• Canadian club championship – Toronto FC 1 (Cheyrou 35’), Ottawa Fury 2 (Williams 57’, Sito 72’)
GAME RECAP IN A SENTENCE
The very first Battle of Ontario between Toronto and Ottawa produced a surprise, with the Fury posting upsetting TFC at home to take the advantage in this Canadian championship semifinal series ahead of next week’s second leg at BMO Field.
THE MAIN STORY
The headline is that the Ottawa Fury, who play in the second-tier United Soccer League, beat the best team in Major League Soccer, who looked anything but the cream of the crop in MLS on this night in the nation’s capital.
That the Fury pulled off the upset wasn’t that surprising when you consider TFC coach Greg Vanney fielded a makeshift lineup that leaned heavily on reserve players and youngsters – among them was Mitchell Taintor, captain of the TFC 2 farm club, who was handed his senior team debut against Ottawa. With no Michael Bradley or Victor Vazquez in midfield, and no Jozy Altidore or Sebastian Giovinco up front, the Reds looked disjointed, hardly a surprise considering so many personnel changes. A decent opening half, highlighted by Benoit Cheyrou’s sublime goal after a pretty give-and-go with Jordan Hamilton, gave way to a dire second 45 minutes in which a lethargic Toronto side was outplayed and outworked by their hosts.
Raheem Edwards and Jay Chapman have been solid contributors this season in MLS, playing with a maturity and poise beyond their years. But the Canadian youngsters looked like inexperienced rookies on this night, committing silly mistakes that led directly to both Ottawa goals. TFC’s back line was undone by the combined attacking efforts of Ottawa’s Ryan Williams and Sito Seoane, who were the two best players on the pitch by some distance.
That being said, and not to take anything away from Ottawa, Toronto’s loss owed more to the wounds it inflicted on itself courtesy of some comical defending rather than anything the Fury did. However, you have to credit the hosts for taking full advantage of Toronto’s defensive miscues and of Vanney’s decision to field what was essentially a reserve side. No matter the lineup, this was a poor performance by the Reds and such a dreadful effort can’t be excused.
[relatedlinks]
KEY MOMENT
72’ GOAL! Toronto FC 1-2 Ottawa Fury: Down 1-0 at the break, Ottawa began to play with far more purpose at the start of the second half and were granted a lifeline after earning a penalty decision. Ryan Williams converted in the 57th minute, and we had a new game on our hands. The Fury were in the ascendency, and with TFC on the ropes they began to tighten the screws even further. A horrendous giveaway by Jay Chapman eventually fell to Sito Seoane inside the box and the Ottawa forward managed to beat Clint Irwin with a deflected shot after a horde of Toronto defenders couldn’t clear the ball out of danger.
TALKING POINT
What does Vanney do next week for the second leg?
TFC’s coach put his faith in several youngsters on Tuesday night and, aside from Jordan Hamilton, they didn’t show very well. Defender Mitchell Taintor, who made his senior team debut, looked awkward at times and was called for a handball that preceded the Fury’s equalizer from the penalty spot. Jay Chapman’s giveaway led directly to Ottawa’s second goal, and Raheem Edwards was a defensive liability, his terrible night capped off by a late second yellow card that means he’ll be suspended for next week’s return match. Does Vanney go back to the youngsters for the second leg? Or does he call in the big guns – Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Victor Vazquez were given Tuesday night off – and insert them back into the starting lineup? Is fielding a full-strength side even an option considering the Reds have a road game in MLS three days later in New England?
QUICK TAKE
From a TFC perspective, the optics of a loss against the second-tier Fury are terrible. And make no mistake, this was a poor performance by the Reds, especially in the second half when they offered very little going forward. Both Ottawa goals came about as a result of Toronto shooting itself in the foot with some comical defending. Credit must be given to Ottawa, who took full advantage of some dreadful individual showings by Toronto’s core of youngsters to earn a big win. Still, it’s hardly a disastrous result for TFC, and can be easily corrected next week in the return leg where a 1-0 victory would be enough to see them move on to the final. If they can’t even manage to do that, well, then they don’t deserve to repeat as Canadian champions.
STANDOUT STAT
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sito Seoane, Ottawa: The Fury forward proved to be a handful for TFC’s defence all night. He reeled off four shots (three on target), was consistently dangerous in the final third of the pitch, and scored the game-winner. Honourable mention to Ryan Williams, his Ottawa teammate, who levelled the score from the penalty spot.
[snippet id=3333203]
