When the 2015 schedule was released blocks of games were circled. The seven game road trip to start the season was the big obstacle, along with trips out west to Los Angeles and Seattle later in the year. Ventures to Red Bull Arena have always been tough for the Reds, as have visits to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
The five game homestand to end the season was circled in green. This would be the opportunity for Toronto FC to cement their place in the playoffs and, if the cards fell right, secure a home playoff game.
A three game losing streak has made this stretch, starting with Saturday’s match against the Colorado Rapids (Tickets), massively important. Though the Reds sit in a playoff position, the teams behind them are not going away.
Colorado sits last in the Western Conference but they will provide a formidable test. Only the Portland Timbers have allowed fewer goals this season. And as we’ve seen in recent games, goals have been tough to come by for the Reds.
Here are three keys for the match
Take Your Chances
21 shots against New England, five on target. 16 shots against New York City FC, seven on target.
For all those chances, and there were several clear cut goal scoring opportunities in both games for the Reds, TFC registered one goal in 180 minutes. That has to change, and the squad knows it.
“All in all we need to work harder collectively,” said Greg Vanney following Wednesday’s loss in New York. “We’ve left a lot of opportunities on the table these last few games.”
Colorado have allowed four goals in their last four games and have been defensively solid under Pablo Mastroeni all season. In 28 games the Rapids have conceded just 30 times. They lost in 2-0 in Vancouver last Wednesday, but Mastroeni’s side held off the high flying Whitecaps for the majority of the game. They managed a 1-1 draw against D.C. United last Saturday, stifling Jay Heaps’ team.
The Reds will need to be patient. They’ve had trouble scoring, but percentages indicate goals will come if they keep creating scoring chances.
Mental Test
The last few games have been humbling for a team that had designs on making their way up the Eastern Conference table.
That dream isn’t dead yet, but there is little room for error left with six games remaining.
“We have to keep going,” said Michael Bradley. “It’s a difficult moment for us. The last three games haven’t gone the way we wanted. There’s no sugar coating that. It’s in moments like this that you find out the true character and strength of the group.”
Rather than focus on table watching, Bradley rightly suggests the Reds look inwards.
“We don’t need to worry about teams above us or teams below us. We just need to figure out how to get ourselves back on track.”
Score First
Frank Lampard’s first MLS goal on Wednesday night marked the 19th time TFC had conceded the first goal in a game this season.
When the Reds score first the team has registered eight wins.
“It’s proven to help us a lot [when we score the first goal],” said Vanney earlier this week. “We have a lot of strength in the attack and when you get the first goal it forces the opposition to push a little bit, send more numbers forward. That opens up space for Seba, Jozy, Michael and the attacking crew."
Getting off on the right foot at home is of massive importance, especially considering how the last two games have gone.
