TFC 0 Los Angeles 0: Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve

By: Sam | August 5th, 2007

Okay, Jeeves, I got a question for you. How the bloody hell did Toronto not win by forty goals tonight?

This, besides the Dallas game, was probably the best the boys have played all season (or the best they’ve ever played, while we’re at it). Thanks to the Galaxy for turning the ball over so much, because we did as well, so the only main flaw of our game was somewhat covered up.

It has to be said that Mo tinkered with the starting eleven quite a bit. With Dichio, Cunningham, O’Brien, Boyens and Wynne (I won’t bother to mention Sutton anymore) out with booboos, we got the rare chance to see Adam Braz and Marco Reda, as well as n00b Kenny Stamatopoulos. Oh, and did you know that Jim Brennan, playing at left-back tonight, was soldiering on with two fractured ribs? And still played the full ninety, thanks very much. Todd Dunivant pushed up to left midfield also.

Are you ready to hear the chances we had? Hokay. Samuel put a header right into Cannon’s arms in the second minute. Lombardo was this close to scoring on seven minutes, but his attempt was cleared off the line at the last millisecond. He then scored a goal, called back for offside. Samuel put a header wide on a corner kick. Lombardo got a lucky bounce but put his shot a few inches wide. Brennan had his free kick deflected inches away from the post. Pozniak had a breakaway but tried to pass to Lombardo and couldn’t do it. Robinson had a free kick at the top of the box which was blocked. Samuel surprised the defender and got off a bad-angle shot. Dunivant had a shot blocked and it fell right to Edu, who was in prime position but missed his first touch. And Welsh had a sudden burst of crazy-ass speed but was foiled by Cannon in injury time. I think that’s it.

But we couldn’t finish. 14 shots! 0 goals! Argh! As much as it is frustrating, I find it hard to be… frustrated. We played a great game. Stamatopoulos was just about flawless. He was called to duty only once, on that challenge on Donovan, and did it impeccably. End of story. Marshall and Reda shut down Donovan whenever he decided to try and break through, yeah, no thanks. Braz, whom I was a bit concerned about, proved me wrong, held the ball very well on the flank, although did give it up now and then. Robinson, as the holding midfielder, did pretty well. Some dumb fouls, like the one on which he got booked (no doubt he deserved it), but talk about great corners. Pozniak? Wicked super, he just gets better every time he touches the ball! Dunivant did a great job at midfield, once again I raised my eyebrows at the sight of that switchski in the formation, but he controlled the ball really well and made some good crosses. Edu was the only guy who wasn’t all that great. More and more often now he’s been committing unnecessary fouls (although the one he was booked on was not worthy of the yellow). Also a bit indecisive when attacking.

Now, these two get their own paragraph. Lombardo and Samuel! First off, what the hell did Samuel take before the match, and why didn’t he ever take it before? He had fucking legs! Always involved, always running, defending as well, the whole package. Let’s hope this wasn’t a one-game wonder. Same for Lombardo. Much less bitching, good job, Andrea! Very unlucky with his finishing, didn’t really mean to be offside on the goal called back, all in all very satisfactory. Just score next time, it’ll be perfect.

The crowd = fabulous as usual. I’m a fan of the LA Riot Squad, but come on. Red Patch Boys. U-Sector. Tribal Rythm Nation. Ceilidh House Hoolies. North End Elite. I love you guys. No one’s going to flop around in our house and not get booed the hell out of. Cough Donovan cough.

Gotta say: Great officiating. All the cards were warranted (Edu’s… perhaps a bit less. Persistent infringement a bit too early for my liking), and I just love his way about the pitch. I wanna be Mauricio Navarro when I grow up.

Next up is da Bulls, next Sunday, in New York. ~~They~~ he beat us last time, 2-1 at the Beem. Yeah, the Beem.

I’m optimistic.

Oh yeah, Beckham didn’t play.