammates weren’t much better.
• De Guzman’s propensity to hold on to the ball too long or pass to no one tends to negate his excellent work during the majority of the run of play.
• Raivis Hscanovics cannot be counted on to start important games in this league. He’s simply not up to par.

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Dwayne De Rosario takes on Bobby Boswell at BMO Field. July 1, 2010. (Scotty / TFCpics.com)

Just when you were ready to mourn Toronto FC’s 2010 MLS season, they give you a reason to keep believing.

Following as lackluster an opening half ever displayed by the boys in red, TFC pulled a proverbial rabbit out of the hat just when it seemed like all the magic had disappeared. The head magician was once again Dwayne De Rosario, arguably the most clutch performer in league history, with his faithful assistant Stefan Frei reminding the audience that DeRo isn’t the only one with a few tricks up his sleeve.

The first half was a dreadful show of a team disinterested, seemingly having given up hope and finding itself losing to yet another team — this time the Houston Dynamo in an unfamiliar role of hapless also-ran — below Toronto in the standings.

One could be forgiven for assuming the worst at the half time break, this writer himself compared the opening 45 minutes to a lobotomy.

Then a series of events happened that indicated that TFC was not to be left for dead just yet.

First, an emotionally-charged halftime interview with Chad Barrett showed that not all of the players were content with simply going through the motions of what was rapidly becoming yet another lost season for MLS’ lone Canadian side. Barrett’s heated words were a refreshing reprieve from the lack of passion that had come from the Reds’ players in recent weeks, at least outwardly.

Secondly, Nick Dasovic did something that Preki failed to do in most of his games in charge here, he recognized the failings of his starting lineup and he adjusted accordingly. The insertion of Martin Saric to start the second half gave TFC a little more bite and a lot more skill than Joseph Nane was able to provide in the first 45 minutes.

Thirdly, it was obvious that whatever the new gaffer said to his charges at the break worked, as The Reds came out of the locker room with a renewed vigour and — more importantly — a sense of purpose to their game. This is in direct contrast to the way they played under Preki (especially over the past several weeks), as generally Toronto would begin each match on fire and rapidly lose steam as the game progressed.

Fourthly, we saw the Dwayne De Rosario that TFC supporters haven’t witnessed since that wonderful night in 2009 in Montreal.  He seemingly willed his side to victory on the strength of two world class free kicks just outside Houston’s penalty area, including one with pretty much the last kick of the game. Anyone who questions his leadership needs to watch the second half of this match before saying another word.

Obviously, it wasn’t all perfection out there in Houston last night. Toronto still struggles mightily with set piece defending, which resulted in a goal by Dynamo striker Brian Ching that should never have happened. Indeed, the entire first half was an indictment of everything wrong with TFC this year.

Also, it’s almost impossible to score two goals from the exact same set piece in the same match, yet that’s exactly what happened. One would think that a better team without an octogenarian goalkeeper would have recognized the same play being set up after it worked the first time, so it is perhaps at least a little lucky for DeRo and company that they tried them against Houston and not, say, FC Dallas.

But no matter. The Reds picked up the full three points in a place that they’ve only gotten one in the previous three visits combined, although all it did was keep the team from sliding further away from the eighth and final playoff spot (thanks for nothing, Columbus).

In a perfect world, last night’s emotional win will be the catalyst for an unparalleled run of form that’ll see Toronto squeak into the playoffs a la Real Salt Lake circa 2009. As we all know, TFC is far from perfect, so if they manage to pull off the impossible, it won’t be without a few near-heart attacks and a whole lot of navel gazing along the way.

But it’d be one hell of a ride.

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Pros and Cons for Toronto FC’s 2-1 victory at Houston Dynamo on September 18, 2010:

PROS

• Dwayne De Rosario with two of the best free kicks ever taken by a player in a TFC uniform.
• Stefan Frei once again keeping his side competitive with his stellar play.
• Chad Barrett going 70 minutes and making them count. He is a difference maker on this team.
• Three points gained from one (away) match. So that’s what it feels like.

CONS

• Awful first half that would have killed Toronto’s chances if it were against a better team.
• Another set piece goal given away.
• Maicon Santos’ first touch was terrible all game long. Hopefully it’s just an anomaly.
• The referee’s hair. Apparently he thought Houston was on the Jersey Shore and not the Gulf Coast.

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

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.

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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

The Reds were all over their opponents in yesterday’s preliminary round CONCACAF Champions League match, a stark contrast to the lackluster play that has plagued the team of late. Yet even though they were decidedly more inspired than in other recent games, Toronto once again lacked in the goal-scoring department, a lone Chad Barrett marker early in the match being the difference between the two teams.

