Reds Learn From Past Mistakes
The stinging memory of last week's late breakdown was in the flesh
For the second consecutive week, TFC broke a scoreless draw early in the second half with a goal from a defender and then had to bear down and hold that lead in a crucial late-season game. But whereas the Reds eventually conceded a stoppage-time strike last weekend, they held firm against RSL to come away with a 1-0 victory and a massive three points.
Given that the Reds had allowed a league-leading 15 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, the fact that they were able to keep a clean sheet against Real was a huge confidence-booster as the team stayed alive for a playoff spot.
"It felt a lot like last week and games in the past," said goalkeeper Brian Edwards. "But we were able to keep a high line, we were able to get out, connect passes and get behind them a couple of times. We put pressure on them instead of just sucking it up for 20-30 minutes. Everybody dug in, blocked crosses, it was just a total team effort."
While everyone on TFC did their part, Edwards was the star of the game. He made nine saves (a club season-high) to record his third shutout in just eight career MLS games. It was the second consecutive solid outing for Edwards, who hadn't played at all this year until Stefan Frei's finger injury kept him from playing last week.
TFC interim head coach Chris Cummins said it was "a nice problem" to have when it comes to determining who still start next week if Frei is healthy.
"Eddie's more dominant at coming out for crosses and Stef is an outstanding shot-stopper. You put the two of them together you have a world-class 'keeper," Cummins said. "The two of them are going to be in the game a long, long time.
"They threw everything at us, the kitchen sink if you like. Eddie's come up with some massive saves for us today, he's been outstanding."
Edwards said he went into the unexpected starts with the intent of proving himself as a starting goalkeeper and he was glad to hear that he given his coach a difficult choice heading into TFC's season finale next week.
"That's the goal, you know? You want to get the shutout and the win today and then train all week to put the pressure on," Edwards said. "Chris will make whatever decision he feels is best for the team and whatever it is, I'll accept it. If I am in there next week against New York I'll try to do the same thing I did today."
With the Reds battling for a postseason berth, it was a playoff atmosphere at BMO Field in the Reds' final regular-season home game of 2009. The 20,384 fans in attendance delivered their own rendition of the Canadian national anthem, and before the game, the south end supporters unfurled a huge banner celebrating recently retired striker Danny Dichio.
The crowd kept up the energy until the final whistle, and their exuberance was well-appreciated by the team.
"You've seen what the fans are all about," Cummins said. "It gave us a spark. The fans sang the national anthem, Danny came out to get his round of applause ... it gave us a boost and I think it caught them on the back foot a bit.
"You see the fans today, at 82 minutes they start singing for us again even louder in order to get us off that line because they know what we're like [at the end of games]."
Perhaps their biggest cheer of the game came in the 47th minute, when team captain Jim Brennan converted a rebound to put Toronto ahead. After Chad Barrett's initial shot was blocked by Real goalkeeper Nick Rimando, Brennan was on the spot to curl the ball inside the right post with his right foot -- a rare occurrence for the left-footed Brennan.
Brennan was happy to finally score at home (his previous three MLS goals all came in away games) and said he was fortunate that he was able to get enough force on the ball since he couldn't kick it with his natural foot.
"The way it fell, I had to take a swing at it with the right foot because I couldn't put it on the left," Brennan said. "I was fortunate it kind of bounced at the right, but I don't care how it goes in as long as it goes in.
"All my goals always seem to be on the road, so I'm happy. I said to my wife I can't wait for the day I score at home, and I'm glad it was today."
The victory means that TFC's playoff chase will go right down to the final game of the regular season, next Saturday in New York against the last-place Red Bulls. Toronto needs to win and have several of both this weekend's and next weekend's results around the league fall their way into order to get into the reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history.
Cummins said he was going to celebrate his birthday eve (the coach turns 38 on Sunday) by going home and watching the other scores while drinking some tea. He warned that however other clubs perform, it all ultimately will come down to if the Reds can help themselves by beating New York and ending their regular season on a high note.
"I just said to the lads there it's three points [today]. We're not in the playoffs yet," Cummins said. "We've still got next week and if we don't perform next week then today has been for nothing, as such. We must be professional and get back-to-back wins to get into the playoffs."
