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Happy New Year from SSR Mag.
There is a TFC past to create the present & future
In spite of the fantastic save by
goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s on a header
by TFC forward Jozy Altidore’s in
the second half of extra time there
were signs that the Reds would have
had to find an unlikely hero against
the Sounders.
And if anyone had told Seattle
Sounders that the game would have
been scoreless heading into extra
time they would have certainly liked
their chances of winning. It is a
scenario that TFC Coach Gregg
Vanney should have found troubling:
at home with one of the most
explosive offenses in the league.
Vanney could have managed the
game better by making
Tosaint
Ricketts his first substitution. It would
have placed more pressure on
Seattle’s defense since Ricketts has
been TFC’s offensive sparkplug off
the bench since his arrival.
So it was puzzling when Vanney
seemed hesitant to unleash Ricketts
in a match that his main forwards
were seemingly struggling and went
for a straight midfielder for midfielder
change with Will Johnson for
Johnathan Orsorio instead.
After 10 seasons Congratulations is
in order to Toronto FC for winning
the Eastern Conference Champion-
ship in Major League Soccer (MLS)
after defeating Montreal Impact 5-2
in extra time, However, tables do
turn as the Reds suffered a
devastating 5-4 loss on penalty kicks
against Seattle Sounders in the MLS
Cup final after (yes) extra time, when
the game finished scoreless
The final set a BMO Field
attendance record of over 36,045
and while a win would have been a
better result, TFC seemed to have
elevated their status from playoffs
seekers to contenders for the 2017
MLS Cup.
TFC set a lot of milestones this
season and has been improving over
the last two seasons. The key to the
Reds season was its consistency
both at home and on the road where
the club registered the same amount
of wins as loses.
The Reds’ defense complimented
the explosive offense led by Jozy
Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco.
The team was resilient all season but
could not capitalize on its scoring
chances
against
Seattle,
in
regulation time, extra time, or in
penalty kicks.
Article in SSR upcoming ‘Aldwynable” magazine
Vanney put Ricketts in the game as
the third and last change for a hurting
Giovinco whereas Ricketts would have
definitely covered more ground that
may have allowed Sebastian to finish
the match and be available for the
penalty kicks as the # kicker. He could
have also put Seattle wing back
Joevin Jones on his back foot and
take away Seattle offensive advantage
with Joevin over TFC right wing back
Steven Beitashour.
This was a more plausible tactic that
the straight midfielder for midfielder
change. Not that it may have changed
the outcome of the match that seemed
destined for Seattle but it would have
at the least give the impression that
coach Vanney was trying to win the
game and not run out the clock.
Since could’ve and should’ve is now
history it is time to Congratulate the
entire MLSE organization both past
and present for a successful 2016
season as we look forward to a happy
New Year with the MLS Cup in 2017
Here at SSR we have the
experience, expertise and a winning
tradition
.