Interim coach Nick Dasovic told his Toronto FC players to remember New York.
Those on last year’s squad know all too well what happened in last season’s finale. On a rainy night in Giants Stadium, TFC suffered a 5-0 loss to the league-worst New York Red Bulls. The loss denied the Reds their first-ever playoff berth.
While Toronto were eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs contention weeks ago, this season finale would end differently. Again facing the league bottom-feeders in D.C. United, TFC posted a victory in the last match of the season for the first time ever. The 3-2 victory over United was a positive end to a mostly negative season and provided a glimmer of hope for the 2011 season.
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“Everybody worked hard again,” said Dasovic. “I told them before the game that New York was a disappointment and I wanted this year for them to see how they can end up strong.”
Nicholas Lindsay, who wasn’t a part of last year’s debacle, took the words to heart and is proving each game to be a bright light in the club’s future.
A product of the TFC Academy, Lindsay had his third straight stellar game in the middle following-up strong performances against Árabe Unido and the Columbus Crew on Tuesday and last Saturday, respectively.
He ran, he attacked and he helped on defense. It was all highlighted on Toronto’s game-winning goal when Lindsay took the ball, surged up the middle and dished off to Jacob Peterson, who ultimately fed Dwayne De Rosario for his second goal of the game and his 15th of the season.
Earl Cochrane, TFC’s interim director of soccer, said Monday in the third of seven fan Town Hall meetings the club needed a speedy winger. The Reds may have found that player in Lindsay, and his Home Grown status and minimal salary make him even more attractive.
But teammates Nick LaBrocca and Jacob Peterson have also been playing well. The midfield partners combined for three assists against United in one of the best performances from the center of the park this season.
LaBrocca and Peterson have been inconsistent this season, but the two could thrive in a more open system under a new coach. That is, if they stay. A new director of soccer may clean house, leaving LaBrocca and Peterson without a team.
One player almost certain to stay, however, is captain Dwayne De Rosario. The four-time MLS Cup champion capped off his best ever season with a brace, finishing with 15 MLS goals and 17 in all competitions.
Missing the playoffs twice with his hometown team and criticized roundly for his check-signing goal celebration, De Rosario will be more determined and resolved to get TFC into the playoffs. A full season with fellow striker Maicon Santos will certainly help the cause.
That a number of players heeded Dasovic’s pregame call to step up is a positive. But Lindsay and the struggling midfield stepping up to the occasion is even more promising.
As is the team’s ability to overcome an early strike by Santino Quaranta, whose second minute goal exposed a defense that has struggled since Preki took his defensive system with him.
“Finish off the season on winning note is great,” De Rosario said. “We fought back and it shows courage. … This team never gave up. … We fought as a unit and we took the chances when they came.”
On an evening when Jaime Moreno was honored for playing his last game in United colors, it was the visitors’ performance that took center stage and gave the suffering flare-lighting TFC fans that trekked down to RFK Stadium a ray of hope in a dark season.
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