South Stand Report : Toronto v NYRB

Full disclosure : this is the “hands too damn cold because someone didn’t dress well enough to take notes” edition

Full Time : Toronto 2 (Gomez 51′, Giovinco 78′), New York Original Recipe 1 (S. Wright-Phillips 86′)

Man of the Match : Wow… who to choose?  Cheyrou was everywhere, running things.  Oso was making some very nice runs and taking on defenders.  Perquis was very solid until his injury… Herculez Gomez, because Herculez Gomez.

Goat of the Game : Jozy Altidore.  Don’t know what he said or what he did to get sent off FROM THE BENCH, but he did and gets a free one-game suspension for his actions.

Ref Rating : 3 out of 5.  Couldn’t help but think that they were going to screw up the finish to this game

I Am Not The Gaffer But… : I would not have done a better job with a dozen opportunities.  Full marks to Vanney.  Tactical mastery?  Maybe.  10/10.

In Case You PVR’d It : Save it.  But really watch that Giovinco goal over and over and over and over…

Red Bulls were dominated for a large part of the game even though the stats state otherwise (was I even there?).  At no point did it seem that they were going to turn on their “magic”, and when the “magic” did happen, it came from Wright-Phillips the lesser.  Toronto fielded the very best non-DP starting XI they could.  They had a strategy and rather stingily stuck to it and for their discipline and perseverance, they earned the three points.

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You know what makes you forget how cold you are?  Great goals.  For those of you who missed it, Giovinco took the ball from about 35 yards out, embarrassed two defenders at once, then embarrassed another two defenders at once, then curled it over Robles.  This may have been the greatest goal I’ve ever had the privilege witnessing in person and only partially for its significance.  Although Toronto only needed a point, and by extension that right belongs to Gomez, leave it up to the diminutive wizard to absolutely steal the thunder and spotlight.

The Toronto Baseballs clinched their series some time around the 30th minute.  The crowd erupted as if a goal was scored.  I’ve never wanted the opposition to score so badly ever.  I accept there’s something wrong with me, but the game in front of me was most important… Warner clearly was studying Giovinco tapes.  He beat a few defenders rather impressively in the second half, just gorgeous.  We’ve gone from wondering how he belongs here, to acknowledging that he is an important member of the side… I want to believe that when Gomez poached his goal from a defensive screw up, he inconspicuously shot daggers at Vanney.  Also, beyond thrilled that Gomez now has a goals-per-minute of 1 every 184 minutes, while Nottingham Forest “legend” and Vocal Minority pariah Findley has a goals-per-minute of 1 every 667 minutes… Cheyrou, who I’ve decided to call “Benny Balls”, was running things like a general.  Not the “General”, like one… I do love the NYRB away kit.  Roll my eyes that they have three players who wear numbers higher than 90… Toronto played like they didn’t even care who they were playing.  They had bigger things on their mind and delivered.

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Player Ratings : Konopka 6, Morrow 6.5, Perquis 7 (Kantari 6), Williams 6.5, Jackson 7, Cheyrou 8.5, Warner 7.5, Morgan 6.5, Osorio 8 (Zavaleta N/A), Delgado 6.5, Gomez 8 (Giovinco 10)