Toronto fc 0-1 Colarado Rapids

By: nicholas | October 8th, 2007

Toronto Fc lost against a mediocre Colarado rapids team last night , and was unable to even show die hard fans a glimmer of hope for next season. As mentioned in an earlier post this team needs a serious retooling and maybe even a new manager. Because it is one thing to be beaten by a better side but to be out worked by a 10 men colarado rapids side for most of the match takes the cake.

Here is the offical match review by Espn and by MLS if you want the offical word from the pros.

Game Review

Toronto started off with this lineup

————-K.Stam—–
Dunivant - Marshall - Braz - Wynne
——-Robinson —- Edu—–
Gala — —————Pozinak
—–Cunnigham– —-Samuel

NO Brennan ? If i am remembering right, this is the first game that Captain Canada has not played in. THe injury report says that he has hurt his knee in practice. ( not sure if injury is long term or short term , i will continue to investigate). Samuel starting once again up front with CUnnigham, i am not sure if it is just me but i dont believe for a second that Cunnigham is fully healed from his hernia surgery. If he is not fit Lombardo should be starting and that shouldn’t be an issue, because we are out of the playoffs and the rest of the year should used to blooden some of our younger players like Canizalez, Gyan , Nunez

First half

The First half provided little to no chances for TFC and to be honest i was not surprised, the passes were bad and level of confidence from the players seam to really low even though they had won just three days before ( Toronto FC 2-1 Redbulls ).

Best chance of the first half came was from Colardo Rapids player Mehdi Belluchi on a one and one, but K. Stam was on his game and stopped the chance with a great diving save in the 9th min.

TFC went up a man when the same Medhi Belluchi went studs up on Carl Robinson in the 35th min, therefore resulting in a straight red card.

Second half

In the second half super Mo made two subs Hemming for Braz and Gala for Canizalez, not bad changes but Gala played well enough to play more than a half and Hemming should have started the game anyway if you are going to play Wynne at right back and Dunivant at LB.

Bounda Koundul had one real shot on net and that happened after the second sending off of Pablo Mastroni and even then they didn’t look like scoreing.

AND THE HIGHLIGHTS

* Usually i would rant on the game past but for this game i think it needs a delicate touch, so i am giving the keys to the final thoughts to one of the readers ( MARK ) so enjoy

Final thoughts

Robinson was poor. He could not hold onto possession and often gave the ball back to the Rapids with minimal pressure. Samuel does not play positive. Last night confirmed that for me. He was lazy and ineffectual throughout.

If Cunningham is hurt he should not play. Last night he was brutal in his abscence even though he “played” for the whole 90 minutes. I think the Rapids announcers mentioned him once or twice in passing. Only Wynne, Stamatopolous and perhaps Edu redeemed themselves in this match in my opinion.

I am not one that is calling for Mo’s head on a plate at this point, but the level of committment to consistent hard work that this team has is troubling me. It is one thing to be beaten by a more talented team but a TFC team should NEVER be outworked or out-hustled. Last night it was by a mediocre MLS team out of the playoffs and I feel that it is the manager’s responsibility.