Toronto FC’s first half comeback not enough to prevent FC Cincinnati from clinching Supporters’ Shield
On Saturday September 30, 2017, Toronto FC clinched their first MLS Supporters’ Shield at BMO Field. Exactly six years later, FC Cincinnati did the exact same thing, in the exact same place.
The team from Ohio captured their first trophy in club history as they defeated TFC 3-2 on Saturday night.
The match didn’t start out positively for Toronto FC.
Interim head coach Terry Dunfield — who was supposedly managing his last game as a head coach — was forced to make a substitution 10 minutes in as Deandre Kerr went off with what appeared to look like a lower back injury and potentially an ankle injury after taking the brunt of a challenge from a Cincinnati defender.
Kerr was replaced by Hugo Mbongue who played up until the 77th minute.
“I thought Hugo Mbongue played with an edge when he came on, and those are three big centre backs that he’s battling. He brings a different skillset to Deandre Kerr whose been excellent,” said Dunfield.
Despite that, the home side played positively as they created chances while weathering the storm from Cincy.
“It was a bright start, there was a nice feeling in the changing room. Then we just get caught sleeping on a set piece, the marking is not great, you’re one-nil down,” said Dunfield.
Toronto FC were slow to react to the corner in the 28th minute as Brandon Vazquez got on the end of a cross from the left side, controlled the ball down with his chest before striking the ball past a helpless Luka Gavran in net.
Things would go from bad to worse just seven minutes later as Vazquez scored again. The American striker reacted first to Gavran’s stop on Aaron Boupendza’s shot which was not held onto by the ‘keeper from Hamilton.
The Reds aren’t known for coming back from two goals down, especially not this season. Jonathan Osorio would cut the deficit in half for his team in the 39th minute when Cincy goalkeeper Roman Celentano couldn’t corral the ball from a Federico Bernardeschi strike. Osorio pounced on the opportunity and made no mistake.
The Brampton native recorded a brace of his own, scoring his second goal of the match just five minutes after the first one.
“I thought it was a fantastic response, we showed some nice football at two-nil down that we started the game with. Another solid performance from Jonathan Osorio. Even under the adversity we’re going through, he continues to keep going. He keeps coming in every day and working hard – I’m glad his hard work is rewarded,” Dunfield said of the TFC veteran.
The end of the first half was very positive for Toronto as they were able to get back into the game, but everyone in the locker room was aware of the opponent’s quality and how quickly and easily they can punish you from making the tiniest mistakes. At halftime, Dunfield reviewed his team’s goals and also told his squad about the threats that they pose coming from all areas on the pitch.
“[I told them] that they are going to get crosses into the box and to be tight with our man. Make sure we’re not zonal and just marking space, and that we have a midfielder covering the player around the penalty spot as well. Then we reviewed the goals we scored, they came from being patient in the opposition half. We create nice 1v1 situations for Fede[rico] Bernardeschi and we take our two goals. We struggled to get into that rhythm and the first 15 minutes we were a little bit on the back foot. You just saw the energy of a championship team,” Dunfield detailed.
Dunfield started his squad in a 3-4-3 formation with Sigurd Rosted, Michael Bradley and Aimé Mabika in the centre back positions before shifting to a 4-2-3-1 in the second half. Both formations worked to an extent as the team was determined to not let any more goals in.
“I think it was good. Obviously Cincinnati keeps their three attackers high, where they have the two No. 9’s and then [Lucho] Acosta kind of floating in between. I thought the back three was good to be able to always have three defenders versus their three attackers. Once we were able to grow into the game in the first half, that’s when we switched to four and that’s when we were able to create a few more chances. I thought it gave us a good foundation to start the game with in both halves,” said defender Aimé Mabika.
Gavran was called into action on numerous plays in the second half and did a solid job throughout the match, racking up 10 saves. In the 50th minute he denied MLS MVP candidate Lucho Acosta of a goalscoring opportunity before having to fully claim the ball again when it bounced off of Mabika.
On his first MLS start with TFC, Ghanian attacker Latif Blessing produced a respectable showing with bursts of energy moving forward and opening up space for teammates to create chances.
Unfortunately, Blessing was substituted in the 60th minute for a fear of a concussion he possibly picked up when he collided with Cincy defender Matt Miazga in midfield.
Four minutes after that substitution, Vazquez came very close to recording his second hat-trick this season (first of the MLS season), but Gavran denied him with safe hands.
Cincinnati would find the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute through Boupendza – this would turn out to be the goal that clinched the Supporters’ Shield for them.
“To lose 3-2 after coming back against a really good team, it definitely stings. The Supporters’ shield exemplifies being able to do it from February all the way to October, they definitely deserve it but it’s not nice to see someone celebrate on your field,” Mabika summarised.
Although John Herdman officially takes the reigns as Toronto FC head coach on Sunday October 1 – it seems as though Terry Dunfield will coach the final two away games before Herdman is put in the driver’s seat for the club’s final match of the season – Saturday October 21 against Orlando City at BMO Field.
Dunfield touched on his feelings during his tenure as head coach after his final home match in charge of TFC.
“I think I’ve been saying this for the last 15 weeks, that I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity. It has been tough for sure, but there has been some nice moments in there as well. I think I’m going to need a little bit of time to breathe and really go through it. I’m sure there’s some stuff that we’d do different too, and some of our work, we’ll be proud of as well,” Dunfield closed.
