Here are three things we learned from Toronto FC’s 2-1 win over Tigres in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal Wednesday.
1. Toronto is a match for Mexico’s top club
As just about everyone on the Toronto side was at pains to say after this game: it’s only halftime.
TFC has ticked the first box by claiming a statement win at BMO Field, but a rare defensive blip cost them an away goal that keeps Tigres’ hopes very much alive. A 1-0 win in Monterrey next week will do the job for the reigning Liga MX champions.
There is still a significant task ahead of the Reds. That said, this was a hugely encouraging start.
After a cagey first half, Toronto could have sunk following Eduardo Vargas’ opening goal. Instead, they dominated the rest of the game, finishing a contest that had been evenly matched up until that point with eight more shots than the visitors.
They turned two of them into goals to establish a 2-1 lead.
“This team is not a club to get intimidated now by anybody,” midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, said. “We are trying to build a reputation here of being the best and whatever game we go to we have to win.”
2. Jozy Altidore is essential to TFC’s success
Jozy Altidore’s body language can tell a story at times. He is not one to disguise his emotions.
The American has had a quiet start to the 2018 season. He did not look too happy in the second leg of the tie against the Colorado Rapids in the previous round of this competition — and it’s hard to blame him given he rolled his ankle while feeling sick. But it was the same thing Saturday against the Columbus Crew, when he just did not seem himself.
That was a concern, because an in-form Altidore is indispensable to the best version of this team. There is really no one else like him in MLS when he is at the top of his game.
On this night, a handful of what Altidore deemed to be missed calls appeared to fire him up.
The 28-year-old was not necessarily a constant presence for TFC — he had the second-fewest touches of any of their outfield starters – but when he did get the ball, things happened. He set up the best chance of the first half. He laid another on for Jonathan Osorio only to see a teammate miss again.
And finally, he created space by pushing off his marker as only he can to score the equalizer.
“I think the biggest thing is how we improved as a unit today,” Altidore reflected. “It is no secret we are a team that takes a bit [of time] to get off to a good start.
“You see that is starting to turn and the players are growing into the game much quicker.”
3. Jonathan Osorio’s game is blossoming
This is Jonathan Osorio’s sixth season in MLS, but as recently as last summer it was still not entirely clear what exactly he was.
Is he an attacking midfielder, or does not he score and create enough goals? Should he try to transition into more of a holding role?
The answer is a bit of both: Osorio spends most of his time just outside either box. He is elusive, regularly wriggling his way out of traffic when he appears trapped. He combines well with his teammates, rolling off one-twos and moving intelligently between the lines. And he knows his defensive responsibilities well.
What he has never been is a prolific goalscorer. But becoming one, and proving his worth as a key attacking piece amid competition from big names such as Victor Vázquez, seemed to be obsessing him last year – and early in the 2017 campaign, a few missed chances demolished his confidence.
Osorio worked all year to rebuild his game, with Toronto coach Greg Vanney telling him to get the goals out of his head.
So naturally, through four games in 2018, he leads the Reds with two to his name.
“It’s a little bit of a Jedi mind trick that I put on him,” Vanney joked. “I told him to drop a little deeper, not worry about scoring goals, and now he’s in front of the net all the time.”