Posted By Mark Hinkley on Oct 30, 2016 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

NYCFC as the Generals

And here we are. A two-legged tie with the second place New York City FC. This is the first leg. The second one takes place on a small baseball field. This one takes place on a regular sized pitch. This is the one we’ll focus on.

Toronto heroically dispatches Philadelphia which resulted in, what has to be reiterated, on helluva celebration. New York’s road form hasn’t been that strong, as they are 1-2-4 in their last 7 away matches, so that’s a plus.  I’m quietly optimistic for an even louder celebration…

Bold Predictions:

1. Altidore scores
2. Villa doesn’t
3. Toronto wins, barely

On to the Match :

10’ – one capo was jacketless

31’ – YELLOW – Cooper gets booked for something

80’ – one capo, a different one, was topless

83’ – SUB – Osorio for Ricketts, and the marketing department sits a little closer to the edge of their seats #ALTITTS *hey*

84’ – GOAL – Ball comes into the 6 yard box from Giovinco, off Morrow, falls to Ricketts and he takes takes a swipe at it but it falls to Altidore and he pops it in. The villagers rejoice. #ALTITTS *hey*
ROBINS 1, SOCCER YANKEES 0

86’ – SUB – Cooper comes off for Johnson

88’ – SUB – Giovinco makes way for Delgado

4 minutes of extra time

90+2’ – GOAL – Hagglund floats a ball and just out the reach of Delgado, but Ricketts gets on the end of a close quarters ball, first shot stopped by the keeper, but from his butt gets lucky and pops it in.
ROBINS 2, SOCCER YANKEES 0

Full Time : Toronto 2, New York 0

Man of the Match : Bradley was everywhere, mugging attackers.

Goat of the Game : no one

Ref Rating : 2 out of 5. Petrescu was questionable for many calls, more lenient to New York, especially David Villa. New York did end up with

I Am Not The Gaffer, But… : Ricketts earlier. Only because of marketing

In Case You PVR’d It : the good stuff really starts the last 15 minutes of the game. The second half is better than the first, but the match isn’t unwatchable

Kit Spotting : too damn cold

Bold Predictions Results

1. Nailed it. Altidore scored.
2. Nailed it. Villa did not.
3. Failed it. It was close, but ultimately it wasn’t “barely”

As someone who is riding this playoff adventure as bonus time, I am trying to expect very little from it, but so far, it’s been great. There’s been genuine optimism in the stands and on the pitch and it’s happening at the right time.

And tonight, everyone was stepping up. Hagglund had a very solid performance covering the gaps at the back, and helping nullifying Villa’s contributions. Osorio had two opportunities to one-time it but it didn’t work out. Stay the course son. You’re doing very well.

It was cold. Very cold. And I did not, nor could not, write the minutia of the match. But once that first goal went in, I, like many people, felt great. The roof lifted on that ball bulging the back of the net. So good.  My shoulders felt lighter.  It was an emotional eruption. Even the missus was digging it.

I’m very optimistic that Toronto can steal this tie and move on, but until that is firm, it’s been a fantastic ride.

Player Ratings : Irwin 6.5, Hagglund 6.5, Moor 6.5, Zavaleta 6, Beitashour 6.5, Osorio 7 (Ricketts 7), Bradley 8, Cooper 6.5 (Johnson N/A), Morrow 6.5, Giovinco 6.5 (Delgado N/A), Altidore 7.5