• New England Revolution 0, Toronto FC 2 (Moor 11’, Giovinco 90’ + 5’)
• TFC wins at home less than 48 hours after draw in Montreal
• Moor nets winner, Giovinco scores in injury time
TORONTO – While Greg Vanney has talked the talk, Toronto FC has walked the walk.
TFC’s coach has boasted about his long bench several times this year, going so far as to say he thinks this Toronto side is one of the deepest teams in Major League Soccer history.
Like they’ve done several times already this season, Vanney’s players backed up his bold claim on Friday night in earning a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution before 27,261 fans at BMO Field. Drew Moor found the back of the net in the 11th minute, while Sebastian Giovinco scored deep into injury time.
This was the third contest of gruelling six-game stretch over a hectic 19-day period for Toronto, which battled the Impact to a 1-1 draw in Montreal on Wednesday night in the first leg of the Canadian Championship final. Under normal circumstances, TFC would have an extra day of rest ahead of Friday’s encounter, but a number of scheduling issues and conflicts meant they had less than 48 hours between games.
Friday’s victory also allowed Toronto, now 10-2-5 on the MLS campaign, to remain in first place in the league, earn its ninth shutout, and avenge an ugly 3-0 loss in New England earlier this month.
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This was a gritty win for TFC – the type of result and performance that backs up Vanney’s claims about his depth, and speaks to the team’s character.
“We’ve talked about a couple of gusty performances this year: one in Seattle [a 1-0 win], one in Columbus [a 2-1 win]. This has to go up there right at the top of them. … Just a gutsy performance by a team that goes out and does what they have to do to win games. Sometimes it looks beautiful and sometimes it’s a grind,” Vanney stated.
Moor echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“It was a battle. A lot of people on the outside talk about what great players we have, what great talent we have. But we have a bunch of warriors, too; a bunch of beasts who are willing to do a lot for this club,” Moor stated.
Considering the short turnaround, Vanney understandably made eight lineup changes. Moor and fellow defender Chris Mavinga, and forward Jozy Altidore retained their spots in the starting 11 after playing 90 minutes just two days ago. TFC captain Michael Bradley was suspended. Benoit Cheyrou, who didn’t travel to Montreal, wore the captain’s armband. There were rare starts for Armando Cooper and Tsubasa Endoh, and Canadian defender Ashtone Morgan came off the bench in the second half to make his first appearance of the season.
Vanney’s wholesale changes paid off early, as Toronto stormed out of the gate and completely overwhelmed New England, which sat back and absorbed wave after wave of pressure. Altidore could have had two goals in the opening 15 minutes, but he couldn’t latch onto Giovinco’s curling pass into the box, and was later denied by Revs goalkeeper Cody Cropper. Altidore was also denied a clear penalty claim.
Toronto was absolutely buzzing and broke the deadlock off a corner kick. Cooper chased down a loose ball, then beat his defensive marker before whipping a low cross to the near post. Endoh managed to flick it on to the far post where an outstretched Moor poked it home. Cooper and Endoh have barely played this season, having both fallen down the depth chart. The fact they could immediately come in and exquisitely connect with Moor, an automatic starter, lent further credence to Vanney’s claim about his team’s depth.
Goalkeeper Alex Bono had a relatively quiet first half, although he was called upon to make fine stops on the Revs’ Lee Nguyen who broke in on goal, and on Juan Agudelo from in close.
The home side poured on the pressure after halftime, with Nguyen making a vital goal-line clearance with his head off a gorgeous Giovinco free kick that was destined for the back of the net.
New England came into the game more after that close call, pinning the Reds in their half with some sustained possession and forcing them to make a number of defensive stands. Bono made an outstanding diving save on Teal Bunbury’s header late in regulation time.
“Originally, I had stepped forward like I was going to come out for the cross. It was one of those ‘oh, man’ moments where you realize you’re not going to get there. He jumped up for the header and you just have to react as best you can. Fortunately for me I saw it coming off his head,” Bono said of his stop on Bunbury.
Giovinco sealed the result on the counter deep into injury time with a weaving run and a shot from inside the box that beat Cropper. It was the Italian’s seventh goal of the season, and his first since mid-May after a short injury layoff. You could tell the sense of relief he felt with his post-goal celebration. Getting back on the score sheet was clearly weighing on his mind.
“If I’m being blunt, he’s been working harder in training than I’ve seen him in two or three years. He starting to reap the benefits of that hard work, and for him to be able to score late in a game like that is just a starting point of him really pushing himself,” Vanney said.
NOTES: Toronto FC hosted its inaugural Pride Night at BMO Field during Friday’s game. The MLS club has also partnered with You Can Play, an organization dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans… New England leads the all-time MLS series against Toronto with 11 wins and nine draws in 26 meetings… TFC’s busy schedule continues next week when it hosts the Montreal Impact on Tuesday in the second leg of the Canadian Championship final, and then takes on FC Dallas in Texas in MLS play on Saturday.
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