Welcome to Counter Attack, Sportsnet’s Monday column that recaps the weekend and previews the week ahead for the three Canadian teams in Major League Soccer.
Maybe this is progress for Toronto FC.
The Reds gave up an 89th-minute goal on Sunday in a 2-1 road loss to Real Salt Lake. How is that progress? Toronto actually tied the game in the 88th minute, showing that while conceding late remains a problem, it does have the ability to score late, too.
Speaking of scoring late, Robert Earnshaw found that back of the net in injury time to lift Vancouver to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers—it was the Whitecaps’ third consecutive victory, all of them earned by a late goal.
As for the Montreal Impact, they’re still looking for their first win of the season after throwing away a two-goal lead and settling for a draw with Orlando City. If only they could duplicate their CONCACAF Champions League form in MLS.
Records
• Montreal Impact: 0-1-2, 2 points (9th in Eastern Conference)
• Toronto FC: 1-2-0, 3 points (7th in Eastern Conference)
• Vancouver Whitecaps: 3-1-0, 9 points (2nd in Western Conference)
What happened?
• Orlando 2, Montreal 2
• Portland 1, Vancouver 2
• Toronto 1, Salt Lake 2
Vanney: ‘We deserved better’
What did we learn?
TFC’s defence is a work in progress: Missing three of his four starters through injury and suspension, coach Greg Vanney had to field a makeshift backline, handing an MLS debut to rookie Clement Simonin and calling upon the rarely used Ashtone Morgan. Those two performed admirably, but as a unit the back four suffered from lapses in concentration, shutting off on Real Salt Lake’s equalizer. As a team, TFC has trouble dealing with crosses and routinely blows its defensive assignments in the box—both goals were scored by an unmarked RSL player from close range.
Ousted among best goalkeepers in MLS: Octavio Rivero has three goals, and midfielder Pedro Morales is the proverbial straw that stirs the drink for Vancouver. But goalkeeper David Ousted has been the Whitecaps’ undeniable MVP this season. Like he did in Vancouver’s previous two wins, the Dane came up with tremendous saves at crucial junctures of Saturday’s game, allowing the Whitecaps to steal a late win over Portland. Ousted is a great shot stopper who is courageous and sure-handed in the box, and it’s not a stretch to rank him among the best goalkeepers in MLS. He’s a keeper—you’ll pardon the pun.
Impact lack creativity : Montreal’s monotonous attack was further exposed against Orlando. The game plan appeared to be to get the ball to Ignacio Piatti in dangerous areas as much as possible, but once the Impact showed a lack of understanding of how to move forward and link up as an attacking unit. “In terms of cohesion, we’re still not a finely tuned team, where we know what happens after this play, after this play, after this play,” midfielder Patrice Bernier told Sportsnet after the game.
Upcoming schedule
• Vancouver vs LA (Saturday, 10 pm ET)
• Chicago vs Toronto (Saturday, 3 pm ET)
Watch MLS on Sportsnet: Watch 11 Toronto FC matches live on Sportsnet this season. Consult our broadcast schedule by CLICKING HERE.
Stories to follow
Will Caldwell be fit for Chicago?: TFC returns to action on Saturday vs the Chicago Fire as they continue their seven-match road stretch to open the season. Steven Caldwell has sat out the last game and a half with a calf strain, and is questionable for the Chicago contest. Caldwell has been slow to recover from his calf problem—this after he missed a lot of games last season through injury. At 34, Caldwell’s best days are behind him, and if he doesn’t pass the fitness test for Saturday’s affair, you have to start wondering about his future at the club. Can TFC rely on him going forward? Can he play 20 games this season? Is 25 a reasonable number?
Vancouver’s wing play: Nicolas Mezquida scored on a free kick against Portland, but the Uruguayan winger generated very little from the flanks from open play. Same for Erik Hurtado, who was a passenger out there against the Timbers. With Mauro Rosales out injured, the Whitecaps lack attacking quality and depth out wide. The team has been linked with Uruguayan winger Cristian Techera, currently on the books at River Plate Montevideo. Coach Carl Robinson has looked to South American for attacking inspiration since taking the helm of the Whitecaps last season and Techera, 22, could give his side a much-needed boost of creativity on the wings.
Impact return to CONCACAF action: Montreal has a bye this week, allowing them to rest up and prepare for next Tuesday’s second leg of the CONACACF Champions League semifinals in Costa Rica vs Alajuelense. Montreal won the opening leg 2-0, so it only needs a draw in Costa Rica to become the second MLS team to advance to the tournament final. With Cameron Porter out injured, look for Jack McInerney to play a more significant role for the Impact both in MLS and Champions League. His performance was one of the bright spots vs Orlando, as he scored his first goal of the season with a lovely chipped finish over goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
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