TFC playoff hopes still alive after win against New England

Read Time:4 Minute, 45 Second

TFC turn back the clock in win over Revolution

It’s hard to believe that just one year ago Toronto FC was chasing history trying to become the greatest MLS team. Fast forward to now, that same team if not better on paper, is chasing the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Where did it go wrong? A rough start to begin the season didn’t help their cause, and the injuries suffered along the way didn’t make things any easier.

On Saturday night in a 4-1 win against the New England Revolution, Toronto fielded a strong starting 11, due in part to getting many back from injury as of late.

Michael Bradley has played almost every position this season. On Saturday he found himself anchoring the back line in a 3-5-2 formation. Not the ideal situation for TFC pulling their best midfielder out to put him on defense, but at this point in the year everyone else has failed miserably so having him back there gave them some sort of stability and hope.

That hope wasn’t on display early. It took just 10 minutes for New England to break the deadlock when the ball found Cristian Penilla in the box and he made no mistake.

If at first you don't succeed…

Cristian Penilla's fight pays off and the Revs are up early on the road! #TORvNE https://t.co/a1V5oY5qfe

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2018

Things went from bad to worse just minutes later.

After leaving last weeks match early, Jozy Altidore returned to the starting lineup along with Sebastian Giovinco who sat out the last match with a calf injury. The pair managed to play 15 minutes together before Altidore went down with an injury and limped off the field and down the tunnel, ending his night.

“We knew both Seba and Jozy are coming off of injuries from last game so we knew that there was an outside possibility that one of those guys might not be able to go the distance much less a half.” Said TFC head coach Greg Vanney.

The injury forced Vanney to push Bradley back into the midfield, a move which paid dividends.

Unlike Altidore, things would get better for Giovinco in the 36^th minute when he hit a stunning shot from the top of the 18-yard-box over the keepers outstretched hand and in the net. Adding some life to a drained TFC team and what was a lifeless BMO Field.

My oh my, Giovinco. 🚀🚀🚀 #TORvNE https://t.co/Zcp5i3mc1B

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2018

Both TFC and New England knew the importance of this game along with a game going on out of town. D.C. United and Montreal were up against each other and it was D.C. who had the lead come halftime at BMO. Setting up what would be a busy second half.

“Through the second part of that first half things were starting to open up for us and I thought that we were doing a nice job dealing with them,” Vanney said. ” and on the defensive side, that kind of gave us a nice firm platform to just build off and start moving forward with the game.”

Toronto needed a big half and they got the ball rolling early. Just minutes after Jonathan Osorio had his goal taken away due to VAR, Lucas Janson picked up his own rebound and smashed it home to take a 2-1 lead.

This one counts without a doubt! Lucas Janson puts @torontofc out in front at home. #TORvNE https://t.co/QjsuLT5MLU

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2018

Minutes after that Victor Vazquez calmly slotted home a penalty shot to make it 3-1 for the Reds.

The rest of the half was about being smart defensively for Toronto. They have seen two and even three goal leads evaporate due to poor decisions and this was a game they couldn’t afford to let that happen in.

For the most part, the Revolution really didn’t provide much offense other than the first goal of the game. New England would finish the game with two shots on goal, both coming in the first half.

As for offensively, once Toronto took the lead it was about being patient and choosing their spots to attack. Janson was stopped many times and hit a post, Giovinco missed a sitter and a ball was cleared off the goal line.

“Lucas really couldn’t buy one I felt for him because he put a ton of work in,” said Vanney. “Great job by our scouting department to have Lucas available every time he’s played he’s just given everything that he has on the field.”

Giovinco also pitched in post game on Janson.

“He knows soccer he understands the movements he’s a good player,” Giovinco said. “More players like him help for sure.”

Unlike his teammate Janson, Marco Delgado wasn’t stopped after he headed home a rebound in the 81^st minute to make it 4-1 TFC, putting the icing on the cake and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.

.@MarkyDelgado adds one for himself! @torontofc's comeback continues in this one. #TORvNE https://t.co/JMW2x8vCvr

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2018

It was more than just a win for this team. In the second half, TFC looked more like the dominant team from last season than the one that has struggled all year long. And most of that is from getting key players back from injury.

After the win and a Montreal loss, Toronto now sits just seven points back of a playoff spot. In their last few matches, one is against the Impact.

Many things have been said in the last two months of the season but they have made one thing quite clear down the stretch. They won’t go away without a fight.

“We still have direct games with DC and Montreal so until somebody says the math no longer checks out we’re going to keep trying to play and put wins together.” Said Bradley.