How much does TFC have left in the tank? After a spectacular finish, that saw in extra time the score leveled, then all three points stolen in the final seconds, Toronto has to bring themselves back down to earth and once again head out on the road for a weekend fixture against the New England Revolution.
Much has been made of Toronto's recent run that has seen their form look improved with a more consistent streak of points. However, New England have definitely looked the part over the last two months, and are on a small run of their own that has been boosted by an impressive home record, where they've only lost once.
The Revolution have several distinct advantages going into this one, most notably they are going through a stretch where they are consistently playing just one match a week. The real question left is can Paul Mariner find the right formula to get eleven players with enough fitness to match up? TFC will need all hands on, especially Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans, if they are to leave Foxboro with anything on Saturday night.
Keep Thinking
Toronto are coming off a genuine thriller of a finish on Wednesday night through a last second winner from Terry Dunfield. An up and down match that continued to underline the glaring weaknesses was overshadowed by pure determination and a never-say-die approach by the players who delivered right to the final whistle.
After such a dramatic finish, however, there needs to be real concern about the adrenaline dump that happens after such an emotional match. Fixture congestion is already an issue that is showing with a team that has their share of older legs in the starting line-up. It is no question an excuse, but fatigue is the word of the day for at least another week until the Reds get a much deserved rest between their friendly with Liverpool and match with Houston.
Early in the season, and even heading into their first encounter, New England was a team circled in the calendar as one of the few teams that TFC should be able to compete with, and come away with a win. Now that is looking more unlikely, especially on the road, for a handful of reasons.
While there has been mixed reviews of where Toronto stands in terms of their current run of results, when scrutanizing New England's recent matches, they look to be the side that has improved more since the start of the season.
Going back to early May, New England has beaten, or hung in there, with the top teams in the league. Beyond their last five matches where they are unbeaten (two wins, three draws), the Revs had good showings in both Salt Lake City and DC to push both those sides to the limits. A late winner by Chris Pontius for DC mid-April is their only loss at Gillette Stadium this season and only five other teams can match or do better in terms of home form.
This does not bode well for a TFC side who have never won away to New England and this fixture has been host to some of the more humbling losses the team has experienced. However, especially in the biggest defeats (2007 4-0, 2010 4-1), both were early in the season and both with teams that had limited attacking options.
Already this 'Tale of the Tape' comes down to who has the heavier hands and whose attack can break down the other defenders. Neither side can argue having a top group on the back line, as seen in their first encounter of the season, but Toronto especially will need to rely on Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson's touch as no TFC defender can truly be pegged as the anchor defensively.
Recent form is what both teams are riding right now, and if there is one nugget to take from Toronto's it's that all of their away results this year have come over the last month of Paul Mariners time in charge. Draws in both Houston and Dallas were impressive, but arguments can be made that in both those games all three points were there for the taking.
However, those results have come against teams that are slogging through a similar mid-summer schedule with two games a week. New England right now are in cruise control and have been enjoying one game a week for the last month and a half. Toronto's fatigue has been noted, and while that might not be a legitimate excuse, there is no question New England have the advantage of playing at home, playing rested and having a full week to prepare for this match.
The last addition to the Revolution is Honduran international Jerry Bengston. Already netting a goal in his first appearance, he adds another option to the attack which has been improved by one of the better offseason signing in Frenchman Saer Sene.
Toronto will have to hope they have something left in the tank from Wednesday night if they are to last through this game and come away with anything. While the team proved they don't necessarily rise and fall with Danny Koevermans and Torsten Frings, these two players cannot go absent at the same time and especially when Frings is on, the Reds have a much better chance at converting opportunities from dead ball situations.
The only way to ensure they are able to perform without it all being on their shoulders is find the right balance of rested players and timely substitutions. Any result will all come down to fitness for TFC and whether they can keep putting it out for another ninety minutes.
In the End
This is one of the games where envisioning an outcome doesn't need to get too complicated. The reality is one side should be better rested and better prepared, while the other's head is still spinning from an insane schedule that has slowly grinded them down in the heat of summer. If TFC can find a miracle reserve of energy to match up with what should be a fresher side, all credit to the players. However, New England have been consistent of late, and with a home field advantage and results to provie it, it will take a massive effort from Toronto to come away with anything on Saturday night.
Prediction
New England 2 - TFC 1
|