TORONTO – After receiving a mugging last week, Jozy Altidore could be in store for another one this weekend.
Defender Chris Schuler used every inch of his six-foot-four, 205-pound frame to hound, pester and smother Altidore for much of last Saturday’s 0-0 draw between Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake in the Major League Soccer season opener for both clubs.
Altidore is set to face another physical and intimidating central defender in the form of Oguchi Onyewu when TFC visits the Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening.
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Onyewu played abroad for a number of European clubs his entire career before coming to MLS this season. A former U.S. international, he is a vastly experienced centre back, who earned 69 caps for his country before retiring from international soccer in 2014. He’s also no pushover—at six-foot-four and 210 pounds, Onyewu is a hulking defender who uses his size to overpower and boss opposing forwards.
But at age 34, Onyewu is not as quick as he once was, and Toronto coach Greg Vanney believes that might be the key for Altidore to win the one-on-one battle with the Philly defender on Saturday.
“A lot of it will come down to how much their two defensive midfielders can protect that space in front of them,” Vanney explained.
“If you drag [Onyewu] into the middle of the field and he tries to defend things in front of him then that’s going to open up space behind him, and at this point of his career, his turning ability and [his ability] to track and deal with that isn’t his main strength. He wants to keep things in front of him, he wants to deal with you in front of you.”
Vanney later added: “I think it’ll be two strong guys in the moments that they encounter each other, they’re going to be battling for inches. It’ll be an interesting to watch.”
The one-on-one battle between Altidore and Onyewu could also depend on how Philly sets up and how it maintains its defensive shape. Last week, the Union sat deep and didn’t give much away as they battled the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 0-0 draw. If the Union fall behind on Saturday, that could force them to open up a bit, and leave valuable space for both Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco to exploit.
“They’re a good, solid team,” Vanney said. “I don’t think they’re a far cry [away] from where they were, in terms of what they’re trying to do, in years past.
“I think they’re well-organized and they’re going to be stingy defensively. If we can get ahead of them I think some spaces will open up. As long as the game stays even or if they were to get the first goal, they’re going to be a very tight group and protect their back line and their goal.”
Keep in mind, too, that Philadelphia was on the road last week. The Union could decide not sit back as deep, and instead try to be more aggressive in their home opener.
“They’ll probably push a little bit more at home, but I’m not so sure they’re a far stretch from being a counter-attacking team that defends nice and tight,” Vanney offered. “We’ll see. We’ll be prepared for either way. But I think whenever teams come out of their shape and chase us around, then repercussions are that they have to deal with Jozy and Seba in lot of space.”
Philadelphia sports a 4-2-2 home record against Toronto, but the Reds have won in their last two visits to Talen Energy Stadium
NOTES: While TFC started the same 11 last week as it did in last year’s MLS Cup final, the Union’s starting lineup against Vancouver featured seven players from its 3-1 playoff loss in Toronto last October… Giovinco has five goals in five games against Philadelphia… Alejandro Bedoya has two goals in 12 games since joining Philadelphia last August, with both goals coming against TFC… Toronto closes its three-game road trip to begin the regular season next Saturday vs. Vancouver. The Reds host Sporting Kansas City in their home opener on March 31.
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