TORONTO - Andrea Lombardo was tired. After playing 90 minutes for Canada's under-20 national team in a friendly against Argentina on Friday night, the Toronto FC forward said his personal gas tank was "close to E" for TFC's game on Saturday afternoon against Chicago.
But when the 19-year-old striker was called upon to make his MLS debut, it was an opportunity he wasn't about to turn down.
"The team needed me for 20 minutes and I gave everything I had left," Lombardo said on Monday. "When the car goes to empty, you go to reserves. I think I was just going on adrenaline and feeding off the energy from the crowd."
If Lombardo was fatigued, he didn't show it on the field. Lombardo came on in the 70th minute with Toronto FC clinging to a 2-1 lead against the Fire and looking for their first-ever MLS win. The young forward's pass in the 75th minute was converted by midfielder Maurice Edu to give Toronto a 3-1 lead that ended up being the final score.
"[The Fire] were trying to get the tying goal, so I knew there would be a lot of open space," Lombardo said. "Sometimes they were leaving me one-on-one there at the back. Robbo [TFC midfielder Carl Robinson] gave me a tremendous ball into the space there, and ... I saw Maurice coming in trailing and I just hit him. He had a great first touch and a great strike to finish that goal off."
Toronto coach Mo Johnston told Lombardo before the game that he might be used in a substitute role. Though Lombardo had played less than 18 hours earlier, Johnston didn't want to use forward Alecko Eskandarian, who was hampered with a calf injury.
"I felt it was important we get Lombardo in," Johnston said. "I felt he made it go very well. He ran in, he challenged, he held the ball up. And that was coming after 90 minutes against Argentina. He did well."
With an MLS assist and a man-of-the-match honor against Argentina, it was a personal career-best weekend for Lombardo, though the young striker hesitated to call it "perfect" due to the fact that Canada was edged 2-1 by Argentina.
"I'm not too happy about it because we lost," Lombardo said. "I'd gladly sacrifice personal glory for a win. We played well against a tough opponent in Argentina, but we wanted to get that result."
Lombardo has been capped 14 times by Canada's U-20 squad since 2005 and is expected to play a big role for his country in this summer's FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The Cup may cost Toronto FC depth from the reserve squad, as three other players (midfielders A.J. Gray and Gabe Gala and defender Stephen Lumley) were also capped for Friday's exhibition and are likely to join Canada's roster.
Balancing both a club and international schedule can be hectic, especially for younger players, but Lombardo said that he and his fellow U-20 mates have been treated well by TFC and the Canadian Soccer Association.
"We had a short training camp [with the national team] from the sixth to the 11th that led up to the game on Friday," Lombardo said. "The team is continuing training this week, but [Canadian under-20 coach Dale Mitchell] spoke with TFC and they worked out a deal where all of us TFC guys could stay with our team. We're in a good environment so it's not like we're going home and sitting on the couch. We're still training every day and getting better."
Canada is hosting the Under-20 World Cup, and the final will take place at BMO Field. It all adds up to a hometown advantage for Lombardo, who hails from the Toronto suburb of North York. He has had a number of supporters in attendance for the Argentina game at BMO Field and each of TFC's home matches thus far.
"My whole family and a bunch of my friends were here," Lombardo said. "My family has season tickets and I get some tickets allocated from the team. It was really satisfying that they were able to be here to see me do what I did."
Lombardo is also proud that his hometown has become the talk of Major League Soccer for its enthusiastic crowds.
"The fans we have are the best fans in the league," he said. "Forty-thousand fans in two nights; I don't think a lot of cities would be able to do that. We've shown this is a soccer city and people are going to come out and cheer us on."
The forward has had little time to reflect on his weekend. Toronto FC are keeping up a full training schedule in a week that includes a Wednesday night game against Houston and a Saturday clash with D.C. United. With striker Danny Dichio serving a one-game suspension due to receiving a red card on Saturday and Eskandarian at less than 100 percent, it's possible Lombardo could see more action against Dynamo.
Whatever happens, however, Lombardo is grateful for the unique position of representing both his country and his hometown at such a young age.
"Whatever comes my way I take and I try to make the best of the opportunities," he said. "As a younger guy you have to learn form the older guys in front of you, and whenever the time comes you have to learn from it."
Lombardo will do that no matter how tired he gets.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
