TORONTO – As the losses mount for Toronto FC, Dutch DP Danny Koevermans says he is focused only on the next game. And that that’s the only way to get out of the five-game nightmare that’s been the start of the 2012 season for the Reds.
“Don’t look at the standings anymore,” the striker said after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Chivas USA. “Just play the games and try to get points.”
OPTA Chalkboard: TFC have the run of play in second half vs. Chivas
Toronto have no points in their five league games, they’ve been outscored 10-2 overall, and they have no goals in three home games.
TFC’s one win in nine games across all competitions was over the LA Galaxy on March 14, putting them through to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.
Since then it has been nothing but frustration and it reached a peak on Saturday, a game of chances that did not go in.
Koevermans intends to forget it as soon as possible.
“You have to,” he said. “The same when we win a game. You win in LA and three days later you lose in Seattle and that game is gone and the same with this.”
Both Koevermans and Ryan Johnson, who have one goal each in the league, were frustrated in the second half against Chivas with shots that were either cleared from the line or stopped by goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who’d go on to win MLS Player of the Week honors.
“The goalkeeper saved three times this day,” Koevermans said. “He didn’t even know it.”
Koevermans kicked the goal post after one attempt was stopped and after another put his hands on his head and then swatted at netting of the goal.
“Last season a couple of those balls went in,” the former Dutch international said. “That’s life. Last season everything was gold when I touched and now it’s like a leg in between or the goalkeeper will save.
“Goals will come eventually. I wish I had four or five goals. It was possible. And the points will come, I’m sure of it. We have played decent. I think everybody saw again that we didn’t deserve this loss. The score says different.”
After Koevermans joined Toronto FC last season as a Designated Player he scored eight goals in 10 league games.
“Last season everybody came to me and said, ‘Yeah, six [goals] in seven [games], eight in nine,’" he said. "I said, ‘Wait, maybe there comes a time when it’s like one in seven, and you can come to me, too.’”
It’s just about that time.
