Toronto FC Escape Columbus with 1-1 Draw

Toronto FC and their supporters rolled into Columbus with high expectations, fully confident that they could finally end a pathetic string of results against the Crew. And why not? Hadn’t they laid down one of their best offensive performances in Kansas City just a week ago? Well, alas, it was not to be. It was the Toronto FC of old; that offensively challenged, predictable outfit that plods their way to draws or losses, relying more often than not on luck more than anything else. In fact, it took a wonderful header by Padula, Columbus’s left back, to finally beat Will Hesmer, Columbus’s keeper and secure a 1-1 draw with the Crew.

Both teams, from the outset, had to rearrange their starting lineups in order to contend with the absence of key performers due to national team call ups and injuries. Toronto was without Guevara and Robinson, while Columbus had to replace Moreno, Hedjuk and Rogers. In the absence of three players Robert Warzycha, Columbus's coach, decided field a relatively inexperienced line up featuring Garey (for Moreno) and Schelotto up front, Grendi (for Rogers) and Gaven on the flanks and Ekpo infront of Carrol in the midfield. In the back Padula started on the left, Marshall and O’rourke in the Center and Zayner (for Hedjuk)on the right. Toronto changed their formation, starting two side by side upfront, Vitti (for Guevara) and, Ricketts, Harmse and De Rosario in the midfield with Cronin tucked in behind with Brennan, Velez (For Robinson), Serioux and Wynne rounding out the back four.

The game, from the outset, was ugly. There was little flow, positive possession or rhythm as both teams seemed to struggle to find any direction. As it turned out, it was Schelotto, Ekpo and Gavin who began to turn the tide. All three of these players began making combining and making dangerous forays into Toronto’s defensive third. Toronto, for their part, made the job easy for Columbus by turning the ball over all over the field, but the class of Schelotto was once again making the difference. There isn’t a player in the league who understands the weight of a pass like Schelotto. He makes it so easy for his teammates to attack vulnerable space by laying the perfectly weighted ball into their path. Unfortunately for Toronto, it was a hand ball that eventually did them in. Schelotto played a ball into the box and it clipped the Toronto player on the arm/shoulder. It was a debatable call, but in the end, on the run of play, Columbus earned their chance. Schelloto calmy slotted the ball home in the 29^th minute giving the Crew the 1:0 lead. The rest of the first half continued in much the same pattern. Toronto FC’s midfielder seemed incapable of linking with their strikers and when they did Barret and Vitti gave the ball away. Vitti, Toronto’s new Argentinian striker, was as vanilla as they come. He showed absolutely no creativity, quickness or striking instinct. In fact, the only thing he did well was slide tackle. If I wouldn’t have known better, I would have said he was an outside back. I hope, for the sake of the Toronto FC supporters, that Mr. Vitti had an off afternoon, because if this is all he has to offer, Mo Johnston can add another one of his big signings to the MLS scrap heap.

The second half saw Toronto substitute goalie’s as Sutton came in for an injured Frei. From the outset the second half resembled that first half. Toronto giving the ball away or booming it upfield to an ineffective Barret and Vitti and Columbus calmy collecting the ball clinically moving the ball up the field through Schelotto and Ekpo. Columbus’s back four looked very good as both O’Rourke and Marshall easily picked off errant passes and silly long balls played by Toronto. Coming into the game, based on their performance against Kansas City, I was expecting Toronto to use their new found ability to attack quickly through their midfield, but with Guevara away on international duty, it became apparent that Toronto’s midfield was not up to the task. Cronin was invisible and Ricketts gave the ball away continuously. De Rosario, for his part, didn’t have his best game, but in fairness rarely had the ball passed to his feet. All in all it looked like another really bad day for Toronto, reminiscent of some of their worst performances. That is till Mr. Padula came to the rescue. Toronto won a foul just over the mid stripe and predictably pounded a long ball into the box. This ball did not look particularly dangerous till Padula knocked it with his head backwards, directly over the sprawled out body of Hesmer. Columbus, who had been in complete control of the game, had now just gifted Toronto with an away point. Misfortune for the Crew turned out to be life line for Toronto FC. The game finished in a 1-1 draw, allowing the throngs of Toronto FC supporters some vestige of respect as they left Columbus.

Next week, in what has to be considered the prime fixture, the surging Sounders and their wonder boy Fredy Montero, will descend on BMO Field. Let’s hope that Robinson and Guevarra come back to right the ship and we can all see a competitive match. I, for one, am very curious to what the result will be.

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