TORONTO — It was supposed to be a history-making day for Toronto FC.
Coming off a bye week and having climbed into the upper half of the Eastern Conference table after a slow start to the campaign, TFC stumbled to a 2-0 loss to expansion side New York City FC on Saturday night before 30,029 fans at BMO Field.
David Villa scored both goals for New York, who sat bottom of the Major League Soccer standings and six points off the pace of fourth-place Toronto in the East coming into this contest.
Winners of three in a row—something it’s only ever done twice before—TFC was seeking to establish a new franchise record with its fourth consecutive victory. Instead, the Reds fell to 6-6-1 on the season, as Sebastian Giovinco, for the first time in a long time, failed to exert maximum influence.
A slow start, defensive errors, a stifling midfield game by New York City, and cynical play from the visitors were the main reasons for the loss, opined TFC coach Greg Vanney.
“The game was choppy, physical—it never got a rhythm. They stalled and killed the game at every opportunity, which was clearly a tactic. The referee allowed it to happen. I thought it was a very naive performance (from the referee),” Vanney stated.
“Credit to them because it worked out for them; they found a way to beat us on the day. The lesson for me is we have to recognize how the game is being (officiated) and adjust our performance in terms of being physical and tight.”
Captain Michael Bradley offered a different view of New York’s “negative” tactical approach.
“Look, everybody gets a chance to pay for 90 minutes. Everybody is free to go about it any way they want. That was their way to go about it today. If we’re good enough in what we want to do and sharp enough then I don’t think we’re talking about that,” Bradley said.
“Whoever is better able to impose themselves and their will on the game typically walks off the field with the result.”
In a match that was billed as a battle of star forwards Giovinco and Villa, it was the Spaniard who clearly came out on top. Fresh off a performance that won him MLS player of the week honours (a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Montreal last Saturday), Villa made the most of his chances on this night, while Giovinco struggled to cope with all the close attention paid to him by New York.
Maybe New York has come up with the template for other MLS teams to follow in order to stop the Italian: get in his face, kick the crap out of him and make him lose his cool.
“Sure, if the refereeing is going to be naive as it was tonight. A lot of the fouling was happening before the ball actually got to him,” Vanney said. “They were getting a piece of him before the ball was even in the area. (Giovinco) has scratches all over him. He’s been kicked a number of times.
“If that’s the template then we’re going to need the officiating to take care of the players who people come out to watch—that’s what this (sport) is supposed to be about. … Is it a template? Maybe. We’ll see. We have to adapt and adjust, and find ways to work around it if that’s the way it’s going to be.”
The pace of the match sputtered for the opening 25 minutes due to chippy play and a series of niggling fouls. Giovinco was on the receiving end of most of it—he was even shoved to the ground in one off-the-ball incident—and vented his anger with the referee on a number of occasions. The diminutive Italian also allowed his frustration get the better of him in earning a yellow card for a retaliatory foul.
“I’m not disappointed and not surprised. I would be, too,” Vanney said of Giovinco losing his cool.
Giovinco did not comment on the rough treatment he received. The Italian had already left for the evening when the locker-room was opened to the media after the match.
It’s short turnaround for Toronto, who has to play two games next week. But Vanney thinks that’s the best way to overcome this bitter loss.
“I love that we play again on Wednesday. I hope this game pissed us off. It has me (pissed off). Hopefully our team has a chip on its shoulder come Wednesday,” Vanney stated.
TFC’s Benoit Cheyrou nearly opened the scoring early on when his 35-yard shot just whistled over the crossbar. Moments later the Frenchman was called for a handball inside his box, and Villa converted the penalty to give New York a 1-0 lead after nine minutes.
Toronto looked disconnected in attack thanks to New York’s clogging of the midfield and pressing game. The Reds eventually found a way through and fashioned three chances in quick succession.
In the 28th minute, Giovinco’s free kick attempt was palmed away by Josh Saunders. A minute later the New York goalkeeper made a fabulous kick save to deny Bradley inside the six-yard box. Saunders came up big again, thwarting Luke Moore on a one-on-one break when the TFC forward tried to chip him.
Saunders was at it again early in the second half, tipping a Moore header from in close over the crossbar.
New York doubled its advantage in the 58th minute thanks to some sloppy defensive play from Toronto. Eriq Zavaleta made a dreadful outlet pass from inside his penalty area that was picked off and New York quickly went on the transition, with Villa fighting off Justin Morrow to score from six yards out.
Tensions boiled over after the final whistle. As the teams traded handshakes and swapped shirts on the field, TFC defender Damien Perquis appeared to go after New York City’s Andrew Jacobson. The Frenchman had to be pulled away by teammates and members of the Toronto coaching staff.
NOTES: On Saturday afternoon, Toronto FC held a testimonial game at BMO Field for former captain and all-time top scorer Dwayne De Rosario, who announced his retirement last month. De Rosario was also recognized in a special pre-game presentation just before kickoff… This was the first ever MLS meeting between Toronto and New York. They’ll meet again on July 12 and Sept. 16, both times at Yankee Stadium… TFC returns to MLS action next Wednesday when they welcome the Montreal Impact to BMO Field. Three days later Toronto hosts D.C. United.