Tuesday’s goal drought was not for a lack of trying. TFC outshot the Honduran side 13-4, with five of those on net (versus one for Motagua). The Reds looked the far fresher of the two teams, which is to be expected given that Toronto is in mid-season while Motagua han’t played a competitive match since early May.

Whatever the reasoning, Preki’s side came out the aggressors, and on numerous occasions could have beaten Motagua keeper DJ Pauly D Donaldo Morales. That only one goal was scored speaks less about Morales’ prowess in net as it does about the poor finishing that plagued those in red shirts on the night.

Jacob Peterson himself could have had at least a couple of goals, instead opting to play the role of Barrett circa 2009. Peterson’s movement off the ball is decent, he’s a hard worker and gets involved in much of the play, yet when it comes time to shoot he’s been found extremely wanting as of yet. It’s very frustrating, but with Barrett hitting the target more frequently this season, someone had to step into that role.

The biggest positive of the night, save for Barrett’s cool, left-footed finish on the superb pass from Dwayne De Rosario, was the play of the midfield, specifically in the centre of the park. Julian de Guzman was a maestro on the BMO Field pitch, chasing down everything and frustrating Motagua players left and right with his superior ability to hold on to the football and allow his teammates to get into position.

Sure, his work in the final third left much to be desired, but de Guzman wasn’t alone in that regard, and he didn’t seem to let it affect his play elsewhere on the field.

De Guzman was energized for his TFC international debut, and his attitude seemed infectious. De Rosario, not to be outdone by his Scarborough brethren, had perhaps his best two-way match as a Toronto player. In addition to his assist on Barrett’s goal, De Ro was responsible for a number of key defensive stops deep in TFC territory. While he hasn’t been scoring himself lately, De Rosario has made sure to keep himself involved in other facets of the game, a good quality for the captain of the side.

Even Joseph Nane seemed up for the match, perhaps inspired by his midfield partners. The little-used fourth-round pick of the 2010 draft had a horrific first half, but redeemed himself in the second with a workman-like performance that mostly involved getting in the way of the skillful Motagua midfield and being a general nuisance. Nane will never be confused for world class, and at half time he had many pining for error-prone Amadou Sanyang to be inserted into the match in his place, but he provided decent cover for de Guzman when the Canadian pushed forward after the half.

The end result is a well-earned, if disappointing, one-goal victory for the Reds. On one hand, their job is far from over as travelling to Central America and getting a result is a daunting task for any side (let alone a team that so far is as intimidating as a wet paper bag when away from home). On the other hand, TFC kept a clean sheet away from a hungry side filled with World Cup players, denying a crucial away goal in a short series that can be decided by just that.

Either way, it should lead to an exciting finish to this preliminary round of the Champions League.

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Pros and Cons for the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round match played between Toronto FC and Club Deportivo Motagua on July 27, 2010:

PROS

• Chad Barrett finishing, with his left foot
• The skill level in the “spine” of the team has risen dramatically, and the players are starting to show it
• Julian de Guzman taking over a huge match
• Dwayne De Rosario, not scoring but doing everything else to help his side win
• The crowd: probably the loudest it’s been since the first year

CONS

• Jacob Peterson’s finishing: Frustrating, frustrating, frustrating
• Joseph Nane’s first half, among the worst of any TFC players this year
• Not enough goals to go with the possession and chances, which may bite TFC in the rear end next week

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

The All-Stars will take on Manchester United at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on July 28th. Toronto FC has a home CONCACAF Champions League qualifying match versus Honduran side Motagua July 27th. De Rosario will be playing in both. Does anyone not see anything wrong with this scenario?

Last year, De Rosario skipped the All-Star Game as TFC hosted Puerto Rico in the CCL the same night. De Ro, whose commitment to the club cannot be questioned, communicated his dismay with having to choose between the Champions League match and the MLS showcase )while making the right decision and representing his club). His beef was that the players shouldn’t have to make that decision in the first place, that the league should make sure that its brightest stars would not have to miss an event that the players no doubt enjoy taking part in.

In the offseason, league commissioner Don Garber went on record saying that MLS wanted to place more importance on the Champions League, as the continental competition offered benefits to the growth and reputation of the league. Then MLS promptly scheduled its All-Star Game during the same week as the CCL qualifiers, for the second year in a row.

So once again, the league puts its own clubs and players in the unenviable position of having to choose between advancing in real competition or advancing a meaningless — albeit very high profile — exhibition.

Within minutes of the All-Star roster being released, it was announced that De Rosario would be playing in both matches. He’ll suit up at BMO Field against Motagua on Tuesday, hop on a plane to Houston and play in the All-Star Game on Wednesday, then he’ll fly out to Kansas City on Thursday to meet up with his TFC mates ahead of the Reds match against the Wizards on Saturday. Oh, and then TFC – with De Ro in tow – will fly out to Tegucigalpa immediately following the KC match for the second CCL qualifying leg three days later.

