Toronto FC plays its first competitive game of 2019 this week when it visits Panamanian side Club Atletico Independiente de la Chorrera in the first leg of its round-of-16 series in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday evening’s contest in Panama.
HOW THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WORKS
The Champions League is a knockout competition featuring 16 top teams from across the CONCACAF region covering North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The round-of-16 matchup is a two-legged affair, with Independiente hosting the first game, and the return match scheduled for Toronto next week. The away goal rule is in effect, and if the series is still tied at the end of the second leg, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
If Toronto advances past Independiente, it will meet either Mexican side Club Deportivo Toluca or Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals in March.
TFC reached the final of the 2018 Champions League, losing to Mexican side Chivas in a penalty shootout in the decisive second leg in Guadalajara.
Toronto qualified for this year’s tournament by winning the 2018 Canadian Championship last summer. Independiente claimed a Champions League berth by winning the 2018 Panamanian Clausura (Closing) league championship.
CONDITIONS IN PANAMA
Founded in 1982, Independiente play their home games at Estadio Agustín Sánchez on an artificial surface that isn’t the greatest quality, according to TFC coach Greg Vanney.
Heat could also be an issue, as it is expected to be 32 C in La Chorrera at kickoff.
“Playing in Central America always has its challenges. Sometimes the opposition is just one challenge, and the conditions and different things become another challenge,” Vanney said. “For us, it’s about being intelligent how we go play this first leg and try to set ourselves up to come back and finish the series at our place.”
SCOUTING REPORT ON INDEPENDIENTE
Independiente is currently tied for first in the Panamanian first division, with three wins from its first four games of the season, including a 2-0 home victory over Alianza FC on Saturday.
As far as the scouting report on Independiente, Vanney expects the Panamanian side to use their pace on the counter-attack.
“What’s made them successful is that they’re fairly organized, they’re pretty aggressive defensively. They’re very quick in the counter-attack. If they can win the ball and break out, a lot of their goals come off of transition play,” Vanney explained.
Captain Michael Bradley added: “Nobody is under any illusions that this is going to be easy.”
One player to watch is Jorman Aguilar, a 24-year-old striker who was once on the books at Italian side Parma and Portuguese outfit Estoril. Aguilar scored a late goal to seal Independiente’s win over Alianza this past weekend.
TFC has competed in five previous Champions League tournaments. This year mark’s Independiente’s debut in the continental competition.
WITH NO ALTIDORE, BIG CHANCE FOR BOYD
Jozy Altidore isn’t 100 per cent fit to play and didn’t travel with the team to Panama.
The star forward underwent off-season surgery to remove a bone fragment from his right ankle. He’s still recovering from the surgery, but Vanney is hopeful he’ll be able to play some minutes in next week’s second leg and in the MLS season opener in the first week of March.
With Altidore unavailable for Tuesday’s contest, look for Vanney to give a start to forward Terrence Boyd, who joined the club earlier this month from German club SV Darmstadt 98.
“He’s a guy who is going to be a physical presence. He’s not afraid of contact, he’s not afraid to put his body into people, he’s not afraid to make sure that every defender who walks off the field after playing against him understands that it’s not been an easy day,” said Bradley, who has played with Boyd in the U.S. national team.
All eyes will be on Boyd to see if he can carry the goal-scoring burden in Altidore’s absence – even more so, following the recent sale of star goal scorer Sebastian Giovinco to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TORONTO?
The return leg of the round-of-16 series is Feb. 26 at BMO Field.
TFC then begins the MLS regular season with a road game against the Philadelphia Union on March 2.
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