TORONTO — This was the final humiliation.
It’s bad enough that Jermain Defoe has, in all likelihood, played his final game in a Toronto FC uniform. It’s bad enough that the Reds were missing chief midfield operator Michael Bradley through suspension in a must-win game. And it was bad enough that some disgruntled home fans held up a banner that read, “It’s a bloody big joke.”
But to be officially eliminated from playoff contention by the last-place Montreal Impact? Well, ain’t that a kick in the head?
Toronto’s 1-1 draw vs their Canadian rivals on Saturday afternoon officially ended the Reds’ playoff hopes for an eighth consecutive year. TFC needed to win this game and next week on the road against the New England Revolution—and hoped the Columbus Crew lost both of its final matches—to squeak into the post-season.
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For the “glass is half full crowd,” you can hang your hat on the fact that TFC set club records this season for wins (11) and points (40). They also stuck around until the penultimate weekend of the campaign before conceding the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference to Columbus—last season, Toronto was essentially out of the playoff race by July.
But there’s no way to put a positive spin on this.
Bluntly, the 2014 Major League Soccer campaign has been a failure for Toronto FC. The one goal that mattered wasn’t achieved. After the MLSE hype machine went into overdrive following the massive outlay of funds in retooling the roster, it was playoffs or bust. To look for silver linings is misguided and counter-productive, and it lets MLSE and team management off the hook—they shouldn’t be enabled, they should be held accountable. It’s the only way this playoff drought will ever end.
Critically, TFC collected just two wins and earned a measly eight points (out of a possible 27) since Greg Vanney replaced Ryan Nelsen as coach on Aug. 31. If the managerial move was made in order to steady a rocky ship, it didn’t work. Not that Vanney should be blamed, as he was put into an untenable position, and there’s no chance the Reds would have clinched a post-season berth had Nelsen kept his job.
History will record that Toronto FC was officially eliminated from the playoff race on Oct. 18. The truth is, however, that TFC was out of it following a disastrous summer under Nelsen. They were simply on a fool’s errand the past two months.
“You have to execute. You have to take points. … Effort is one thing, but execution and finishing games, and taking points are what professional sports are about. We put in the effort but we didn’t execute well enough,” Vanney told reporters after Saturday’s contest.
It was all scowled faces and hushed tones among the gutted players in the TFC locker-room after the game. Vanney doesn’t want them to forget this.
“We should never have this feeling again. This should be the last time. This will be the last time we don’t make the playoffs. That mentality needs to start immediately,” Vanney stated.
Toronto FC was missing three key starters on Saturday in Defoe (abdominal injury), and Bradley and defender Nick Hagglund (both suspended).
A chippy opening to the game gave way to a wonderful goal by Toronto’s Warren Creavalle in the 20th minute. Montreal failed to clear its lines off a TFC throw-in, with the ball eventually falling inside the box to an unmarked Creavalle, who expertly slotted home a side-footed shot just inside the far post.
Montreal levelled the score with six minutes left in the half. Patrice Bernier played a long pass forward for Andres Romero, and the Argentine held up the ball nicely before laying it off to Felipe who found the top corner. It was a lovely strike by Felipe, but the fact that TFC’s defence was left exposed—neither Collen Warner nor Jonathan Osorio tracked back to help—meant the Brazilian had all kinds of time to get the shot off.
The Impact caught TFC napping early in the second half when Martins sent Jack McInerney in on goal with a perfect through ball. McInerney, though, hit the crossbar from deep inside the penalty area. Later, Martins hit a bullet of a shot that was destined for the upper corner, only to see TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik brilliantly parry it away.
Toronto furiously pressed for an equalizer, as Gilberto flashed a header just wide, an Impact keeper Evan Bush made a fabulous reflex save at the near post to rob Dominic Oduro of a sure goal.
Montreal was controversially reduced to 10 men in the 82th minute when defender Heath Pearce earned a red card for a late challenge on Oduro. More expulsions followed (for Osorio and Montreal’s Hassoun Camara), and TFC were serenaded off the pitch by a chorus of boos from the disgruntled crowd after the final whistle.
“It’s for us to prove that we’re worthy of [the fans’] continued support. I hope and ask them to continue to support this team because I do believe 100 percent we’re moving forward and we’ll be a playoff team,” Vanney offered.
NOTES: TFC leads the all-time MLS series against the Impact with three wins and three draws in eight meetings. Montreal is winless in four MLS matches at BMO Field (with three draws)… Toronto won the only other contest this season between the two sides on Aug. 2 at Stade Saputo.