The Official TFC/Soccer thread

[hockeyfan1]

Not this time.

The Toronto FC and Mexican squad Chivas de Guadalajara kicked off their CONCACAF Champions League Final at BMO Field Tuesday night (April 17), but it wasn't the results TFC wanted.  Guadalajara defeated TFC 2-1 here in the First Leg of this Final.

Chivas got on the board early -- 65 seconds into the matchup -- but Toronto's Jonathan Osorio countered twenty minutes in the half, becoming the highest scoring player (& Canadian-born) of this tournament.   Kudos to Osorio on that goal -- he headed thw ball while crashing bodywise into the post.  At least no one can fault him for trying.  It definely paid dividends.

The TFC had plenty of chances and opportunites to forge ahead but instead it was Chivas that ended up scoring the go-ahead & winning goal in the 72nd minute.  Too bad.

"At the end of the day, the score comes down to finishing your chances and not giving away goals you shouldn't give away," Vanney said.

Now TFC needs a wing & a prayer for the Second Leg to be played next Wednesday April 25 in Mexico.  TFC need to score not less than two goals and limit Chivas to zero, otherwise to overtime they will go.  Hope that doesn't happen. 

The Mexicans are taking absolutely nothing for granted as far as their coach is concerned, considering TFC's winning performance so far in this tourney:

"There's still 90 minutes left in this game. The result is still open," he said.

GO TFC!


https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2018/04/17/toronto-fc-digs-hole-in-first-leg-of-concacaf-champions-league-final.html

[hockeyfan1]

Heartbreak!

Toronto FC lose out in the shootout (4-2) and the CONCACAF Champions League trophy to Chivas Guadalajara. Wednesday night at Estadio Chivas.  Oh...that hurts... 

TFC actually won this Second Leg  2-1 (aggregate 3-3) which forced the shootout on penalty kicks.  Chivas connected on all four of their shots, Toronto two out of four.

TFC lost the Championdhip but gained respect and admiration from a throng of MLS and Mexican League followers:

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The Toronro FC had several players out of the lineup due to injuries,  most notably it's central defense -- Nick Hagglund, Chris Mavinga, Drew Moor, Zavaleta,  Hernandez, & Justin Morrow -- which forced coach Vanney to shift midfield defender Michael Bradley to centre, etc.

Even with all of that plus a "hostile" environment among Chivas supporters, TFC stood proud and played with heart right to the end.

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[hockeyfan1]

Well,  it's been awhile since that heartbreaking loss in the CONCACAF Champions League Cup Final that TFC has been discussed or written about

As it stands, Toronto FC are in second spot in the East but fifteen points back of first place Columbus Crew. TFC played this same Crew team to a 3-3 tie yesterday at BMO Field here in Toronto.  Even though Toronto took a 3-0 lead at one point, they couldn't hang on to victory as Columbus scored three back to tie the game up (the tying goal on a penalty kick).

A very disappointing outcome for TFC considering that the defending MLS champions have been off to a disappointing start in their season and continuing that trend.

One of the reasons for this so far losing season are the injuries.  Count 'em -- Moor, Altidore, Morgan, Morrow, Zavaleta, Aketxe, and Mavinga.  That's quite a list.  (Coach Vanney expects Zavaleta & Morrow back in the lineup soon).

Giovinco, Ricketts, and Vasquez were the TFC scorers.  For Giovinco, who leads the league in shots, it was just his third goal of the season.  What does Seba have to say after having had successful scoring seasons including MVP?  The lack of Altidore is a factor.

Speaking of Altidore, he's a ways away from returning.  Hopefully with the rest of the sidelined on the mend, TFC's fortunes will improve so that a positive  turnaround in their season can be had.

Game story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2018/06/02/toronto-fc-blows-three-goal-lead-in-road-draw-with-crew.html

[seahawk]

Well,  it's been awhile since that heartbreaking loss in the CONCACAF Champions League Cup Final that TFC has been discussed or written about

As it stands, Toronto FC are in second spot in the East but fifteen points back of first place Columbus Crew. TFC played this same Crew team to a 3-3 tie yesterday at BMO Field here in Toronto.  Even though Toronto took a 3-0 lead at one point, they couldn't hang on to victory as Columbus scored three back to tie the game up (the tying goal on a penalty kick).

2nd in the East??? What have you been smoking. TFC is 10th in the East and Atlanta, not Columbus, are in first. TFC is 18 points behind Atlanta but just 8 out of the playoffs.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings

[hockeyfan1]

Well,  it's been awhile since that heartbreaking loss in the CONCACAF Champions League Cup Final that TFC has been discussed or written about

As it stands, Toronto FC are in second spot in the East but fifteen points back of first place Columbus Crew. TFC played this same Crew team to a 3-3 tie yesterday at BMO Field here in Toronto.  Even though Toronto took a 3-0 lead at one point, they couldn't hang on to victory as Columbus scored three back to tie the game up (the tying goal on a penalty kick).

2nd in the East??? What have you been smoking. TFC is 10th in the East and Atlanta, not Columbus, are in first. TFC is 18 points behind Atlanta but just 8 out of the playoffs.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings

I ain't smoking anything! :o .  (Never have, never will!).

In fact, that is exactly what I read -- TFC is still second.  Shouldn't have trusted the website, (not the one I posted), where that was stated, should have fact-checked the standings (which I had not). 

Believe it or not, some media outlets (via subscription only) have made some factual errors and were corrected by their readers.  Yes, it happens.

P.S.  Sorry if it usurped your world.   ::)

[hockeyfan1]

It has been awhile since we last became preoccupied with the TFC.

