Ok, we should all remember that Toronto FC started last season with a big road win, putting the Seattle Sounders away to the tune of 2-1. And their star striker scored a pair of goals. And it happened on turf, and it felt like a bloody big deal.
I will go on the record to say that this time was different. TFC's 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps was an eye-opener not just because of the result, but because of the halftime adjustments, the calm way they dampened the second half tempo with possession, and the sheer quality of the two goals that were scored.
Let's start with the first TFC goal...
1. Poutine-flavored Tiki-Taco
I can't say enough about the Jozy Altidore's first goal, a 32nd-minute equalizer that came after an eight-pass sequence that looked like this on the chalkboard:
HERE is the video of it, which accounts for the final six of those passes and Altidore's calm, Donovan-esque dribble of David Ousted before putting home his first MLS goal since 2008.
What gives this the Tiki-Taco flavor, however, is the way multiple TFC attackers were lined up at the top of the 18 all ready to curve past a defender and into the danger zone. That is how the Galaxy led the league in goals scored last season, and if there's a pattern to copy, this is it.
The second TFC goal, scored by Robbie Findley (!!!), was nearly as pretty. It came off a five-pass sequence, with the final one being a perfect cross from overlapping fullback Justin Morrow.
Two very different goals, but both created with precision and purpose against a very good team.
2. The 30-minute tire fire
I was busy making snarky tweets during the game, so I actually missed Altidore's first goal when it happened wide. My snark was directed primarily toward the awful midfield shape on display for the first half hour -- a lack of width that made the attack predictable, a bit of central confusion that made it difficult to get pressure to Vancouver's playmakers, and a back line that was playing way, way too high.
Said back line got scorched on the game's first goal, courtesy of new Whitecaps DP striker Octavio Rivero:
That was just far too easy, and at that point I couldn't even really tell you what formation Toronto were playing. Everything was a jumble -- a series of scrambling, late rotations and general ugliness on both sides of the ball.
It's no accident, then, that TFC got back into the game with some good wide play from Jonathan Osorio (watch the video of that first Jozy goal again), and then took control in the second half when head coach Greg Vanney had his whole team playing deeper and Findley, in particular, starting from wider spots. That in turn freed up Michael Bradley, Benoit Cheyrou and Sebastian Giovinco to get a bunch of time on the ball and start picking the home team apart with possession.
There's the makings of a good coach to go with the obviously elite talent on the Toronto roster. That has to be at least a little bit scary to the rest of the Eastern Conference.
3. In love with the long ball
Vancouver spent those first 30 minutes just ripping TFC apart with the long ball (including on the goal above). The idea was less to spring Rivero, the center forward, and more to rip a diagonal to winger Kekuta Manneh, who would then go at his man in isolation.
It was a good gameplan, and drew some justifiable early praise:
The problem is that Manneh didn't quite finish those plays. Joe Bendik made a nice save; a slip pass to Rivero was just a yard too long; Warren Creavalle came back to make a nice saving tackle.
And then as TFC adjusted -- Osorio pulling wider and deeper in defense to help Creavalle after the break -- Manneh disappeared. Social media noticed:
There are two worries for Vancouver after this match. First is that the central defense can occasionally space out (watch what Pa Modou-Kah does on that Findley goal -- where's he going?). Second is that if the long, diagonal switch isn't working, there didn't appear to be a plan B. Morales alone pinged 16 passes of 35 yards or more as per Opta's stats, and at no point were they able to sustain possession and pressure in the final third against a Reds team that, for all their talent, are still learning how to play together.
Carl Robinson's got some stuff to work on this week, for sure.
Regardless, this win doesn't mean that TFC are definitely contenders, and it doesn't mean that Vancouver are definitely in trouble. It is, however, a useful data point for both teams -- and an eye-opener for Toronto fans who once again have hope that this is their year.
For the first time in franchise history... I think they might be right.
