The Official TFC/Soccer thread

[hockeyfan1]

All great things come to an end.  Such was the case for the Toronto FC and their perfect home & winning streak. 

Yet to endure a loss this season on home turf, and having won their their eleventh straight game, the TFC and their fans thought they were ready for the Montreal Impact Wednesday evening at BMO Field.  Not so. 
The Impact scored three goals in the first 24 minutes of play enroute to a 5-3 win over the Reds.

Of course, one could make excuses with the absence of Giovinco and Altidore (injuries), and Victor Vasquez (sickness).  But then, haven't the TFC overcome bench losses before with bench depth & strength?  Of course they have which is why they are among the best in the league.

This game happened to be the exception, at least coach Vanney hopes so, and not a trend into a losing skid.

"Uncharacteristic mistakes for this team this year; it?s like we brought them all out in one game,? said coach Greg Vanney. ?Let?s hope that?s the case.?

The Toronto FC are still very much in the hunt to win The Supporters Shield, awarded to the first-place that holds the best record overall.  The Reds play the New England Revolution tomorrow (Saturday) and could clinch The Supporters Shield with a victory.  That will depend on the outcome of another game, namely one with the second-place New York City FC.


As bitter a loss as this was for the Reds, who undoubtedly were aiming for a perfect season and their best ever, they'll need to put this behind them and march on.

Best of luck to the TFC!

GO TFC GO!

Story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2017/09/20/reds-brought-back-down-to-earth-by-impact.html

 

[hockeyfan1]

How sweet it is...

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...with a 4-2 win over the New York Red Bulls at BMO Field yesterday (Saturday).  Defender Justin Morrow scored three goals playing wingside.  Victor Vasquea added the insurance marker.

The Supporters Shield is awarded to the team with the best overall record in the league.  It  also gives  them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The TFC guaranteed that with the victory and have 65 points on the year.  They still have two games remaining and a chance to bypass the L.A. Galaxy's MLS points record of 68.

Giovinco, the TFC's top scorer did not play (quad injury).  Still, getting goals from a player like Morrow is testimony to the tremendous bench depth that the team sports.  Also...

...Winning the Supporters' Shield this season highlights how TFC revolutionized the way the modern MLS game is played, with efficient and quick-paced soccer that can attack the opposition from almost any angle.

https://theathletic.com/114906/2017/10/01/justin-morrow-leads-toronto-fc-to-first-ever-supporters-shield/

...'we have goals that we wanted to accomplish, and having the best record in the league was one of them. Showing that we?re the best team in the league was one of them. ? [But] now it?s a whole other mini-season in the playoffs, and we?re all excited to have home-field advantage and hopefully get back here come December [for the MLS Cup],? Altidore stated.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toronto-fc-claims-supporters-shield-win-red-bulls/


GO TFC!

 

[Kin]

LOLAmerica

 

[hockeyfan1]

Way to go, Toronro FC!

They not only defeated the Montreal Impact 1-0 Sunday afternoon in the final home game of the season,, but also broight the Suooorters Shield trophy for all of the faithful at BMO Field to see.  In the process of the win, the TFC tied the 68 point single season record originally set by the 1998 L.A. Galaxy.

The TFC's goal was scored by Jozey Altidore, whose Team USA squad were eliminated from World Cup qualifying, in what can best be described as an emotional week:

"It's been probably one of, if not THE, toughest periods of my life," he said. "Definitely the darkest three days I've probably had. I didn't leave the house, I really didn't do anything.

"But then I remember I'm in a special place and quickly I'm reminded just going to get a coffee, seeing somebody in a TFC shirt and them saying how much it means to them how well the team's done. I'm just reminded of how special of a club that I'm at, the city and the opportunity that I have."

The TFC (20-5-8) tied another league r3cord wirh the 20 wins (previously established by the Seattle Sounders in 2014).

The TFC's final road game is in Atlanta next upcoming weekend.  They have an opportunity to not only bypass the points record but also the win column.

Good news for the TFC is that the injured were back, namely Giovinco, obviously recovered feom a quad inury.  He had several chances to score but came up shoet.

GO TFC!