Right now, as of last night, they won the First Leg of the Canadian Championship series with a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Fury FC

Perhaps the game wasn't too exciting but the fire in the stands  at Ottawa's  TD Stadium grabbed attention:

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The Toronro FC could see another trip to the CONCACAF Champions League as they had done previously, should they win this Canadian Championship.

Their season has definitely been a disappointment, that being an  understatement.  What with all of the injuries throughout the lineup -- Moor, Mavinga, Auro, Vasquez, and Hernandez -- and throw in Altidore earlier in the year.  Not an encouraging sign but regardless, the TFC struggle to inject respectability back into their season.

TFC play host to the Chicago Fire Saturday at BMO Field.

[hockeyfan1]

Record-breaking transfer in MLS history as Canadian phenom Alphonso Davies to play for Bayern:

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https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/whitecaps-agree-transfer-canadian-alphonso-davies-bayern-munich/

[hockeyfan1]

Toronto FC wins 3-0 (4-0 aggregate) over the USL's Ottawa Fury in the Second Leg of their Canadian Championship Series matchup Wednesday evening here in Toronto.

The TFC will now face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Final beginning with the First Leg in Vancouver on August 8th.

Should the TFC win the Final, they'll go on to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament next year.

Story:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toronto-fc-cruises-past-ottawa-fury-returns-canadian-championship-final/

[hockeyfan1]

Canadian Champs! 

TFC wins the Voyageurs Cup  with a 5-2 (7-4 aggregate) win over the Vancouver Whitecaps before a packed crowd at BMO Field in Toronto, in the Second Leg matchup of the 2018 Canadian Championship.

Toronto had previously tied 2-2 in the First Leg played in Vancouver.

Jozy Altidore with three, Giovinco and Ricketts with one each, were the offensive heroes.

This game featured the high octane offence that won the Reds the MLS Cup in 2017.  It's also what propelled them to a CONCACAF Champions League Final and earn the respect and admiration of their opponents and the soccer world in general.

As tired a team as the TFC are, this is their third consecutive Canadian Championship and guarantees them another shot as participants at the 2019 CONCACAF Champions  League tournament.

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Story:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/tfc-defeat-whitecaps-capture-three-straight-canadian-championship/

https://theathletic.com/475331/2018/08/16/with-canadian-championship-win-toronto-fc-take-first-step-toward-redemption/

[hockeyfan1]

It's all about the turf.  Artificial turf vs grass.  The preferred is the latter by far and by wide among the League's players, which includes stars such as TFC's Giovinco, Drogba, Ibrahimovic, and even the great David Beckham.

Most of the complaints are about the turf leading to more injuries amongst the players -- Toronto's Giovinco is convinced that that is part of the reason for TFC's injury woes.

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Euro league stadiums are not exempted neither.

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[hockeyfan1]

Remember when the Toronto FC ousted Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarter-Finals last Spring?

Well, not this time.

In the inaugural  Campeones Cup, played at BMO Field Wednesday evening, Tigres UANL  certainly wasted little time in making sure they'd end up on the winner's ledge, in defeating TFC 3-1.  Not only did they get a trophy but were awarded $340,000 (total) winner's purse.

For the TFC, it was yet another stigma in a miserable season.  Toronto coveted the award in hoping to add to their already impressive arsenal in that department, but the Mexicans obviously had other plans to make sure it would stick.  Not that it was easy since the TFC has racked up plenty of respect on that side of the border.

"It wasn't easy because TFC has a good team and has good-quality players," Tigres coach Ricardo (Tuca) Ferretti said after the match through an interpreter.

"It's a tough team," midfielder Jonathan Osorio said of Tigres. "They deserved to win today and congratulations to them."

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/mexico-apos-tigres-downs-toronto-023554015.html


Toronto is currently out of a playoff spot, nine points out with six games remaining in the season.

The race for the post-season push begins Saturday when the TFC visit the New York Red Bull

GO TFC!

[Arn]

Leicester City owner/chairman killed in helicopter crash leaving the stadium after game last night

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46013381

The man who masterminded one of the biggest shock league win of certainly recent sports history if not all time

[hockeyfan1]

Toronto FC...where do they go from here?  Here meaning they've been out of the playoffs for this season.  Yes, the defending MLS Champions TFC.

From the get-go, 2018 definitely wasn't going to be Toronto's year, not with all of the injuries and 'lack of focus' particularly having gone from a high (CONCACAF Champions League finalists) plus all of the records they set in their championship season.  We can also add the fatigue factor.  Heck, the TFC kept playing way past December (Championship win) recommencing in the Spring all the way until season opener.

It could be that fatigue played a part in the injury department.  Someone made a mention of the turf -- complaints by Giovinco -- that it makes it difficult for the players resulting in greater risk of injury.  Action will be taken here:

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Some decisions need to be made and improvements addressed, but for the most part, this team needs to regroup.  The injuries definitely had a negative impact on the team offensively and defensively overall.

Let's hope next season, all begins on a positive note.


https://www.wakingthered.com/toronto-fc/2018/10/31/18035914/2018-was-a-horror-story-for-toronto-fc-what-now-mls-tfc-tim-bezbatchenko-greg-vanney-ccl-concacaf

[hockeyfan1]

For the record, the Toronto FC finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 10-6-18 (w/d/l), a goal differential of -5; 59 GF & 64 GA  and a total of 36 points -- 45 back of first-place finisher NY Red Bull.  (The top six teams make the playoffs and the TFC was 14-15 points back of sixth-place Philadelphia Union).

What a difference a year made. 

Better luck next season TFC.


Source:  MLS.com

[Arn]

So on Saturday night just past I went to see Real Madrid v Valencia in the Santiago Bernabeu. What an incredible sporting arena and experience. Incredible atmosphere.

Also did the tour of the stadium and their trophy room is something else

https://twitter.com/the_real_arnk/status/1070048827078516736