April 5, 2008 MLS DC United vs Toronto FC (from MLSnet.com)
04/06/2008 12:12AM
Toronto shows effort in tough loss
Early deficit and playing a man down too much for TFC to overcome
By Chris Snear / MLSnet.com Staff
WASHINGTON -- It was not the start Toronto FC coach John Carver was hoping see from his team. After going down two goals in the first five minutes and then a man down for the final 68 minutes, they gave a noble effort in their 4-1 defeat at the hands of D.C. United at RFK Stadium Saturday night. After being shut out at Columbus last week, Maurice Edu salvaged a little pride in the final two minutes with a crafty header over a leaping Zach Wells to avoid yet another whitewash.
As they chased the game from the opening kick and with an attack still producing precious few goals, TFC's effort and attitude didn't wane, which did not go unnoticed by the new boss.
"In fairness they stuck by it. It's that easy to throw the towel in," said Carver. "I think they are honest bunch of lads and they didn't do that as it proved because we kept going and we scored a goal toward the end. They put us under enormous amounts of pressure and they didn't throw in the towel.
"You've done all your preparation and within five minutes you're two goals down. So you give yourself a mound to climb and it's very, very difficult against a very good side. You can't give any team a two-goal start."
The game leveled off after the initial barrage with Toronto creating their two best scoring chances of the night in the next 20 minutes until Edu's goal.
"We tried to keep our discipline and tried to keep our shape and try to capitalize on counterattacks," said Edu.
Jeff Cunningham's knocked a header directly at Wells from eight yards out in the 15th minute and Tyrone Marshall hit the crossbar in the 24th minute following a free kick.
The latter was only two minutes after Kevin Harmse was ejected for a severe two-footed tackle on Gonzalo Peralta in midfield.
"We conceded the two goals and then the game settled down a little bit and we created two chances -- Jeff Cunningham had a great chance with the header and then you shoot yourself again when you got down to 10 men. It's difficult playing against any side with 10 men, let alone D.C.," Carver said.
"We tried to emphasize it at the start of the game that we have to be ready for anything and have the right mindset but we just didn't have that tonight," added goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
But why?
"I wish we knew," Sutton continued. "That's the big question and we need to find the answer ... we need to find ways to be prepared and work need to start working together as a unit. We are relying on individuals and it's not working that way. We run around in the back with our heads cut off at times and we have to remedy that in the next week."
Carver left Cunningham as the lone forward and slid Danny Dichio and newcomer Laurent Robert deeper in the midfield in hopes of getting higher possession to ignite a counterattack.
"I tried to keep some sort of shape and try to play on the counter and try to rely on set plays to try and get us back in the game," said Carver. "I made a lot of changes toward the end because people had worked hard, as hard as they could and I needed fresh legs out there."
Robert, a former French international, joined the team on Thursday after being released from his contract with Derby County in the English Premiership. He showed flashes of brilliance as he was adjusting to his new teammates and created Marshall's chance off the set play.
"I think you see what you get with Laurent," said Carver. "He's a huge asset on set plays; he strikes a great ball. I was delighted to get so long out of him; I was surprised he lasted as long as he did. The fitter he gets the better he'll be and he'll be a huge asset for the club."
It was like a shooting gallery for Sutton. He saw 18 shots, stopping seven, as United attacked relentlessly from the opening kick.
"It made up for lost work last year," quipped Sutton. Said Carver: "He was fantastic. I told him at halftime that the save he made (on an Emilio header) in the first half was world-class."
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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