Story:
http://www.cbc.ca/m/sports/soccer/mls/montreal-impact-toronto-fc-supporters-shield-1.4355812

 

[hockeyfan1]

Talk about a game of records!

Beginning with the Toronto FC, who set a MLS single season points record of 69, surpassing the total of 68 originally set by the L.A. Galaxy in 1998.

The TFC played  the Atlanta United FC Sunday to a 2-2 draw, on goals by Altidore & Giovinco, though it was Giovinco's perfect free kick that tied it all up.

To top it all off, the matchup itself set an MLS single game attendance  record of 71,000+ spectators here in Atlanta.  Wow, simply, wow!

What a day in the history of both MLS and the Toronto FC franchise.  The TFC finishes with their best record yet at 20-9-5.

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?We?re proud of [setting the record]. One of the things we set with this group was that we wanted to try to do something different, to be the best ever. You don?t know how to define that until you get going and see how a season goes and see what you can accomplish,? Toronto coach Greg Vanney stated.

What a team!  What a way to go!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/tfc-breaks-mls-record-points-season-draw-atlanta/

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bull 2-1 Sunday in New Jersey, in the First Leg of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

The win came with a price.  The TFC lost the services of Victor Vasquez and Drew Moor, both down with injuries and questionable for next weekend's second leg at BMO Field.

Moor with a rolling ankle injury, and Vasquez (groin injury) aren't exactly replaceable.  Perhaps for Moor, coach Vanney may opt to insert Nick Hagglund.  Vasquez?  That's the big question.  The Spaniard has been such an integral part of the TFC's strategy that not having him in the lineup at a crucial time can spell disaster for Toronto.

The Red Bull dominated the TFC in possessions and passing.  It was Vasquez and Giovinco who got the goals for Toronto.  Giovinco, the free kick maestro,  along with Vasquez, Bradley, Altidore,  and goalkeeper Alex Bono, were among some of the TFC's best on the field.

Best of luck to the TFC in next Sunday's (Nov.5) Semi.

GO TFC GO!

Story:
https://tipofthetower.com/2017/10/31/toronto-fc-earn-crucial-first-leg-win-in-new-york/

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto FC advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Columbus Crew...but not before...

....two red cards, a tunnel melee, a drink thrown at the referee from the stands, six yellow cards, two disallowed goals, a red welt on Drew Moor's neck, a wild, crazy, intensely physical game with plenty of nonsense  that would have kept many an NHL linesmen & referee busy.  Yes, it was a soccer game.

Bad blood between the TFC's Jozey Altidore that culminated in the tunnel melee, and several shoves particularly to Giovinco that incensed him enough in earning his second yellow card and an automatic one game suspension, for arguing with the referee. 

The sellout crowd at BMO Field certainly was incensed by referee Chris Penso not seeming to have the the game under control plus having disallowed the TFC goal by Osorio and disqualifying Vasquez's free kick.  Both were waved off  on technicalities -- Osorio's on account of a shove (foul) and Vasquez not being given the go-ahead to kick.  Perhaps what prompted whoever it was to throw a drink at the referee was his penchant to not give the Red Bulls their dues worth considering that they were the aggressors.

The TFC lost 1-0 but advanced due to away goals advantage.  It was only the TFC's third home loss of the season. 

Suspensions will  most certainly be given to Altidore, which means the TFC will be without the services of both Giovinco & Altidore in their opener against the Crew.

No one said this series was going to be easy, but surely no one expected it to disintegrate to the level it did.  Not TFC coach Greg Vanney:

Vanney accused the visitors of trying to antagonize and create chaos on the field. And while he said the officials' control was "lacking a little bit," he also acknowledged his players needed to keep their cool.

"The game just became a little bit about soccer and a lot about nonsense," he said. "And that's irritating for, I'm sure, spectators, it's irritating for coaches, players and it's irritating for just what our league's supposed to be about."

TFC Captain Michael Bradley added:

"We showed real balls tonight, plain and simple," he said. "Any other team finds a way to lose the series. They did nothing. They score a deflected goal, which makes the last 30 or 35 minutes tight. But we kept our nerve. We made big plays when we needed to make big plays and we found a way to go through. Every guy should feel really good and really proud about what went into tonight."

