Saturday night's friendly with Pachuca CF saw new players, a new formation and even a new finish with BMO Field's first-ever penalty shootout. Though Toronto FC came up short in a 4-3 loss on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the Carlsberg Cup showdown, it was an overall positive experience for a club that has preached the importance of roster depth.
"It's something that we want at the club," said assistant coach Chris Cummins. "We want players pushing players. As [head coach John Carver] has said many times, nobody's safe. If somebody comes in and does well, then they get their chance."
The TFC side that took the field on Saturday had seven changes from the lineup that lost 1-0 to Vancouver last Tuesday in a Nutrilite Canadian Championship game. Carver promised changes after that disappointing loss, and the fresh lineup that faced Pachuca may have been something of an audition to see which of the younger players could earn more playing time later in the season -- or possibly as soon as the rematch with Vancouver on Wednesday.
"We've got a busy month coming up. Wednesday is an important game for us and we'lll be going in to get a result," Cummins said. "If there's lads that come in and we think, 'Well listen, he might give us something different,' then we won't be afraid to put him in."
Some of the new faces included 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim, Tyler Rosenlund, Nana Attakora-Gyan and Tyler Hemming. Of these four, midfielder Hemming has the most playing time, with 72 minutes. The London, Ontario native loved the chance to play a top club like Pachuca and hopes that his performance will perhaps get him some more action in TFC's crowded midfield.
"I just want to play games at the highest level that I can," Hemming said. "Every time I get the opportunity to [play], I'm thankful for it. I want to take my opportunity and run with it, just like all the younger guys."
Hemming found himself pressed on defense on the left side when Pachuca's three strikers created problems for the Toronto backline. The Reds began the game in a 3-5-2 formation, a switch from their usual 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, and the three-man rearguard needed some help in fending off Pachuca's intricate passing plays.
"They played a different formation against us that we haven't seen for a while," Cummins said. "I thought their movement up front caused a lot of problems for us and our back players probably haven't had to deal with that yet, young Julius [James], young Nana. I thought they coped with it very, very well."
Tuzos forward Christian Correa scored for Pachuca after combining with fellow striker Damian Alvarez one such deft passing play in the 60th minute. TFC responded, however, in the 69th minute when James headed in a Laurent Robert corner kick.
With the game tied after extra time and the Carlsberg Cup on the line, the fans at BMO Field were treated to a penalty shootout. Both teams scored three times after the first round of five penalty shooters, but Kevin Harmse's shot hit the left crossbar on Toronto's next attempt. Edwin Borboa connected on the follow-up chance to clinch the win for Pachuca.
For Harmse, the friendly was a case of deja vu. As a member of the LA Galaxy, Harmse saw his side lose 4-3 on penalties to Pachuca in the 2007 SuperLiga final after a 1-1 score in regulation.
Harmse didn't get a chance to shoot in the SuperLiga final, and could only shrug his shoulders about his misfortune on Saturday.
"There's no strategy," Harmse said. "You pick your spot and you don't change your mind. It's simple."
Carlsberg Cup aside, the more pressing matter for the Reds is their match on Wednesday in Vancouver against the Whitecaps. Another defeat could severely hurt TFC's chances of qualifying for the 2008 CONCACAF Champions League, where they would be facing off against top Mexican sides just like Pachuca.
"That's why this game is massive for us," Cummins said. "It's all about development, it's all about learning. We're glad this game has come around to give us an idea of what we're going to play against.
"You speak to any professional footballers and I think they'll tell you there's no such thing as a friendly, you know? We always go out there with the attitude of wanting to perform to our best and trying to win our games, and all credit to the lads, I thought they were terrific tonight. I thought they competed against a very good side and did well."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
