• MLS – Toronto FC 1 (Birnbaum OG 52’), D.C. United 1 (Opare 6’)
GAME RECAP IN A SENTENCE
Toronto overcame a slow start to dominate the majority of the game – especially after D.C. had a man sent off just before halftime – but the Reds left the American capital on a frustrated note, settling for a point against the worst team in Major League Soccer.
THE MAIN STORY
On the surface, this appears to be a poor result for TFC. A draw against the team at bottom of the MLS table, who lost six straight games ahead of this one: How could it be interpreted as anything else? But coach Greg Vanney hinted earlier this week that the Reds’ visit to RFK Stadium would be tricky, and not entirely straight forward.
D.C. is struggling this season, to be sure. But it is a proud organization, having won three of the first four MLS Cups. It also lifted the trophy in 2004. That sense of history has long permeated through the franchise, and touched everyone who has ever turned out for the club, including Vanney, who spent part of the 2007 season with D.C. “When I arrived at that club, one of the first things I was handed was a T-shirt that listed all of the championships and all the things they won,” Vanney recalled.
Maybe it was the challenge of playing the best team in the league. Or maybe they were just sick of getting their hat handed to them. Whatever the reason, D.C. United played like the D.C. United of old in coming flying out of the gate on Saturday, earning five early free kicks and taking the lead in the sixth minute after laying siege upon Toronto’s goal. The Reds were completely overwhelmed, and deserved to be down a goal.
Slowly, though, Toronto assumed control and dictated the pace of the game. When D.C. was reduced to 10 men just before halftime, you had a sense that the floodgates were going to open for Toronto. They never did, though. For all of TFC’s possession in the final 45 minutes, they didn’t register a shot on target, and had to rely on an own-goal to tie the game. D.C. remained defensively organized, frustrating and negating Toronto’s probing attack in the final third of the pitch. Vanney’s side simply couldn’t penetrate against a D.C. side that worked hard behind the ball, did a good job of closing spaces in midfield, and cutting out dangerous passes.
Make no mistake: This is a game Toronto FC should have won. But credit must be given to D.C. United for coming out strong, and then neutralizing the Reds for the second half while playing a man down.
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KEY MOMENT
52’ GOAL! Toronto 1-1 D.C.: Playing with the man advantage, Toronto began to turn the screws on United early in the second half as they pinned the home side deep in their half of the field. A long ball played deep into the box fell to the feet of Jozy Altidore, who adroitly held it up while being crowded by a number of D.C. players. He was eventually dispossessed, but not before United defender Steve Birnbaum tried to clear the ball. Instead, he knocked it into his net off a teammate. An ugly, and somewhat fortuitous goal, but credit to Altidore for controlling the ball in such a tight space in the buildup up to the own-goal.
TALKING POINT
Shouldn’t Sam’s red card have been reviewed?
D.C.’s Lloyd Sam was sent off for a reckless and late challenge on Chris Mavinga on the brink of halftime. At first, it appeared as though this was going to be the first instance in which video review, or VAR, in MLS would be used – remember, red card decisions are one of four types of plays that can be reviewed. But the VAR wasn’t used because it can only be called upon when a clear and obvious mistake was made by the official on the pitch.
Referee Allen Chapman was spot on with his decision to brandish a red card on the play. Sam came in from behind on Mavinga, and with a scissor kick-type motion hacked down the TFC defender. Sam didn’t even protest, as he walked straight back to the locker-room. There was no need to review the incident, and the game wasn’t unnecessarily held up by a review.
QUICK TAKE
It was a solid, if somewhat unspectacular MLS debut for Nicolas Hasler. Having sat out TFC’s last three games since signing with the Reds, Hasler started at the right wingback position on Saturday and held his own for 80 minutes before being subbed out for Jonathan Osorio. The Liechtenstein international had a few exquisite touches on the ball, and made a number of dangerous overlapping runs, as he tried to anticipate passes from Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez. He’s not as dynamic as a player on the outside as young Canadian Raheem Edwards, but Hasler appears to be more of a two-way player. His crosses into the box left a little bit to be desired, but overall it was a good first impression from the Lichtenstein international.
STANDOUT STAT
Toronto FC enjoyed 80 per cent possession in the second half but failed to register a single shot on target.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luciano Acosta, D.C: The young Argentine playmaker was a wonder to watch in the first half, his nifty footwork and deft control of the ball caused TFC’s defenders a few problems. He showed a great deal of hustle in chasing down balls, and was one of the few attacking bright spots on a D.C. team that was committed to defending and shutting down Toronto at all costs.
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