Toronto FC kicked off the 2015 season in style, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 with Jozy Altidore and Robbie Findley both finding the back of the net for the Reds in a wild, come-from-behind win at BC Place.
Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney was pleased with his team’s performance in the second half. He pointed out that his side started slowly as they labored to find the pace of the game, but said he was happy with the turnaround in a much more comfortable second half.
He also highlighted Michael Bradley’s efforts in controlling the flow of the game, calling the new TFC captain “outstanding.” And while Bradley pulled the strings in midfield alongside the very mobile pairing of Jonathan Osorio and Benoit Cheyrou, it was Altidore who stole the show, notching a brace, including a late panenka penalty – his first one, ever.
“Jozy played like a monster out there,” Vanney told MLSsoccer.com over the phone after the match. “The ball he took down and how he took it down and protected it when he got brought down for a penalty kick was a world-class play. I think the people who were questioning Jozy probably got a real quick image, now, of what he is capable of and what they’re going to see a lot more of in this league.”
Altidore’s first goal for TFC was a ‘round-the-keeper tap-in, served on a plate with a slicing through ball from Sebastian Giovinco in the 32nd minute. That equalizing effort, Vanney says, was huge for his team, allowing him to shift his halftime tactical talk and adjustments from simply getting back into the game towards turning around and winning it.
And, as the second half progressed, Vanney saw plenty of positives from Giovinco, too, who made his MLS debut up top for Toronto. Vanney called Giovinco’s debut “excellent” and explained that the Atomic Ant’s effectiveness increased as his team took a foothold of the possession of the game.
Now, Vanney and his team head back to Toronto to prepare for game two of a seven-game season-opening road trip. They take home with them three full points, a result Vanney said confirms to his team what they know they’re capable of. And while there’s still more to come, Vanney was also pleased with his team’s fitness and tactical adaptability, something he’ll build on with a meeting with Columbus Crew SC right around the corner.
But for tonight, he and his team will celebrate not just the opening day victory, but a win over a Canadian rival, too.
“We want to not just make our statements within the league but within Canada,” Vanney said. “It’s a derby, it’s a rivalry and for us, so there was a little extra in it. The key for us was our performance, though.
“We’re on a journey here, a process every single day to get better as a team to put ourselves into a position at the end to have a say at who lifts the MLS Cup.”
