TORONTO – Twenty-four games down, 10 more to go before the fun really begins. For Toronto FC, the process continues.
Top of the Supporters' Shield standings and with a massive match against the Chicago Fire on the horizon, TFC are not resting on their laurels after an emphatic 4-1 win against the Portland Timbers. For starters, they pointed to a number of missed chances in the early stages of Saturday's win, even as the team was still celebrating a return to winning ways.
“In a different game, on the road, we can't let those opportunities to score goals slide by,” Vanney said. “That keeps us all hungry as we get prepared for an important match next week. On the road, you don't get as many chances. We've got to be more deadly.
“We're an experienced team, a mature team. We do a good job of cleaning up things, correcting them as we get to the next game. We learn quickly; make adaptations quickly.”
Frustrated last weekend in D.C., drawing 1-1 despite a man advantage, Saturday's win was a turning of the page, for those outside the group at least. The side themselves had already moved on.
“We have a team that is really hungry to do well,” explained TFC goalkeeper Alex Bono. “We're chasing the Supporters' Shield. We hold our own destiny; we're looking forward to that. We know that each game, no matter what happened the week before, we're going to put it behind us and put our best foot forward.”
A mix of star-power and those less-heralded, veterans and youthful exuberance, they know how good they are; how good they can be.
“This is the best team I've been on,” said Jason Hernandez, who came on for the injured Nick Hagglund in the first half. “[My former team], San Jose in 2012, lit the league up, able to put goals on the board, out-shooting people, winning games 5-4 and 4-3. This team is much more complete; polished. We can beat teams in a variety of ways, with a variety of players. That's rare for a club in this league.”
And even on a night where the sense of frustration could creep in, held level at zeros by the Timbers for nearly an hour despite some lively attacking play the ambition, the willingness to dust oneself off and go again, was central to the eventual result.
“Finding different ways to open up teams, play with the ball, be exciting and fun to watch,” said Vanney of his team's strengths. “We remain pretty stingy on the defensive side. And, even in games, we quickly can adjust over the course to get results.”
