This weekend's game effectively kicks off tonight, when Toronto (and hopefully all of its starters) have a top-of-the-table sort of clash with DC United, in Toronto. Get tired, boys! RUN!
If anyone didn't get the same email I did, the team's offering $15 tickets for this one with the code StrongerTogether at RSL.com/Promo I was confused at the discount until I saw that it's a 1:00 game. I won't be at this one.
Also in the promo are four players, three of whom are unlikely to play this weekend (Rimando and Beckerman for RSL, Altidore and Bradley for TFC - Bradley at least will probably play).
I’ll be at the game. Hopefully we’ll have something to cheer about. I’m pretty ambivalent about this whole season. I don’t see this as anything other than another year of this:
Weather looks sketchy at best and could possibly be a downpour with lightning delays. Attendance is gonna be killer, I'm sure.
Looks like a no-hoper and yet...weather is a big randomizer. Rumor has it the discount code is something surprising like USMNT because of Injured Altidore? I dunno man, sketchy.
Well, Rimando's back (and Putna not even in the 18). Everton is on the bench so he's healthy but probably not 90 minutes fit. Red-hot San Johnson gets a rest for some reason. Rimando Herrera Glad Onuoha Toia Besler Kreilach Rusnak Savarino Baird Bofo Bench - Horvath, Silva, Lennon, Mulholland, Everton, Plata, Johnson
Hey now, they are apparently capable of even worse defense as one defender seemed to close his eyes as he went up for Rusnak's cross, and neither one stopped Damir from controlling the ball. Damir did well to put it home, but the ball should never have gotten to him. 1-0.
So i get to this game late, 25 min and we are up 1 0. I sit down, watch bofo get the ball, dribble inside with space, and then BAM, 2 -0. On the one hand i get so annoyed when players just keep the ball instead of passing to make space. But on the other, Toronto gave him so much space! aghhhh. And so he took that shot. lol.
Late once, not concerned. It happens. If it's a pattern, then yes. I don't mind benching him today for the tardiness. But the players are asked for fairly minimal commitments (never clearer than on that series from a couple of years ago which featured players in the 24 hours leading to a game, which spotlighted both Rimando and Beckerman in separate episodes) and being on time isn't much to ask - even with an odd start time for this one.
The players are moving for each other very well, and the ball is moving all over the place impressively. Fun stuff.
Should have been three for sure there on the quick free kick. Saucedo needs to score or slide it to Savarino.
The work done by Saucedo in the midfield to win the ball, and then his pass over the top to Savarino, were first rate. And then Savarino outplayed the TFC defender in the box. Great work from both of those players. And now a red card for TFC's best player. Sweet.
Plata on for 20 - here's hoping he gets a goal or three, if only to increase his confidence (and the sell-on price). Rimando! Stonewalls Hamilton on the breakaway.
We're becoming very complacent; three good chances in a row for Toronto as we pass the ball right to them time and again.
They did play Wednesday and travel Thursday, so they could spend a day acclimating. I may be misremembering, but I thought the prevailing recommendation was lots of time or very little time at altitude before the game; a full day plus a half is maybe right in the worst window. Maybe?