Story:
http://www.cbc.ca/m/sports/soccer/mls/mls-toronto-fc-new-york-red-bulls-playoffs-1.4388301

 

[hockeyfan1]

Tim Bezbatchenko, Toronto FC GM, honoured as Canadian Sports Executive of the Year.  And with good reason, as Bezbatchenko was instrumental in signing players such as Michael Bradley, Jozey Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco, and soon thereafter, Victor Vasquez, Chris Mavinga, and Nicholas Hassler.

Before Bezbatchenko became the TFC GM in 2013, he spent time in another management capacity with MLS in familiarizing himself with player relations, salary caps, etc., the minute details needed to run and manage a team.

The players Bezbatchenko eventually signed as GM for the TFC was all done while being under the salary cap.  Many of these players, such as Vasquez, came from other leagues and were dissatisfied with their playing time.  Bezbatchenko, with an astute eye recognized some of these players for their uniqueness of skill.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The last crowning glory is for the Toronto FC to finally win the MLS Cup.  Nothing less will do.


https://theathletic.com/150978/2017/11/09/after-building-a-contender-tfc-gm-tim-bezbatchenko-honoured-as-sports-executive-of-the-year/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Una catastrofia!! 

Italy fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

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[tweet]930199461770547200[/tweet]


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/13/world-reacted-italy-missing-world-cup-finals/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/italy-fails-to-qualify-for-world-cup-after-draw-with-sweden-1.3676049/

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto FC came into Columbus' MAPFRE Stadium with one goal in mind.  The TFC vowed not to lose in their First Leg of the Eastern Conference Final by playing it safe. 

Coach Greg Vanney had sought a tactical defensive strategy, given that his team was without their two best scorers -- Sebastian Giovinco and Jozey Altidore, both out this one game due to suspensions -- and the 0-0 scoreless draw Tuesday night gave the TFC a chance to try & win it at home next week.

"We're an entirely different team with them on the field ," said coach Greg Vanney. "I think our ability to connect off the front line, our ability to have more playmakers, goal-scorers, difference-makers, they add something entirely different."

While many were slightly offset at the TFC's lack of scoring, and this from a team that had previously scored 74 goals this season, the TFC knew what the Crew would throw at them and couldn't afford to risk an open game.

Nobody is celebrating anything tonight in here, that's for sure," said Toronto captain Michael Bradley, who was prominent on the night. "We handled things in a good way, in a solid professional way.

"We wanted to win the game. Having said that, 0-0 is a result that still means we go back home next week and we've got 90 minutes to win a game and get ourselves back in the (MLS Cup) final."

Stephen Betashour was a workhorse on defence for Toronto, while Michael Bradley was a stalwart on the backend.

Goalkeeper Alex Bono was solid and alert in making several crucial saves, particularly late in the game when Columbus stepped up their attack.

The Crew had 14 shots (3 on target), while the TFC had 7 shots (0 on target).

Second Leg of this Eastern Conference Final is Nov. 29 @ 7:30pm at BMO in Toronto.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/tfc-holds-on-to-0-0-draw-with-columbus-crew-in-first-leg-of-eastern-final-1.3688734

 

[Highlander]

Una catastrofia!! 

Italy fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

[tweet]930189043169624066[/tweet]

[tweet]930199461770547200[/tweet]


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/13/world-reacted-italy-missing-world-cup-finals/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/italy-fails-to-qualify-for-world-cup-after-draw-with-sweden-1.3676049/

One would think the Atomic Ant could have helped the Italian team, stupid not to have a talent like him on the team.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Una catastrofia!! 

Italy fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

[tweet]930189043169624066[/tweet]

[tweet]930199461770547200[/tweet]


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/13/world-reacted-italy-missing-world-cup-finals/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/italy-fails-to-qualify-for-world-cup-after-draw-with-sweden-1.3676049/

One would think the Atomic Ant could have helped the Italian team, stupid not to have a talent like him on the team.