TFC have little time to rest as their next match is on Wednesday against Charlotte FC, set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
#4… retire him…. .. for starters.
If he comes back next year herdman has to
send him to tfc 2. He’s so done.
Do you actually think he would be productive at TFC2? I don’t
Probably not but manning his daddy’s buddy made sure he’s got one more extra year on his contract so he’s got to play somewhere the best way to discourage him from trying to come back and play and finally retire is sending him to tfc 2.
I would love Herdman news conference today.
Tell us- who is coaching. Tell us some sort of plan. We do not want to hear that we have 8, 10, 12 solid pieces we can build around because we don’t!
Bradley was pitiful on that third Cincy goal, just lets the opposition waltz into our box without a challenge, no tackle, no foot in, doesn’t get himself between the two opponents trying to at least make that final pass more difficult , this “captain” is non existent in more ways then one, complete and utter shame.
It is funny the comments re Bradley.
He was a pillar of the Championship teams. Few wanted to come to TFC, yet he did relishing the challenge and of course the payday like Altidore.
For me, I give him a pass given his prior contributions. I prefer to look at his entire career. Like many athletes, he has humg on padt his prime.
The season is lost, he has always worn the shirt with great pride; his worth ethic unlike the current DP’S never questioned.
Pile on if you want, for me I will not.
Thanks Michael for your contribtions to the club.
He was walking at times yesterday when he got beat he showed zero heart since his dad left.
Walking like Insigne? Bradley’s total contributions to the club allow me to give him the benefit of the doubt….but hey, that’s just me.
Insigne s total career napoli and italy (euro champs) total contributions before coming to this piss poor managed club (I’ll reserve judgment until he works with a real coach here ) makes me give him the benefit of the doubt….but hey that’s just me
From the MLS’ only ever treble winners to being at the bottom of the league and having Cincinnati, a team that didn’t even play in the MLS five years ago, win the Supporter’s Shield at BMO.
Can Terry dunfield spare us the positivity bullshit for once? Since he’s joined its been a complete shitshow and mess, yet he’s always talking like a politician, saying stuff along the lines of “we had good moments but made some mistakes” “it’s hard but we’re trying” “it hasnt been good but we’re together as a group” crap. Tell us how it really is Terry! Rip some of these players up, call it as the disaster that is has been!
I’m not blaming this season on Terry of course, I just wish he would have some cojones to put the team on blast for their awful performances instead of constantly covering for them.
I’m not blaming Terry for what’s gone wrong this season,
Last night was strange. We were outplayed, but Gavran had a good game. Bernardeschi was lively. Osorio was rewarded twice for attacking the box. Unfortunately defending was poor, especially the centre backs, although Mabika was a little better.
Some of the fans were too disrespectful to Insigne and family. That being said, Insigne should know better than get involved. Especially with how poor he has played, and his attitude which have been poor. Sure the coaching has been lousy, but the reality is he is underperforming, and the team is not noticeably better when he plays. It should be — he can be brilliant, but the stats speak for themselves.
Anyway — biggest issue is management. I’ve had season tickets for 10 years, and am used to supporting through the lean years. But prices are up, but the quality isn’t there. If you can’t attend a game it is almost impossible to sell your ticket even at a loss. The problem is I have lost confidence in the CEO — I’m not renewing my season tickets.
I agree outside of mabika he was awful. Didn’t come close to his man on the first goal and essentially stood in front of his own keeper the 3rd goal all 3 center backs were beat including him. As for insigne I think he got involved because they were heckling his kids as I said before say what u want about a player but ripping someone’s kids is a scum move no matter how many pints one may consume, keep in mind he’s human like us I don’t think any of us would tolerate someone heckling your child (I would of done alot worse than what insigne did) either way I agree with most of your statement I hope the goals in this game and against Philly can turn Osorio around not sure though.
Insigne the player is fair game for fan discontent but agreed absolutely not his family.
Congrats to you, the only way Senior Management at MLSE will understand the true apathy and anger from fans is through a significant impact on the bottom line.
Guess it’s ok for some snot nosed punk to hurl obscenities in a stadium with women and children. Is that what you are saying Anton?
I was in the concession area when they threw this clown out, guy was apologizing ,almost in tears, when the TFC rep told him he won’t be back ever again in the stadium. This joker acted like a tough in the stands, but with the police around him, turned into a crybaby.
Nope, I didn’t say that.
Criticizing a PLAYER is fine (they are paid and are subject to criticism). Where in my post did I indicate hurling obscenities was ok?
Facts are your friend.
I think we are all in agreement. Have some respect and leave his family out of it. I think we are all saying that.
Criticism for the way he has played this season I think is fair. He has been a key signing for Toronto FC and we all know what he is capable of producing. He’s been unlucky with injuries, but many fans have the impression that he hasn’t given the best that he can. Sure the coaching has been below par, but at his wages he should be having every bit as much impact as Giovinco. But his goals and assists tally is quite low, and he has given up the ball with very poor passing on numerous occasions. Look at his pass completion rate — it’s below average. That might be understandable if he was doing high-risk passes that were also leading to lots of goals and assists. But unfortunately there have been many games where the passing is just sloppy.