Fans were right to throw (glasses of water) on the field in the dying moments of Toronto FC's seventeen-shot-no-goal loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders in the first-leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round. However, it is uncertain if the (glasses of water) were directed at the right team.
[Quick note: Don't throw stuff on the field, seriously. Especially those expensive (glasses of water)]
Once again the Reds have made life difficult for themselves, needing to score at least once and preferably twice without conceding in what promises to be a stifling stadium in San Juan. The tie is by no means over; supporters learned that lesson when six goals loosened the net in Montreal to earn the right to play again on Wednesday night.
So, instead of prematurely running through the list of grievances witnessed at BMO on Wednesday, I am going to simply welcome 18-year-old Emmanuel Gomez to the fold.
The young Gambian defender was world-class in the defeat, showing composure reserved for those not born in the 1990s. But Gomez, who was thrust in to a starting spot after Nana Attakora and Adrian Serioux were unable to go with injuries, earned the praise of Puerto Rico coach Colin Clarke before his own coach called him the man of the match.
"The young kid Gomez went in there tonight and was a different class," Cummins said post-game. "He was the best player on the pitch."
It was apparent early. In fact, I turned to the Reds PR representative in the first-half and asked how Gomez was with interviews, knowing that the story of the game was already shaping up to be the play of the Gambian.
At 18 years of age and struggling with the language and the demands of playing professional soccer in a new country Gomez was clearly nervous answering questions in front of the cameras and tape recorders. But it ceased when Gomez was asked if he was ever nervous on the field.
It was like someone flicked a light switch on inside his head.
"No, no, no. I am never nervous," Gomez replied. "One of the senior players told me that I am never nervous, and that is how I am, I am always confident."
No kidding. Gomez wriggled out of tight lies, cleared difficult crosses, tackled goalkeepers and even refused to come off after a behind-the-play foul left Gomez needing help to the touchlines. At no point did a player not even old enough to sample what was in those south end projectiles look nervous in a game many of the Reds' veterans struggled to grasp.
If TFC fail to pull off its second CONCACAF-related miracle in as many tries next Tuesday in Puerto Rico, Gomez will not be the story, the failure to deal with yet another USL team will be.
But for now the right thing to do is give the young defender his due.
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