Your Source for Stories, Stats and Opinion on Soccer in Ontario
February 8, 2010
5 reasons why Toronto FC will make the playoffs in 2010
(Nigel Reed, CBC Sports) - All things come to those who wait, or so it is written. For all we know it was actually written by a crusty old hermit who won the lottery, married a surgically enhanced bimbo 60 years his junior and died of gluttony within a year of his good fortune.
Fans of Toronto FC have waited and waited for things to start arriving, and are still waiting. They are waiting for the team they embraced three years ago, and into which they have invested a considerable financial and emotional commitment, to start giving back.
Patience, in soccer as in life, is indeed a virtue. The wait is almost over; the reward is at hand. The frustration, felt by so many for so long, will finally end in 2010. The promised land of the playoffs beckons and here are my five reasons why the post-season is coming to Canada for the first time in franchise history. >>>
February 4, 2010
Canadian Championship Schedule Announced
(Sportsnet.ca) - The Canadian Soccer Association and its three top professional clubs – Impact de Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – announced the schedule Thursday for the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
The three-team, six-match tournament runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June. The 2010 winner will advance to represent Canada in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League season.
"The pride of Canada will be on the line during the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship," said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominique Maestracci. "Only the best will move forward to represent our nation in 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League and hopefully the FIFA Club World Cup 2011. It should be another thrilling championship between the Impact, Toronto FC and Whitecaps FC." >>>
February 4, 2010
Jim Brennan wants a trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs
(Mark Polishuk, MLSnet.com) - In Jim Brennan's 14 years in professional soccer, he has captured a CONCACAF Gold Cup with Canada in 2000, an English First Division title with Norwich City in 2004 and, just last season, he helped bring Toronto FC its first Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
There's just one more thing that the veteran defender wants from his 15th and possibly final year -- a trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
"I've had a long career but a good career over in Europe and now I'm back in my hometown playing for a club that I love," Brennan said. "We've got professional soccer here and it's taken off amazingly. I want to be part of the team that gets into the playoffs."
Brennan described the coming 2010 season as his "last push," and it is clear that the TFC captain intends to go out on a strong note. He joked about the toll that the preseason fitness tests were taking on his 32-year-old body, but Brennan seems motivated to perform up to the standard demanded by new Toronto head coach Preki.
After just a short time experiencing Preki's coaching style first-hand, Brennan is already impressed. >>>
(Gareth Wheeler, Toronto Sun) - "There's a lot of work to do," said Mo Johnston, Toronto FC's director of soccer.
No kidding. Year 4 doesn't get any easier than the first three for Johnston.
TFC's failure to make the playoffs has been well documented, as has criticism of Johnston.
"I've been criticized my whole life. I'm a big boy. I can take it. I work hard every day and if I wasn't good enough for the guys above (at MLSEL), changes would be made," Johnston said.
When asked to grade his three years at TFC, Johnston gives himself a "C". Distractions have run amuck TFC's on-field performance, namely FieldTurf, personnel failing to settle, and a revolving door of head coaches.
Through it all, Johnston remains full of promise and the goal hasn't changed.
"The playoffs are a must for the team. We were so close last year and were left with a bad taste in our mouth," Johnston said. >>>
Anyone for an Encore?
Toronto FC capped of a memorable first season on the 20th of October
with a thrilling come-from-behind draw against the New England Revolution.
Appropriately, Danny Dichio, who scored the first ever TFC goal, added the
other bookend when he looped an injury-time equalizer over the Revolution
keeper.
Sep 22, 2007
TFC 1:2 CLB
TFC Remain Winless
Seconds after Maycoll Canizales bungled home TFC’s first
goal in over 13 1/2 hours of MLS play, I received a phone
call in the press box. It was my wife, running late and
calling from the GO station outside the CNE.
'Did they score?' were the first words out of her mouth. She
had heard the roar of the crowd and wanted confirmation.
Aug 25, 2007
TFC 0:1 DCU
DC United Add to TFC Misery
An early goal by DC United’s Fred held up against relentless
TFC pressure as the home team fell to it’s 3rd straight
defeat. Toronto is now winless in their last eight league
games and remain in last place in the MLS Eastern
Conference. They now also own the MLS single-season futility
record, not having scored a goal in now 642 consecutive
minutes, or the equivalent of over 7 full games.
July 25, 2007
TFC 2:4 AVFC
TFC Drop Friendly to EPL Side in BMO
Return
Toronto FC faced off against Aston Villa of the English
Premier League in a meaningless but entertaining match at
BMO Field on Wednesday night. Showing no sign of fatigue
from their recent 6-week road trip, Toronto fought back from
a 2-0 before succumbing 4-2 on two late goals by the
visitors.
June 17, 2007
TFC 4:0 FCD
Toronto FC Crush League Leaders
It was not your typical start for TFC on this home stand. Both teams
came out cautious and possession was fairly even over the first 20 minutes.
Toronto had come out flying in each its two previous games versus New York and
Colorado. However, by half time Toronto was in a familiar position – in the
lead.
June 2, 2007
TFC 2:1 COL
TFC Rides Hot Start to Victory at BMO
A scintillating opening 30 minutes that produce two goals
and a half dozen more close calls was enough to power
Toronto FC to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids at BMO
Field. The home team tamed the Rapids with a red wave that
controlled the midfield, continually broke through the
Colorado defence and shut down their forwards.
May 19, 2007
TFC 1:2 DCU
DC United Defeat Toronto 2-1 at BMO
Toronto's modest two-game winning streak came to an end
Saturday as they were defeated 2-1 by DC United, dropping
TFC to last place in the Eastern Conference...
May 16, 2007
TFC 1:0 HOU
TFC Knocks Off MLS Champs
It has taken just two games for Andy Welsh to go from
favourite whipping boy to just plain one of the favourites
for the supporters of TFC. It was Welsh’s 25th minute header
that powered the home team to its second straight victory
and first shutout in franchise history.
May 12, 2007
TFC 3:1 CHI
Dichio Opens the TFC Account
A combination of elation and relief swept over the 20,000+
fans as the final whistle blew at BMO Field Saturday and
Toronto FC celebrated their first ever victory. Danny Dichio,
Kevin Goldthwaite and Maurice Edu scored as Toronto FC
defeated the Chicago Fire 3-1...
April 28, 2007
TFC 0:1 KC
Tremendous Effort, Heartbreaking
Result The pieces were all
there - new stadium, new team and 20,000 rabid fans. The
atmosphere was electric and seemed to inspire our men in red
as they came out strong and for 45 minutes gave the
soccer-starved Toronto fans a much anticipated taste, with
all due respect to the Toronto Lynx, of what professional
soccer should look like...