That is absolute insanity, and a recipe for an injury if this writer has ever seen one. Unfortunately an injury to De Rosario will likely bring nothing more than the requisite lip service from the league before it carries on with its ridiculous stance of placing exhibitions above actual competition and player well-being. He’s a star in MLS, but he’s not that big a star.

LA Galaxy’s World Cup heroes Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle were also named to the MLS All-Star Team, and both will also be playing in a Champions League match the night before. Given the sheer amount of mileage both players have tacked on over the past few months, they may actually be more at risk for injury than De Rosario.

While it’s bad form to hope for an injury to anyone — let alone the face of the entire league — one has to wonder if it’ll take a career-threatening setback to new MLS Golden Goose Landon Donovan before the league re-evaluates placing such unreasonable demands on its stars for the sake of a little face time on ESPN against The Biggest Team in the World(TM).

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Actually no, that’s just Toronto FC and the New England Revolution.

The two sides meet up tomorrow at BMO Field, both sporting numerous injuries and absences more befitting of an ER than a soccer match.

Toronto, already missing talisman Dwayne De Rosario to a meaningless friendly glamourous exhibition in Argentina, now faces the prospect of playing without a number of other regulars, as the road-weary Reds show the fruits of a gruelling May schedule.

Julian de Guzman, who was supposed to accompany De Rosario to Buenos Aires, is instead nursing a hamsrting strain that has kept him out of the past two TFC games and sees him listed as “doubtful” for this one. Ty Harden is still out, having been injured by De Rosario while both were attempting to score in a goalmouth scramble against Montreal last month (Harden got the goal). Emmanuel Gomez is gone long term with a knee injury. Seventeen-year-old Zac Herold sadly had to retire due to a rare heart ailment (and is being honoured prior to the match). Even fourth round pick Joseph Nane, who should rarely see more than the bench at the best of times, has the flu.

On top of all that, Maxim Usanov got himself ejected from the previous MLS match on a professional foul against Landon Donovan, and thus will be forced to sit this one out.

All of this adds up to a very patchwork TFC side that will be heavy on the workmanlike attitude that Preki holds so dear, and thin on the creative flair that generally wins professional football matches.

Not all hope is lost, however. If anything Toronto fans should take heart in the fact that BMO Field has once again become a veritable fortress in 2010  (the Reds are 4-and-0 and +7 on goal differential there thus far), and that New England may actually be worse off than they are at the moment.

The Revs are a far cry from the club that completely dismantled Toronto at Gillette Stadium early last month, and even then they weren’t that good.

Seemingly their entire roster has been bitten by the injury bug over the past few weeks, to the point that Steve Nicol only brought 15 players – including three goalkeepers – to a recent away US Open Cup qualifier.

The biggest loss is New England captain Shalrie Joseph, who actually isn’t injured, per se. The Grenadian international is on indefinite leave for “personal issues”, which is rumoured to be code for “rehab.”

Obviously there are more important things than soccer, and no one can begrudge Joseph for stepping up and trying to improve his personal situation, but from a sporting point of view his absence really hurts the Revolution.

But the show must go on, as the old cliché goes. One just has to wonder just how many actors will be able to perform when the curtain raises tomorrow afternoon.

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Join us at Maro (135 Liberty St.) for pre-match bevvies, starting at 11:00am. For post-game, all are encouraged to head to the Done Right Inn (867 Queen St. W).

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

Preki did just that, of course, when he kept Dwayne De Rosario and Julian de Guzman on the bench to start Saturday’s road loss at Salt Lake.

That Real Salt Lake jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead came as a surprise to no one. It was, after all, TFC’s third game in seven days, on the road, at altitude, against the MLS Cup holders who just about never lose on their home turf.

Regardless, I think all TFC fans would have preferred to see the big guns on the field, especially given that they now have a full week to recover before their next match. It’s arguably still early enough in the season that throwing out the stars on little rest would not have been as detrimental to them as it would be, say, in September.

The decision was made, and it was always going to be a gamble given what Preki has at his disposal. It’s no secret that TFC is built on an ethos of hard work, team spirit and grit, and while those are all fine qualities that any pro sports team should aspire to have in spades, they need to balance that out with a depth of skill as well.

It’s painfully obvious that there are very few “skill” players on this TFC squad, and in packed weeks like this it becomes even more apparent as the coaching staff attempts to protect those players.

When De Ro and JDG – along with O’Brian White – stepped on the field to start the second half, Toronto showed an extra spring in their step, and for periods took it to RSL.  The second half TFC was at least equal to their opponents, and was actually unlucky not to have at least salvaged a draw for the visitors.

Lesson learned though, and if I were a betting man, I’d lay down a princely sum that Preki never keeps both of his big Canadian guns on the bench at the same time for the rest of the season, regardless of how busy the schedule is.

