There is one big reason Toronto FC likes its chances in these tight knockout games.
They will, more often than not, win a few free kicks within 30 yards of the goal. And when they do, their odds of scoring might be better than any team in the world thanks to Sebastian Giovinco.
Giovinco netted the second of two attempts he had with the dead ball Tuesday night to fend off the efforts of Liga MX champion Tigres, sending Toronto through to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
TFC lost 3-2 in an extraordinary game at Estadio Universitario but triumphed on away goals, with the aggregate score a 4-4 tie, after beating the Mexican club 2-1 in Canada last week.
The Reds sailed close to the wind all the way to the end in Monterrey. Star striker André-Pierre Gignac netted in the 84th and then 93rd minute – the second from the penalty spot – to win the game for Tigres, but they required a fourth in order to knock the MLS side out and the Frenchman’s latter strike was virtually the final kick.
Toronto had done enough damage beforehand to survive.
Giovinco was instrumental: having run the left channel fruitlessly all game long, the Italian was finally rewarded when he received a through ball from Jonathan Osorio and squared it for Jozy Altidore only for his pass to find the net off the legs of Tigres midfielder Rafael Carioca.
Eduardo Vargas quickly equalized by heading home a corner, appearing to set up a tense finale as Tigres chased the second goal they needed – at that point – to ensure they at least bought themselves extra time.
But Ricardo Ferretti’s men, who have lost the past two finals of this competition, were left reeling when Giovinco stepped up to curl an inch-perfect shot past Nahuel Guzmán after drawing a foul. Giovinco scored a record seven free-kicks in MLS last season, and this was up there with the best of them.
That left Tigres needing four on the night in order to advance because of Toronto’s advantage in the away goals column. Gignac got one, with TFC hanging on having lost standout defender Chris Mavinga to a muscle injury.
Tigres brought on speedy winger Jürgen Damm at half-time as they chased goalscoring chances and later added playmaker Lucas Zelarayán.
The combination of those moves undoubtedly left Greg Vanney’s side scrambling but Tigres found the breakthrough too late – with Gignac scoring again after Gregory van der Wiel had handled in the box – to go after a winner.
Toronto goes through, and is likely to face another big hitter of Liga MX in Club América in the semifinals. América plays Panamanian side Tauro FC on Wednesday night with a 4-0 aggregate lead.
That will mean a trip to the famous Estadio Azteca, which holds 87,000 fans and was the first to hold two World Cup finals.