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The Official TFC/Soccer thread

An awful defence is plaguing the Toronto FC (again), as the TFC lost their home-opener to the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0.  Already without some of their top players such as Torsten Fringe (out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury), as well as goalkeeper Stepan Frei (8-10 weeks with a broken leg), plus several other regulars out of the lineup, the TFC is once again struggling so early in the season.

On Tuesday (March 28), the TFC will host Santos Laguna (Mexico) at BMO Field in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-final matchup.


Source: Sportsnet
 
'Bye, 'bye USA!  A 3-3 draw with El Salvador eliminated any hopes the U.S. men's national team had of advancing to the semi-finals in a bid for Olympic qualifying....

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=ApgQ2k3mz46GanANqGai4eRShgM6?slug=txsocelsalvadorus




....meantime in other news....


Canada advanced to the semi-finals with a disappointing 1-1 tie with lowly Cuba.  The Canadians could have finished first in their group, what with the U.S. eliminated, but, will finish second and most certainly play undefeated Mexico next.  In order to advance further, the Canadian men's national team needs a victory over Mexico and nothing less.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/03/26/canada_cuba_draw_concacaf_olympic_qualifying/
 
hockeyfan1 said:
'Bye, 'bye USA!  A 3-3 draw with El Salvador eliminated any hopes the U.S. men's national team had of advancing to the semi-finals in a bid for Olympic qualifying....

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=ApgQ2k3mz46GanANqGai4eRShgM6?slug=txsocelsalvadorus




....meantime in other news....


Canada advanced to the semi-finals with a disappointing 1-1 tie with lowly Cuba.  The Canadians could have finished first in their group, what with the U.S. eliminated, but, will finish second and most certainly play undefeated Mexico next.  In order to advance further, the Canadian men's national team needs a victory over Mexico and nothing less.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/03/26/canada_cuba_draw_concacaf_olympic_qualifying/
Click to expand...

Great result but they can't be giving away free headers like that...played a near perfect game.

The tieing goal in the US game was terrible!
 
Giving up that late goal was painful. The draw put Canada in 2nd place instead of 1st place in the final group standings. This means a likely semi-final date with Mexico instead of Honduras, with a trip to London on the line. Only the top 2 teams from CONCACAF will advance.
 
Very physical game for TFC last night against Santos Laguna. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, but right at the final whistle Ashtone Morgan was on the receiving end of a headbutt from Darwin Quintero. Quintero received a red card for that. The resulting scuffle saw both benches empty and BMO Field security try to separate the sides.

Couple of down points for TFC though. The away goal will come into play should the total goals remain tied after the 2nd leg next week. They will also miss Dany Kovermans who picked up a cheap yellow card for taking a free kick before the whistle. It was his 2nd yellow of the CCL (1st was at the dome against LA) which equals a 1 game ban.
 
Interesting fact...

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/03/28/concacaf_champions_league_toronto_fc_santos_laguna_first_leg/

No MLS team has beaten a Mexican side in a two-game series in this competition since 2002 when it was known as the Champions' Cup. Since 2008, when the tournament was reformatted and renamed the Champions League, MLS clubs have lost 10 consecutive home-and-away series against Mexican opposition. During that same time, Mexican sides have won the championship three years in a row, and 12 of the last 16 semi-finalists have been Mexican. Only one MLS club (Real Salt Lake in 2011) has made it to the final.

The TFC and Santos Laguna meet again next week (Wednesday April 4th) in Mexico to decide the winner, which will then advance to the final against another Mexican squad.

GO TFC!!!
 
It's 'bye, 'bye Canada, as the men's national soccer team failed to beat Mexico in a bid for an Olympic berth, losing 3-1 to the swift Mexicans in the semi-final. Tough loss.

For more on this story, click here:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/03/31/canada_mexico_concacaf_olympic_qualifying/
 
That was almost expected after the draw against Cuba in the final group stage match. Still, there are some positives to be taken away from this with them knocking the US out.

Wednesday sees the 2nd leg of the CCL semi between TFC and Santos Laguna. After the fracas at the end of the 1st leg, I'm expecting a physical contest. The Honduran referee assigned is going to have his hands full. There were some comments in the paper today that seemed to indicate that the Mexican players were promising a 'war' in the 2nd leg.
 
It will be a challenge. MLS teams have struggled in Mexico and Santos laid a total smackdown on Seattle in their home leg in the quarters.

In other TFC news, keeper Stefan Frei is now out for 4-6 months following surgery. Pretty much done for the season. Milos Kocic will now have to carry the load.
 
Santos Laguna of Mexico defeated the TFC 6-2 on Wednesday night in the CONCACAF Champions League semi-final (Santos winning 7-3 on aggregate).

Costly errors ruined any chance the Toronto FC dreamt of having in attempting to one up the Mexican squad.  At least, the TFC can take solace in being a part of Canadian soccer history (of having reached the semi-finals here).  That feat alone stands as an excellent accomplishment.

For more on the story, click to:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/04/05/mls_toronto_fc_tfc_santios_laguna/
 
The Europa league semis are set with 3 Spanish teams and 1 from Portugal.

As for TFC, it seemed like the goal they have up at the end of the 1st half was the death blow. Giving up 2 PKs early in the 2nd half sealed it. They now turn their focus back to league play and a trip to the Big O to play the Impact.
 
Madferret said:
Semis are set in CL -
Bayern v Real
Chelsea v Barca
....looking like a possible La Liga finale
Click to expand...
It's possible but I don't think you should discount Bayern yet.  Ribery has been in great form in these elimination rounds.  The Bayern Real matchup should be better than a real-barca final should it come to that.
 
JohnK's Revenge said:
Madferret said:
Semis are set in CL -
Bayern v Real
Chelsea v Barca
....looking like a possible La Liga finale
Click to expand...
It's possible but I don't think you should discount Bayern yet.  Ribery has been in great form in these elimination rounds.  The Bayern Real matchup should be better than a real-barca final should it come to that.
Click to expand...

Out of the 4 teams left I dislike Bayern the least
 
I like Bar?a's chances.  A CL final matchup between Barcelona & R?al Madrid would not seem too far-fetched.

Mourinho certainly has got his squad in the running again as one of the favourites.  After all, when one has a Messi, who can argue with that!

For?a Bar?a!!
 
Mourinho doesn't have Messi at his disposal. He is the manager at Real. Ronaldo is his top offensive threat. We could see a preview of the final in 2 weeks as Barca and Real face each other in league play.
 
seahawk said:
Mourinho doesn't have Messi at his disposal. He is the manager at Real. Ronaldo is his top offensive threat. We could see a pre
view of the final in 2 weeks as Barca and Real face each other in league play.
Click to expand...


Sorry about the mix-up.  But yes, Ronaldo vs Messi would pit two of the very best players against each other, should it ever unfold this way.
 
TFC lost to the Montreal Impact last Saturday, 2-1.  Another loss (sigh).

However, there may indeed some good news forthcoming, as it has been reported that Injured TFC midfielder Torsten Frings could return for this Saturday's (April 14) game gainst ChivasUS at BMO Field.  A possibility at best.  If not for this game, then later, but soon.  For the beleaguered  TFC midfield,  at least a much-needed dosage of some positive news!

GO TFC!!

Source:  Sportsnet
 
Some more good news. In the reserve game yesterday, Adrian Cann went 60 minutes as he recovers from his knee injury last season. He should be ready soon and contribute to the back line. Anything that can relegate Ty Harden or Miguel Aceval to the bench has to be an improvement. Getting Frings back for Chivas on Saturday should also get things back on track.
 
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