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Pros and Cons for the Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake match played May 1, 2010:

PROS

• Dwayne De Rosario simply cannot stop scoring
• Chad Barrett’s leadership in the absence of the team’s captain
• Super Stefan Frei’s continued stellar play

CONS

• The first half lineup, one of the ugliest lineups TFC has ever put out
• Lack of attacking depth means conceding an entire 45 minutes to RSL
• Way too much space on Andy Williams’ goal
• Kyle Beckerman’s hair. It still pisses me off after so many years
• TFC’s road record, especially against the Western conference. Just brutal, and it needs to change

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller

Courtesy TFCpics.com

Well that was fun, wasn’t it?

If there is such a thing as a temporary cure for any ill that TFC (both club and supporters) is feeling, a match versus the Montreal Impact is certainly it.

The rivalry between fans is hot, the games are chippy, and TFC is undefeated against the Impact. Wednesday’s game followed suit, with a dogfight of a match that resulted in numerous cards, a lot of bad blood, and two goals for the good guys.

Dwayne De Rosario, the Toronto FC captain who can seemingly do no wrong in 2010, notched his customary goal for the home side, his fourth in three career matches against Montreal (and sixth in as many games for TFC this season). Chad Barrett, much maligned for his lack of scoring prowess, put himself on the scoreboard with a dazzling run through the heart of the Impact goalmouth -his second in about five minutes – before blasting a right-footer past Montreal keeper Matt Jordan.

Those two goals were all that was needed for the Reds (in grey), as their opponents’ attack was as anemic as anything TFC has ever displayed in its worst games.

That De Rosario and Barrett were the heroes has to be a bit of a sucker punch to a Montreal fanbase that has suffered a few from Toronto’s way over the course of this tourney.

De Ro is, of course, the man who nearly single-handedly dismantled the Impact in the famous “Miracle in Montreal” match last June. His hat-trick woke up the rest of his teammates on that day, and TFC strode on to a 6-1 victory and the Canadian Championship.

Barrett has taken his fair share of abuse, including from some fans of the Impact, for his inability to score the easiest of chances. So it must hurt then, that Montreal seems to bring out the best in the American, against whom he has tallied three goals and two assists in three total matches.

Barrett seems to save his best for Montreal, including scoring a highlight-reel goal at BMO Field last year that secured a narrow victory for TFC, and scoring the clinching fifth goal at Stade Saputo in Toronto’s Voyageurs Cup victory a few weeks later.

Whether Barrett can use yesterday’s strike as a catalyst for further goals remains to be seen, but he’ll surely take solace in the fact that TFC plays at Montreal in less than two weeks time.

The game had an ugly side, as both Ty Harden and Nick Garcia were forced to leave with injuries. Harden’s leg was lacerated to the bone – to the tune of 22 stitches – in the goalmouth scramble that led to De Rosario’s opening goal. Garcia got knocked flat on his back from an incensed Roberto Brown, who decided to bring the UFC to Ontario for a few seconds rather than playing the sport he is paid to play (highlights below). Brown was red-carded for his succession of punches, and Garcia was replaced by O’Brian White following a lengthy delay.

Many of the (many) less obvious fouls were called too, on both sides, as yellows rained down from referee Paul Ward throughout. Despite the card-happiness of the official, Montreal’s game plan of “hack the shit out of Julian de Guzman whenever he has the ball” remained constant, although to de Guzman’s credit he simply shook it off and continued his run of stellar play of late.

The ugliness was not limited to the field of play, though. Some Montreal fans found it necessary to spit upon passing TFC supporters below before the match, the latest in a line of regrettable actions from both sides of the feud. (To be fair, it must be tough for Montreal fans, knowing ahead of time that their team is going to lose to their most-hated rivals.)

Hopefully this latest incident will be the last, but with the teams facing off again so soon, one cannot be so sure.

For TFC, the win has to give them an added bit of confidence heading into Saturday’s MLS game at Salt Lake. Will they be able to recover physically in time for a match at altitude against the defending MLS Cup champs?

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

Pros and Cons for Toronto FC vs. Montréal Impact, played Wednesday, April 28, 2010:

PROS

• Dwayne De Rosario finding new ways to score
• Chad Barrett’s continued dominance over Montreal
• TFC’s ability to fight through against a physical, rough-tackling team
• Julian de Guzman’ emerging consistency as a DP-level player
• The willingness to kill off a game through possession and passing at the back
• The supporters as a whole, likely in the best form we’ve been in for a long time

CONS

• Allowing Montreal just a little too much possession (especially after they went down a man)
• Robert Brown impersonating Robert Duran
• Light Grey vs. Light Pink, the TV production staff must have been having fits

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller