The final two fixtures in the much famed seven game road trip to start the season have the Reds travelling to Orlando and Philadelphia before returning to Toronto for the home opener on May 10th.
Before the season began both games were circled on the calendar. These are matches where TFC has a reasonable chance at taking points.
First we start in Orlando, where Kaka, Brek Shea and Cyle Larin present a formidable test. The expansion side is stout defensively, but goals have been hard to come by.
TFC have had trouble preventing goals. 11 goals conceded in five games is not the defensive record Greg Vanney had in mind before the season started. All is not lost, however. There are 29 games remaining in the season and if the Reds can emerge from the next two games with four points, we’re suddenly looking at a pretty successful start to the season considering all of the variables that have been involved.
INTERVIEWS: Greg Vanney | Steven Caldwell | Sebastian Giovinco
First on the docket is Orlando City. Here are three storylines to keep an eye on as Sunday night’s match approaches
Caldwell’s Status
Steven Caldwell continues to recover from a calf injury that sidelined the veteran defender for three and a half games this season.
It appears Caldwell will be unable to play in Orlando, but progress is being made.
“I have to be a little bit tentative,” Caldwell said following training on Wednesday. “But I really want to push it now.”
“I was doing some running today. Hopefully it won’t be too long now.”
Caldwell said the injury flared up during the season opener out West.
“I first felt it in Vancouver at halftime in the achilles area. I got through the game, but obviously it was a more serious problem than I thought. As I get older I may have to be a bit more careful when I feel something.”
He’s had a chance to watch from afar as the Reds continue to struggle defensively. What’s hampering TFC in Caldwell’s opinion?
:”We’re making individual errors, it’s obvious to see,” he said.
“We’re giving up pretty soft goals. We’re on a tough stretch of games and confidence is a little low, but we have to help each other out a little more and not put defenders in the situations they’ve been put in.”
Getting Caldwell back in the lineup will go a long way in shoring up Toronto FC’s defence.
The Kaka Factor
He’s been hailed as the league’s best player through seven weeks. And though Sebastian Giovinco may have some qualms with that claim, it’s hard to argue against it. Kaka has been as good as advertised for Orlando City.
“What an outstanding player he has been and continues to be,” said Caldwell. “What a great person and ambassador for the league.”
“He’s going to be a very difficult player to stop. We’re going to have to be organized managing the space he has to work in. We have to be on guard for free kicks, because he’s obviously capable of putting it in the top corner.”
Limiting Kaka’s space will be key for TFC on Sunday night. Damien Perquis and Nick Hagglund will need help from the midfielders in front of them.
Due to Kaka’s abilities, don’t be surprised if Collen Warner gets his second start in a row and plays just in front of the back four.
Giovinco Finds His Groove
“It’s cold!”
Sebastian Giovinco was concise when asked what the biggest adjustment has been off the field.
On the field The Atomic Ant has already established himself as one of the league’s best players. He’s not used to losing, and wants to help the Reds get on the right track.
“I’m trying to get our team to work harder and harder and get them to work together,” he said following training on Tuesday.
He’s doing his part. Giovinco has yet to find chemistry with Jozy Altidore up front, but they haven’t spent much time on the field together up top. They did in Dallas and the results were promising.
We’ll see if their relationship has taken another step in Orlando.
