Luis Gil added a goal as RSL beat TFC 3-0 Saturday night at the RioT. (Yahoo Sports).
There has quite understandably been a lot of excitement around Toronto FC so far this season. The club, which up until now has been a doormat in the Eastern Conference, made vast improvements to their side during the offseason with the additions of USMNT midfielder Micheal Bradley, former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, and Brazilian National team keeper Julio Cesar. All three of these guys took to the pitch at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night, but in the end, it was a different look, but the same old TFC for Real Salt Lake as they took apart the visitors in a masterful performance.
The crap hit the fan early on for TFC as Doneil Henry threw Alvaro Saborio to the ground in the box with the a wrestling move in the 10th minute. Referee Baldomero Toledo immediately pointed to the spot and Sabo stepped up to take the penalty kick. With the extra motivation of TFC coach Ryan Nelsen calling for his suspension earlier in the week, Sabo iced the PK to give RSL the 1-0 lead after 11 minutes.
It didn't get any easier for TFC after that as they looked semi helpless against an organized RSL squad that was hell bent on keeping the ball, and defended very stoutly when they lost it. TFC tried to find some joy over the top a few times as Micheal Bradley attempted to connect with Jermaine Defoe, but for the most part, RSL dealt with both of these guys confidently.
RSL was nowhere near done after the Sabo PK either, and the next goal came in the 28th minute after some classic RSL build up. Javier Morales, who was SPECTACULAR all night, fired a ball along the ground that looked to find Sabo at the top of the area, but at the last minute, the big Costa Rican dummied it, and let it through to an onrushing Chris Wingert, who smashed a shot on target. Cesar made the save, but the rebound fell to a perfectly placed Luis Gil, who calmly slotted past the befuddled 'keeper to make it 2-0.
TFC came out of the halftime break in an attacking mood though, and nearly got one back. Early on in the second stanza Michael Bradley launched a shot at the RSL goal that from the other end, I was sure was going in. He had Nick Rimando absolutely frozen. Fortunately for RSL, the ball slammed off the post and out of danger, and the lead was intact.
Then in the 55th minute, the Claret and Cobalt put the points in the bucket for good. Kyle Beckerman connected with Morales, who flicked the ball over the defense to Sabo, who put a tidy chip inside Cesar's left post to make the score 3-0, and cap the night off right for RSL.
It really was just clinical from RSL on the night, and you have to wonder if Ryan Nelsen took notes. RSL came out and played like a team with great chemistry and TFC came out and played like a team with three high priced players and some other guys. Think about it folks. Outside of Keane and Beckham, none of these big dollar DPs have won the Cup yet, and those two guys had a much better supporting cast than TFC has. They also have that guy named Landon Donovan, and Bruce Arena is a much better coach than Nelsen will ever be. Henry and Cahill have yet to sniff MLS Cup, and their cast is better too. It remains to be seen how well TFC will gel for the rest of the season, and it is quite possible that the drubbing handed to them by RSL might facilitate that process.
However both sides came away from the match with injury concerns. For RSL, Chris Wingert left the match in the 58th minute with a tweak to his groin. Rich Balchan came on filled in very well, however. Cassar has now commented that it looks like Wingert might not be able to go when RSL faces Sporting Kansas City this weekend at Sporting Park.
The news is arguably worse for TFC. In the 62nd minute Jermain Defoe came off and headed straight to the locker room for what TFC have confirmed is a hamstring injury. He is currently listed as questionable for this weekend's match at undefeated Columbus. Julio Cesar took a knock in a collision with Olmes Garcia, but stayed in the match and should be ok to go for TFC.
So now here are my three stars for the match:
FIRST STAR--Alvaro Saborio, RSL.
It would be easy to give Sabo the first star just for the goals, and the fact that he earned the PK that resulted in his first. However, there was much more to his performance than that. He was all over the place for RSL, both on offense and defense. Some RSL fans like to knock Sabo for a percieved lack of work ethic, but he was definitely above reproach on Saturday night.
SECOND STAR--Javier Morales, RSL.
RSL's midfield maestro was on fire against TFC, with pinpoint passes, flicks, creativity...he had it all and TFC had no way to deal with him. He showed why he is still one of the best play makers in MLS.
THIRD STAR--Chris Schuler, RSL.
It wasn't a flashy night from the RSL defender, but he was very solid. If he was at all intimidated by the flashy big names of Defoe and Gilberto, he didn't show it. He was equally good passing at the back even when the TFC forwards were closing in on him trying to make something happen and force an error.
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