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TSN Soccer Analyst

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The Formations

There were very little surprises in terms of personnel from both sides but the biggest eye opener came from Toronto FC's shape as they played the way they operated in their final pre-season game, choosing a diamond in midfield.

The Game

It was the kind of match that has the capability of being a landmark game in the history of Toronto FC. History will always remind us to be cautious when it comes to this team but this was more than a win away from home for Greg Vanney's team.

The game itself was two matches in one. A wild, open match that was like a basketball game for 45 minutes and one that was much more settled and calm in the second half. Toronto FC didn't just play a part in both, they dictated both.

How they managed to transition from one to the other, make adjustments and, ultimately, show maturity to dominate and dictate a tough opponent while ahead shows very promising signs ahead for this team.

The Whitecaps should have been 2-0 up after 20 minutes and they would have deserved it. Octavio Rivero missed a complete sitter after eight minutes but made up for it ten minutes later with a tremendous finish on his weaker left foot.

The goal showed how vulnerable Toronto FC were on the transition, particularly whilst playing a suicidal high line. It started with Sebastian Giovinco giving the ball away close to the edge of the box and then allowing Po Madou Kah to comfortably step into midfield and have enough time to look up and play a ball over the top that took out seven TFC players. At that point Rivero's exceptional movement had him off the shoulder of Caldwell and away clean through to side-foot the ball through Joe Bendik's legs. There were more scares for TFC throughout the first half, many of them coming down the avenue on the left through Kekutah Manneh.

Toronto FC's width could only come from full backs but far too often one would get caught up field and be out of position when required to defend against a fast transition.

It was a half that cried out for maturity from the visitors and valuable adjustments and as it went on it was clear that the defence dropped deeper.

They were helped by a brilliant goal at the other end. It started over a minute earlier when Justin Morrow's cross wasn't cleared by Jordan Harvey and a needless corner was awarded. What followed was a minute of football that showed just how different this Toronto FC team could be compared to past ones. From the clearance, Benoit Cheyrou's desire kept the ball in and once the visitors retained possession the ball went through Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley,  Morrow, Warren Creavalle and Jonathan Osorio before it rolled towards Giovinco. Four touches on the right followed which helped him dance around one of the finest defensive midfielders in the league, Matias Laba, and then came that pass. Giovinco, a player who spends much of the game with his head up, this time, crucially, didn't even look up before gliding the ball with his left foot into a perfect area for Altidore to run on to and slot home.

It was a great run from the American striker and a fine finish, one you could easily see Jermain Defoe, for example, doing, but it came from the supreme footballing intelligence of Giovinco. After spending all of 2014 desperate to see any kind of chemistry between star DP players the very first pass from Giovinco to Altidore ended in a goal.

Instead of going in at half-time, outplayed and outthought, down a goal Toronto FC, through combination play with their stars, had found a way to be level.

Once level, Toronto FC went to work in dictating a game that suited their players more. Caldwell and Damien Perquis notably dropped deeper and never allowed passes to get in behind them during the second half. Manneh still received much of the ball but was now running at defenders instead of behind of them.

The second goal was a tale of two left backs. Once again Cheyrou was heavily involved as he took advantage of Russell Teibert being too high and easily moved into space that Laba couldn't occupy. Cheyrou then showed excellent composure on his weaker foot to surprise the defence by sliding a right footed pass to Morrow whose cross was knocked home by Robbie Findley. Like Altidore on the first goal, Findley's run was good but Harvey allowed him to get goal side and it was far too easy from a Whitecaps point of view.

Toronto FC were now deservedlly ahead based on their second half performance. Far too often in the past this would be the signal for opponents to take over games and leave the Reds battered and bruised up against the ropes. This time, though, the punches were delivered by them as Bradley and Cheyrou consistently won the battles in midfield and the team comfortably saw the game out. Altidore would finally deliver the knock-out blow, via a penalty, with the third goal.

The Good

There was very little for the Whitecaps to be happy with. Once the tempo of the game dropped their chances went with it. The defence were culpable for two of the goals but the real concern should be in central midfield. The passing throughout was poor and Toronto FC's diamond shape forced Pedro Morales into a wide area too often. Many times the Chilean magician sprayed wonderful long-ball passes to the opposite flanks but there was nowhere near enough penetration through central areas from the midfield.

There were many things Toronto FC did well, particularly in the second half but in-game adjustments, football intelligence and strength in possession were all key. It was notable how many of their players were very difficult to dispossess. Giovinco glides across the field with superb close control and will continue to frustrate opponents and force them into key fouls all season. Bradley and Cheyrou treasure the ball very well and Altidore was sensational in this area, winning a penalty himself to finish the game off.

The Bad

The second half performance from the Whitecaps will occupy much of their coaching staff's time this week. Last season when they struggled to dicate games far too often they badly needed a link man between the defence and central midfield to the front three. The big question mark for the team remains over the 'number six', whoeever plays with a back four and Laba and connects with a front four of Morales, Mauro Rosales, Manneh and Rivero. In this game it was Teibert but too often his positioning meant the team fell into a 4-1-4-1. This allowed Giovinco to turn the game. Once in possession the team needs that player to be creative and with a deeper Toronto FC line they never found a way to get the ball to Rivero, who had just 12 touches in the second half.

Star Man

Many to choose from wearing red but this was a game that turned on the brilliance of Giovinco. His movement was exceptional and the rest of the team around him, importantly, helped his cause. When he came deep and held a defender tight to his back he had Cheyrou or Bradley to pass to. When he drifted from side-to-side he could play off Findley or Altidore, whose positioning allowed the Italian to be the most advanced centrally of all the players.

Next

Toronto FC visit Columbus next Saturday (TSN2) and the Whitecaps travel to Chicago (TSN).

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