South Stand Report : Toronto v Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake as the Las Vegas Quicksilvers

The Part I Write Before :

OK, for those of you who listen to the podcast on the regular, I’ve railed against the schedule for this season with terrible kick-off times (mostly applicable to those suburbanites) and dates, but this is top shelf stupid. Thank you to the schedule makers for not talking to the Blue Jays opening weekend against the Yankees, and throw in an extra few thousand for the Rock game. All starting in the evening. Great, if only one of them could’ve been an afternoon game, given that it’s, you know, a HOLIDAY. Any one of them. And though footie has the shortest game length, we’ll all get to travel home with them.

*sigh*

I’m sure the train ride will be smooth and without incident.

RSL as four points in three games, as well as three scored and six conceded. Toronto, on the other hand is, reportedly, a club in crisis.

Still looking forward to Tuesday’s match.

Bold Predictions :

  1. Toronto scores
  2. Toronto loses
  3. The Silva/Plata combo will score at least one

On to the Match :

13′ – Giovinco through ball, beats a few defenders and Altidore runs onto it, fires it at a defender… Wait WHY IS RIMANDO WEARING LIGHT GREY WHEN HIS SIDE IS WEARING WHITE?!? #kitandstadiumpodcast

14′ – PENALTY – Wtf penalty for Toronto?!? Thought it was going to be a free kick on the edge of the box. Sure. Replay looks like Kreilach didn’t do it deliberately but the ref points to the spot.

15′ – SAVED – Seba goes to his left, and Rimando saved. Justified, I guess.

22′ – PENALTY – Jozy hauled down running onto a Seba through ball

23′ – GOALAltidore fires right, buries it.
ROBINS 1, SALTINES 0

35′ – YELLOW – Altidore goes in for a tackle and runs down a defender, and then…

35′ – YELLOW – Seba for his giving the downed defender afterwards.

38′ – Seba sent in on goal, defender on his back, takes it to the right, fires across but Rimando saves it.

45+1′ – GOAL – Seba dishes off to the right side, finds an open Morgan, tries to settle it, pops away from him, but Altidore takes it and launches it left side.
ROBINS 2, SALTINES 0

Halftime Mood : a bit messy but getting the job done.

There was a few attempts at goal from Osorio and Altidore but it’s been too fucking cold to write everything. They need to build a wall in the back. Please.

59′ – SUB – Chapman for Delgado

62′ – YELLOW – Osorio gets booked for something

70′ – SUB – Hasler off for Aketxe

78′ – SUB – Altidore off for Ricketts #VanneyHatesHattricks

82′ – GOAL – ball worked around the box, Moor doesn’t clear it after a tackle, ball gets laid off to Baird, fires it in the far right.
ROBINS 2, SALTINES 1

87′ – YELLOW – Morgan for stuff. Just needs a goal for the hat trick of goal, assist and booking…

3 mins of extra time

90+2′ – GOAL – Aketxe fires from the top of the box, hits the inside of the bar but stays out, Ricketts pounces on the rebound
ROBINS 3, SALTINES 1

Full Time : Toronto 3, Real Salt Lake 1

Man of the Match : Altidore had a solid game, but I’m going with Rimando. He made a ton of great saves.
Goat of the Game : pass.
Ref Rating : 3 out of 5
I Am Not The Gaffer, But… : I would have played more b-squad players, but no complaints here.
In Case You PVR’d It : watch all of it, but don’t be afraid to fast forward.

Bold Predictions Results :

  1. Nailed it. Toronto did break their league drought thoroughly.
  2. Failed it. They won.
  3. Failed it. Probably a shot or two, but largely toothless.

I was hoping they’d lose, and here’s why :

  1. I like the idea that Toronto is in some sort of crisis, even when it’s not true
  2. I want evidence that the focus is on Champions League (which I’ve been given)
  3. I want them to keep losing in the league until they win CCL or crash out of it
  4. once that’s done, then Toronto focuses on the league, and invariably wins the whole thing again, and then we can remember March & April and laugh and laugh and laugh how we thought this team was a “team in crisis”

It’s not schadenfreude, things are too good right now, I assure you.

The B-team was fun. I forget how good Chapman is, and he rarely makes the bench. I liked Morgan’s contributions, admittedly I’m biased. Also, it’s fun to see them play where there’s not as much at stake. Change up formation, try new combinations. And RSL was an excellent team to try it against as they’re a middling side at best.

Finally got to see a solid van der Weil performance. full disclosure, I’ve got all the time in the world for new players, just want to be convinced… Ooltra Duncan is easily one of the top 3 Duncan’s… I don’t like “Corporate” Beckerman. Makes it difficult to tell which one he is on the pitch… Hi Julie, hi Brandon! *waves*.

Player Ratings: Irwin 6.5, van der Wiel 6.5, Auro Jr. 6, Moor 6, Morgan 6.5, Hasler 6 (Aketxe 6), Bradley 6.5, Delgado 6 (Chapman 6.5), Osorio 7, Altidore 8 (Ricketts N/A), Giovinco 6.5

Unused Substitutions: Bono, Zavaleta, Fraser, Hamilton

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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3 Comments

  1. Yeah not only is it a holiday, it is a holy day, and in this day and age , tolerance and respect needs to be extended to all. Just saying. Still, that was a great crowd despite the other attractions in the city.

    There is that word used more here, than anywhere else, schadenfreude.

    You nailed it, Rimando was the MotM, if tnot then Morgan or Altidore.

    Aketze a 6…really? That was a positive, the shot off the crossbar, but their isn’t fluidness with this guy as yet. That goal the Saltines scored was because of an Aktetze give-away early in the sequence of the phase of play and he is easy to go down still. Stay on your feet young man and have confidence to make the play.

    Well the most important take away is the scoring account has finally been opened in league play by the Reds.

    BTW – wasn’t Ricketts offside or came from an offside position on that final goal?

    Finally, I hope Giovinco engages the ‘keep before taking the PK, Altidore did and look what happened.

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