The result may have been what was expected, but Wednesday’s 3-0 win over second-tier FC Edmonton was no less important for Toronto FC, according to striker Maicon Santos.
The Brazilian scored a brace in the win, which gave the Reds a commanding lead in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal over the expansion NASL side. Following the game, Santos was already looking ahead to how the win might set up TFC this weekend against the Seattle Sounders.
“For sure, it’s important,” he told MLSsoccer.com by telephone from Edmonton. “The win gives us confidence and helps us as we look to get a win in Seattle.”
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Additionally, Santos said his goals were big on a personal level.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I needed to score some goals and tonight was good – we played well.”
Playing against a team you are expected to beat can be thankless. If you do win, you may not get the credit you deserve and if you lose, fan’s reaction can often be harsher than what it might be against a more equal opponent. Santos says that made Wednesday’s match against Edmonton a tricky one for the Reds.
“You need to make sure you are intense, ready to play,” he said. “You don’t know what to expect so you have to play as hard against [lower teams] as you do always.”
Santos gives credit to head coach Aron Winter for his preparation heading into the game. He also says the coach has done a good job rotating the squad to keep legs fresh. He expects more changes next week as the Reds look to wrap the series up and advance to the NCC final.
According to Santos, getting the young players a run out in games like that can only make Toronto better.
“It’s good to let them see what it takes to play,” he said.
