It was a special year for TFC, despite the finish
KURTIS LARSON
The stadium’s Tunnel Club was more serene Saturday night than usual.
Dropping a home MLS Cup on penalties will do that to an organization, its fans and its players, none of which showed at Toronto FC’s post-championship party at Muzik nightclub.
Who could blame them? The Reds were still in disbelief after manhandling the Seattle Sounders for 120 minutes only to see their MLS Cup dreams dashed when Justin Morrow’s penalty pinged off the crossbar in front of a record crowd at BMO Field.
But then there was a voice inside TFC’s in-stadium pub — mere steps from TFC’s dressing room. It interrupted a one-on-one interview between TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and Postmedia Network.
Two little boys had spotted the club’s GM inside the Tunnel Club.
“Can we have your autograph?” the boys asked Bezbatchenko, who politely obliged.
“Good job this year,” one of the boys continued, a reminder that the Reds indeed inspired this season. “It was so close.” Inches, one could argue. Stefan Frei’s save in extra time will go down as one of the great saves in MLS Cup history.
Another inch up and to the right and the Reds would be holding a parade Monday morning.
Sebastian Giovinco, Jonathan Osorio and Tosaint Ricketts also missed good — essentially open — looks that would have provided TFC the goal it chased for two hours.
Shots were 19-3 in favour of TFC, which also finished with a 7-0 advantage in terms of attempts on target.
Even Sounders bench boss Brian Schmetzer admitted post-game he wished his side would have “played better.” They were the second best squad on the pitch, buoyed by Frei and TFC’s uncanny ability to squander the good looks it managed to create against a bunkering defence.
“We played very well,” Michael Bradley said inside an empty TFC dressing room post-game. “There’s no two ways about it. That’s a good team, they have good players.”
He couldn’t say what rationale pundits and viewers and neutral fans were thinking: The Sounders were outplayed from start to finish.
Bradley’s smart, though. He understands this game often times isn’t just.
You can be far and away better and still not win.
“But we played very well,” Bradley continued. “If that stat is correct — they didn’t shoot on goal once — obviously they had a few half chances. But by and large they weren’t dangerous.
“It’s a night where if you can get the first goal, you’re getting the second and the third goal as well. We couldn’t unlock the game with a play. Obviously it allows a team like that to stick around. You give full credit to them for what they put into it and the way they were so committed to keeping things tight.”
The praise has been somewhat perplexing. Yes, the Sounders became just the fourth team to shut out the Reds in 23 games played at BMO this season. Sure, they bottled up Giovinco and battled Altidore. Seattle did as much as they could and still conceded almost 20 shots Saturday night.
But the Reds didn’t concede a single shot on goal while battling a side that boasted Uruguayan sensation Nicolas Lodeiro, who Sounders fans believe walks on water and can make the blind see again.
He still has some work to do in terms helping Sounders fans see they were lucky on the weekend.
Then there’s the hope that TFC fans can get past Saturday night and look back over the entire season — the home-opening win over Dallas, the Voyageurs Cup, the first playoff win, the extra time victory over the Montreal Impact. It was special despite the finish.
“After what TFC has been through, (we) captured the hearts of Toronto fans,” Bezbatchenko told the Toronto Sun. “I don’t think anyone would have believed this was possible after what this club went through. People know now what it can be. They know this group is full of fighters and will fight for this city.”
As TFC president Bill Manning told the Sun ahead of Saturday night’s loss, this offseason will be about “fine-tuning.” Turnover is expected to be minimal when the Reds release their roster decisions Monday afternoon. Very few options will be declined, though a few players are out of contract.
“I’m not satisfied until we’re holding that Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, but this was a very successful season from many different angles and perspectives,” Bezbatchenko said.
“I’m maybe not in a position right now to talk about that, but I’m just proud of our coaching staff and the players. I wouldn’t feel that way if I didn’t think it was a successful season.”
One that was — as two little boys put it — “so close” to bringing MLSE its first title.