The South Stand Report : Toronto v Minnesota

Minnesota as the Kicks

The Part I Write Before The Match :

Five wins in a row. Hell, I’d have been thrilled with 2 points from the last two games instead​ of all points. Well done.

We’ve learned a few important things from the last few games : the Robins have deep depth and Vanney is more tactically astute and flexible than previously imagined.

Though Minnesota has shored up the defense, I’m banking on them collapsing and it being a bit of a goal-fest this afternoon.  The attack is coming from different directions and goals coming from different players (well, more than Altidore and Giovinco and, yes, I accept that it’s only one more player to that list, but it sounds super impressive when I phrase it like that).

Bold Predictions :

  1. Toronto will bag at least 3 today
  2. Someone not named Giovinco, Altidore or Ricketts will score
  3. Someone will get a brace

On to the Match :

18’ – PENALTY – Edwards gets clattered in the corner, ref points to the spot.

20’ – GOAL Giovinco has Shuttleworth going left, pops it right.
ROBINS 1, SPARROWS 0

Quote of the Game :

Shuttleworth? More looking like a shuttle cock.

~ Duncan’s award winning observations

41’ – Bradley with a botched pass pack to Bono who needs to shank it out to safety.

44’ – SUB – Seba off for Altidore. Seba hurt.

45+1’ – Bono forces to make a leaping save as MNU?? takes a ball wide open on the right and has a pop.

Halftime Mood : positive, maybe still feeling things out.

45’ – SUB – Zavaleta in for Hernandez. Wow. Vanney genius or Vanney in an elaborate game of football “Truth or Dare” and he keeps picking dare.

50’ – Minnesota on the cusp of collapse as Hagglund gets a header to cross it back to the other side of goal and just out of the reach of Ricketts.

52’ – GOAL – Minnesota counter attack starts with a with a couple of touches, ends up at the feet of Molino, scoots past Hagglund and beats Bono
ROBINS 1, SPARROWS 1

55’ – GOAL – Free kick from the right and Bradley floats one into the box, Mavinga leaps to get his foot to knock it around the post.
ROBINS 2, SPARROWS 1

At least they’re not waiting for the last 10 minutes to get back into the game

~ the wife #analysis

61’ – Hagglund takes a knock and is hobbling off.

62’ – PENALTY – wait, what… What happened?

63′ – SAVED – Molina’s ​shot stopped by Bono…

63’ – GOAL – …but a juicy rebound and Molina buries it.
ROBINS 2, SPARROWS 2

65’ – SUB – Vazquez in for Hagglund,

73’ – Scramble. Box. Attempt. Block. Ricketts. Lost it. Got it back. Fired. Deflected. Rolls wide of the post.

75’ – OK, this is some shit… Pretty passing around the box, Vazquez to Altidore first touch blocked by a defender. Rebound out to Bradley who skies the ball.

77’ – GOAL – Altidore just terrorizes two defenders, beats them both, pops it in and finds the leaping header of Ricketts. #altitts *hey*
ROBINS 3, SPARROWS 2

[Stuff happened in here and I may write about it and I might not but it was good and totally worth watching.  You know what… trust me, there was stuff.]

3 mins of extra time

90+2’ – YELLOW – Altidore for unsporting behavior.

Full Time : Toronto 3, Minnesota 2

Six in a row. Go figure.

Man of the Match : Edwards

Goat of the Game : Cooper was giving us fits with his “play” in the corner. Don’t know how ineffective he was in the first half, but the second half… Brutal.

Ref Rating : 4 out of 5. Nothing questionable but I didn’t see the Minnesota penalty

I Am Not The Gaffer, But… : I’m confused. It worked but confused.

In Case You PVR’d It : yeah watch it.

Kit Spotting : saw a beauty red Al-Alhi Dubai kit.

Bold Predictions Results :

  1. Nailed it. 3 goals.
  2. Nailed it. Mavinga scored it. I’m ignoring any pleas for “own goal”, official or otherwise.
  3. Failed it. Came close though

We collectively struggled to say nice things about Bradley’s game. Often in the right place but his passes were suspect and contributions less so… First nice afternoon out at the park. No rain. No threat of rain. At least it wasn’t a night game *glares at the schedule makers*… If Cooper had built up good will, it’s gone and dead in a ditch behind the Food Building. He’s a veritable dead end when it comes to playing the ball back into the centre of the pitch. But full disclosure, if his last calamity where he lost the ball twice yet got it back resulted in a goal, I’d have gave him a 10 and Man of the Match honours… Inspired by our neighbor’s cute baby, we are in development of a line of baby supporter’s bibs. One says “Get Yer Bibs Out For The Lads” and the other says “Drooltras”. Look for our Kickstarter coming soon… CP24 had a flag at pitch side, waving it amongst the south stand supporters.  I suppose we’re not the ones they’re trying to impress as it was lame… Coming up with an in-report nickname for Minnesota, we’ve decided to rebrand the entire league ornithologically.  Should be exciting…

Player Ratings : Bono 6, Hagglund 6 (Vazquez 6.5), Mavinga 7, Hernandez 6 (Zavaleta 6), Edwards 7 , Delgado 6, Bradley 5.5, Cooper 5, Cheyrou 6, Giovinco 7 (Altidore 7), Ricketts 7.5

Unused Substitutions : Irwin, Morrow, Beitashour, Chapman

Author: Mark Hinkley

Mark is a full-time graphic designer, full-time smart ass and full-time logo, stadium and kit nerd. When he isn't writing ridiculous match reports or redesigning logos for his own amusement, he's salivating over the day that promotion and relegation occurs in MLS. You can follow him @kitnerdmark on the twitterz.

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1 Comment

  1. No longer the worst MLS expansion team no more – Minnie that is.

    There are so many people shuttling in and out of TFC games this season and it all is coming out roses for Vanney. I missed the start of the 2nd half and didn’t realize Hernandez was subbed off. Vanney also has a team that can flex into numerous tactical formations and make them work within minutes, so well done Mr. Vanney. All of that combined with great speed of play from the team and a rapidly developing young Canadian on the wing.

    As for Million-Moves-Cooper as I said earlier, would do better with 999,996 less chops.

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