I was thinking the same thing, but then again, maybe it's a good thing that Giovinco wasn't a part of this pathetic squad.  On the one hand he could have provided some offensive spark, but on the other hand it probably wouldn't have been enough, considering that gli Azzurri were that bad to begin with.

Personally speaking, I'm glad Seba wasn't a part of this disaster.

 

[Arn]

MLS, while probably vastly improved upon where it was even a decade ago, still isn't seen as a top league by Europe. Top tier nations will always pick players playing in top tier leagues such as Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga, English Premiership, German Bundesliga and even some of the next tier down such as Dutch Eredivisie, French Ligue 1, Belgian Jupiler league, Turkish Superleague long before they'll consider someone in MLS.

 

[hockeyfan1]

This says it all...

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For the second year in a row, the MLS record-setting Toronto FC will march to the MLS Cup Championship.  And how!  Jozey Altidore - - who had served his one-game suspension (the opening first leg of the Eastern Conference Final against the Crew in Columbus - - was the hero, injured ankle & all, as he scored on a perfect pass from Vasquez into a waiting opening past Crew 'keepen Zack Steffen.

Altidore wasn't about to miss the rest of the game nor this chance inspite of a sore, hurt and taped ankle, courtesy of a collision with a Crew defender.

?I knew that?d I have trouble continuing at the level that would be needed for a game like that. But I also wanted to give whoever was coming on potentially a little bit of time to get ready. I knew if there was a chance I could make a play, I wanted to be on the field for it. It all worked out in the end,? Altidore said.

"When he went back in after he taped it up, I said, go hard for as long as you feel like you can go and let me know where you?re at. The only way to test it is to push it. If you can?t go, then just tell me,? Vanney explained.

?He didn?t tell me, so I figured he was going to gut it out for as long as he could. The moment when he scored, it was like Keyser Soze ? he went from limping to a perfect sprint and finished it beautifully.?

"This city means a lot to me. I came here [in 2015], and I didn?t know what to expect. I?m sure a lot of people didn?t know what to expect from me. We were feeling each other out. It?s a beautiful love story, because I fell in love with this city, and I think the fans have fallen in love with me. I hope [TFC] is the last club I play for,? Altidore said.

Well done, TFC!

The MLS Cup Championship will be on Dec.9th at BMO Field here in Toronto.  The TFC will host either last year's defending champions Seattle Sounders, or, the Houston Dynamo. 
The second leg of the Seattle/Houston series goes tonight (Thursday).

Game story:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/tfc-edge-crew-reach-second-straight-mls-cup-final/

 

[hockeyfan1]

                                              M LS Cup Championship

                                          Saturday December 9th, 2017

                                        Seattle Sounders @ Toronto FC

                                                      3:30PM ET

                                              BMO Field  Toronto, ON


                                                      TV:  TSN


GO TFC GO!!                               

 

[hockeyfan1]

Ever wonder how the natural grass surface at BMO Field stays constant even in under freezing temperatures and all?  A very sophisticated heating system underneath the ground that does much more than just upkeep the surface:

Constructed similar to any other subfloor radiant heating system?just at a much grander scale?a hot glycol-water mix pumps through pipes under the ground at BMO Field, warming the roots. The air system works in conjunction with the piping by pushing the warmed air toward the roots for increased efficiency. The air system can also work as a vacuum and suck water away from the field for quicker drying, or help exchange oxygen in the growing medium for healthier soil.

Using embedded sensors, Heggie sets the system to keep his soil balanced somewhere between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius (59 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit). ?I tell the system what my ideal soil temperature is and it cranks all the valves for me,? he tells FourFourTwo. ?It is basically always on, but during the summer it shuts itself The system will keep the pitch from ever freezing, allowing for a more natural feel for the players. And by forcing the root temperature above 48 degrees Fahrenheit at all times, the grasses keep growing, allowing for quick repair and healthy turf...

More:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/mls-cup-surface-bmo-field-turf-toronto-underground-heating

 

[barney_rebel]

We rule man


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[hockeyfan1]

 

[hockeyfan1]

[tweet]939639448140120069[/tweet]

 

[hockeyfan1]

Oh. what a feeling it is!!!!!!!

[tweet]939637223531495425[/tweet]