Calling the Seattle Sounders – TorontoFC showdown a “dream final” for Main League Soccer, ASN’s Brian Sciaretta shares three key takeaways from Wednesday’s thrilling Jap Convention semifinal.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
December 01, 2016
7:30 AM
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IN ONE OF THE MOST entertaining second legs in MLS playoff historical past, Toronto FC defeated Montreal 5-2 in additional time to advance to its first MLS Cup, the place it can host the Seattle Sounders on December 10.
The sport was performed a really quick tempo and was a pleasure to behold. Each groups had the benefit greater than as soon as through the first 90 minutes however Nick Hagglund’s highly effective 68th-minute header was sufficient to pressure an extra half-hour.
In the long run, Montreal misplaced its focus at key moments and Toronto made its Canadian rivals pay a steep value in a 5-2 (7-5 combination) victory.
Altidore nice, Bradley wants to enhance
Earlier than the sport, Bruce Area introduced he was going to attend tonight’s recreation in Toronto and the newly employed U.S. head coach absolutely was impressed with the U.S. nationwide group striker.
Jozy Altidore was terrific all recreation lengthy. Not solely did he rating Toronto’s second objective when he headed residence a Sebastian Giovinco nook kick however his greatest play got here within the a hundredth minute when he assisted on Toisaint Ricketts’ closing objective of the sport to clinch the victory. On that play he confirmed nice ball management and imaginative and prescient to ship in an ideal low cross.
However that basically solely tells a part of the story. Altidore was all over the place within the recreation and his workrate was large. After years of futility in Toronto courting again to its inaugural season in 2007, Altidore was a giant a part of the Ontario group’s success. On Wednesday night time he showcased his passing capability, set piece attacking, runs, and ball management.
Michael Bradley, nevertheless, didn’t have his greatest recreation. The sport’s frantic tempo didn’t play to his strengths and he tried to pressure the ball ahead too many occasions. Towards Seattle, the sport has the potential to be much more intense and fast-paced and Bradley can have the tough accountability of serving to to include Nicolas Lodeiro. Will probably be a giant second for the U.S. group captain and he might want to step it up.
Set items sink Montreal
There’s completely no excuse for Montreal dropping this sequence. It was up 3-0 within the first leg and at one level and it led 4-2 on combination within the first half of the second leg. In the long run Montreal misplaced 7-5 on combination.
However because the membership and its supporters seek for blame, look no additional than its abysmal set piece defending which value it the primary three targets in regulation. At this level within the season, Montreal ought to have been way more ready to defend set items and it actually simply appeared as if the focus and focus was no there at key moments.
Montreal is all the time sleeping on set performs…Belief me I do know ????
— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) December 1, 2016
Montreal is an efficient group and may have extra room to spend with out Didier Drogba within the combine. It has an excellent fanbase for giant video games and head coach Mauro Biello has constructed a group that may play to its strengths very nicely. Ignacio Piatti is among the greatest midfielders within the recreation and Dominic Oduro’s pace opens up video games superbly. Having a backline anchored by Laurent Ciman permits the group to sit down again successfully and push ahead on counter assaults.
However set piece defending is prime and there’s no excuse for dropping a recreation this fashion.
MLS will get its dream closing
MLS Cup is ready and Toronto FC will host the Seattle Sounders on December 10 and this might not be a greater matchup for league officers or impartial followers.
Initially, you will have the most well-liked group in the USA towards the most well-liked group in Canada. That alone is a significant storyline and is barely made higher whenever you have a look at the ambiance Toronto has created for its residence playoff video games. Will probably be much like a big-time recreation in a prime European league because of the stadium surroundings.
Then you will have two of the very best international designated gamers within the historical past of this league in Seattle playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro and Toronto ahead Sebastian Giovinco. In contrast to the sooner period of designated gamers, each came to visit of their prime and elevated their teammates and performed implausible soccer.
You even have prime American internationals in Seattle’s Jordan Morris together with Bradley and Altidore on Toronto. Regardless of Seattle dropping Clint Dempsey, the group discovered a method to press on and transfer to inside a recreation of its first-ever title.
It’s exhausting to think about a greater matchup.
