With a full roster on hand, the best home-field advantage in MLS and a last-place opponent, it looked like it was would be a fairly straightforward path to victory for Toronto FC on Saturday. As so often happens in sport, however, what happened on the pitch was far different that what looks to happen on paper.
"I'm really grateful for the point," said Toronto coach John Carver in the wake of his club's 0-0 draw with Kansas City. "That might be the difference between getting into that playoff spot and just missing out. It's games like that where you have to dig out results."
All signs seemed to point to a TFC victory headed into the match. The Reds were unbeaten in seven home games this season, and nine games overall stretching back to last season. Kansas City, meanwhile, was coming into the game winless in their last six (0-4-2), and exhausted from playing seven of their last eight league matches on the road.
The Wizards came out with a strong defensive effort, however, and largely kept the Toronto attack in check. At the other end, the K.C. forwards kept the defense honest by generating several chances, particularly in the latter part of the second half.
"Fifteen minutes from the end I thought one team was going to win it, and it wasn't going to be us," Carver said. "I have to give [K.C.] a lot of credit coming into a difficult place with our record."
Toronto was playing with their full compliment of players for the first time in about a month, as such regulars as Amado Guevara, Maurice Edu, Jiim Brennan, Greg Sutton and Tyrone Marshall were all back with the squad after returning from international duty. Carver, however, stuck with the same starting XI that brought the Reds victory last week against Colorado, as per his promise to reward his reserves with playing time should they perform as well as they did against the Rapids.
After 58 minutes, Carver made the switch and inserted Guevara, Edu and Brennan into the game in an effort to shake up his side's attack. The tactic nearly paid off in a major way in the 62nd minute, when Guevara almost netted a high line drive of a shot that required a leaping deflection from K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Carver said he particularly was looking for "the introduction of JImmy Brennan on the left-hand side, since he likes to get forward ... and we nearly scored for him getting forward when Amado was on the pitch and the 'keeper makes a great save."
TFC's lack of attacking prowess on Saturday was due in part to stout defending from the Wizards, but also some self-inflicted wounds. Some sloppy passing ruined several attacking chances, and the Reds committed a season-high 18 fouls, 13 of which in the first half alone.
"I was a little disappointed because every time we looked to break we got a foul," Carver said. "You get games like that, we just have to get on with it."
In spite of these problems, TFC very nearly came ahead in extra time. In the second minute of stoppage time, forward Danny Dichio collected a Guevara free kick and put it past Hartman. The sold-out crowd at BMO Field roared in celebration, but the cheers quickly turned to boos when the linesman signaled Dichio to be offside. Midfielder Laurent Robert was booked for arguing the ruling, but Dichio said it was "really close."
"I spoke to the linesman afterwards and he said it was offside," Dichio said. "He's the man with the flag, so I have to take his decision.
"I was overjoyed because it was a game that we thought we could've nicked it at the end. ... I was delighted when it went in, but I had a little sneak around at the linesman and I saw the flag was up. So I went from delighted to disappointed within five seconds."
Given the eight-point gap in the standings between TFC and Kansas City, the game could be looked at as a missed opportunity for the Reds, especially at BMO Field. Six of Toronto's next nine league games are on the road, where the Reds are just 1-4-0 this season. The stretch begins with a big Eastern Conference clash on Saturday against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
"We've been excellent at home but away from home we've been poor," said TFC captain Carl Robinson. "We can't keep putting extra pressure on us to win at home, and we'll work extra hard in training this week to sort it out."
Robinson noted that his side might take a few notes from how Kansas City performed as a primer on how to play a road game.
"Credit to Kansas City because they came out with a plan and it worked perfectly," he said. "They stopped us, they made it difficult for us and slowed the game down, and in the end they could've won it."
Carver dismissed the idea that the Reds were looking past K.C. to the New England game, and noted that his team hadn't done any sort of preparation or discussion about the Revolution. He gave the Wizards "full credit" for their play and sees no shame in leaving a home match with a draw.
"I've got no regrets," Carver said. "We did everything in our power to try and win the game. Sometimes you have a bad day at the office and things don't come off for you, but be grateful for small mercies, and I'm grateful for the point today."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
