Toronto FC took to the pitch for the first time in 2022 on Saturday afternoon with a closed door scrimmage against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Jayden Nelson and Jordan Perruzza scored for the Reds, either side of a brace from homegrown signing Deandre Kerr, but the Galaxy netted once more – including a pair of penalty kicks – to defeat TFC 5-4 on the day.
It’s not about the scoreline in preseason action. It’s about making progress.
“Two different halves,” said Bob Bradley post-match, referring to the six-goal first half (3-3) and a tighter second 45, as well as the wholesale changes in the XI. “Obviously, at this point in preseason the maximum minutes is 45.”
“In both some really good moments, things that we talked about and worked on over the early training sessions: you can see those ideas starting to develop. Still other moments where reactions [are] a little bit too slow, sometimes playing into situations that only lead to trouble,” he observed. “The idea of finding the right spaces, finding the right passes, I was really pleased that in some moments our ability to win the ball and go forward quickly produced some good chances and some good goals. A lot to consider, but definitely pleased with many parts of the first time out.”
Ten days into camp, it was a matter of beginning to put into practice that which has been worked on.
“I thought it was good,” said Perruzza, who scored on a half-volley in the second half. “A lot of good attacking moments. We're learning what Bob's been trying to teach us over the last couple of days and it's starting to come together.”
These games are valuable for a host of reasons.
“Firstly, it's just putting everything that we've worked on on the bigger picture, looking at it on the bigger scale on the field. You get a better idea of it once you're out there,” highlighted Perruzza. “And obviously fitness as well, getting a couple minutes under the legs for everyone.”
Toronto will have another match on February 2 against LAFC before preseason shifts to Austin, Texas where four further matches – against Austin FC, Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, and Sporting KC – are scheduled.
Much work remains to be done before the MLS regular season opener against FC Dallas on February 26, but Coach Bradley has some valuable data to assess and filter into the continuing preparations.
“It's just a case of are they picking up ideas,” he laid out. “In certain moments, where we play slowly across the back and it's easy for the other team to press instead of maybe looking forward a little bit faster.”
“There's this mix of finding control in the game, but also control comes by playing the right passes, playing forward, moving the team up,” Bradley added. “We can do better in terms of the balance.”
