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 Geplaatst: 22-09-2018 05:00:59 Onderwerp: uz had a double in the fourth, s |
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| Weve had a couple days to sit back and reflect on Toronto FCs first setback of the early season. Edwin Encarnacion Jersey . Neither the performance, nor the scoreline flatters in the 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake Saturday. It was always going to be a difficult match against MLS Cup runners-up and a team with minimal roster change year over year. Certain flaws were exposed and much work remains for a team in transition. On the surface, a 3-0 loss to the casual fan or someone who didnt see Saturdays match may suggest, same old TFC. Thats hardly the case. TFC has experienced its fair share of lopsided results in recent years with the vast majority reflective of a lack of quality and the gulf in talent that existed between competitors. Saturdays loss was more about Real Salt Lake taking advantage of TFC mistakes than any lopsided pedigree between rosters. Team cohesion and familiarity also skewed in favour of the home side. And even while on the back-foot for most of their visit to Rio Tinto, Toronto remained dangerous to the end and is certainly no longer a team you can take a lead against and rest on your laurels. Theres no reason to lose excitement about what this team can be based upon this one performance alone. However, lessons were learned and improvement is required. Here are five thoughts on Toronto FCs loss at Real Salt Lake. 1. Jermain Problem Striker Jermain Defoe left the match in the 62nd minute and headed straight to the locker room, clutching his hamstring. Gulp. Head Coach Ryan Nelsen commented post-match, He was feeling the hamstring before the game and it tightened up. Defoe had a slight hamstring issue at Tottenham before joining Toronto FC. The severity of Defoes most recent potential setback has not been revealed. Regardless of the severity, Toronto FC must proceed with caution. Hamstrings are tricky and, if not dealt with appropriately, can linger and lead to extended spells on the sidelines. The extensive travel and varying playing surfaces across Major League Soccer put exceptional wear and tear on the body. Durability is key for Defoe and it will take time to adjust to the conditions of North American football. The team needs a healthy Defoe to be considered among MLS elite. The pre-season injury loss of Bright Dike complicates matters more, leaving TFC all-too thin up front. So the inclination will be to play Defoe as soon as hes deemed relatively fit. Theres no need to play hero and play through the injury. The season is a marathon. The long view must be the priority with TFCs prized possession. 2. Difficult Night for Doneil Centre back Doneil Henry was among TFCs top players in the first two games. The 20-year old has all the qualities to be a top defender in MLS, but Saturday was tough for him and his partner in the middle of the back four, Steven Caldwell. Henry was the culprit for the penalty leading to RSLs opening goal. A harmless, lazy ball was played to the feet of RSL striker Alvaro Saborio at the top corner of the 18; an innocent one-vs-one situation with the attackers back to goal. Instead of taking a step back and focusing on position, Henry came through the back of the player with his arms wrapped around Saborio trying to get to the ball. The striker went to the ground, making for an easy point to the penalty spot for match official Baldomero Toledo. It was an unnecessary, sloppy challenge from Henry, showing shades of last season when he had the unbecoming habit of diving in and/or over-committing to challenges at inopportune times in vulnerable areas. The time, place and execution of this challenge gone wrong was all amiss. Theres much to like about Henrys commitment, aggressiveness and enthusiasm, but he has to pick his spots. Henry has the athleticism to cover a lot of ground, meaning he can afford to take an extra step back and gain superior position while still being aggressive in challenges. Superior defensive positioning and proper decision-making will come with further maturity, experience and direction. Henry will be just fine and a key cog in this Toronto FC team. Mistakes like this are part of the process a young player goes through. 3. Flaws in Defensive Execution High pressure can be a teams best and worst enemy. Nelsens team has shown the desire and commitment to put all kinds of pressure on the ball, all over the field. Its often a high risk, high reward proposition, but can leave a team vulnerable if a solid defensive shape doesnt hold true. Toronto FC lost its defensive balance against a crafty Real Salt Lake midfield diamond that regularly found space between TFCs centre midfield duo and the backline. Javier Morales at the top of the diamond found freedom in the gaps, leaving Torontos defenders not knowing whether to step forward and commit or fall back to cover. Nelsens 4-4-2 isnt to blame for the breakdown, though - the problem was in execution. If Toronto FC is going to continue to put constant high pressure on the ball, the centre backs need to keep the formation compact to condense the space and provide more support to the centre midfielders. When Michael Bradley commits to the pressure on the ball, the space behind needs to be limited. Of concern for Nelsen, as he tries to get his team working in unison, is a speed deficiency at certain defensive positions. If the defenders arent confident they can make up ground, leaving space in behind, the tactical formation will fall apart. The hope is superior execution of high pressure defensive play will come in time, as this new-look roster grows accustomed to tendencies and the strengths and weaknesses of their new teammates. 4. Jackson Leaves a Hole It came as somewhat of a surprise that Mark Bloom, starting right back in Torontos first two wins, moved forward to play outside right midfield with Jackson suspended. Bradley Orr slotted in at right back, which seems to be the longer term plan once the Englishman finds full fitness. Bloom did a nice job as an outside defender to start the season, but an outside midfielder, he is not. It speaks to the lack of depth at the position that Nelsen chose to deputize Bloom at it. Right midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran made his MLS debut as a 59th-minute substitute. Whether hes suited for this league and can be effective is still to be determined, but based upon TFCs lack of options, hell get every look possible. TFC cannot afford to continually have a fullback playing a forward position. It wasnt as if Nakajima-Farrans introduction that led to Toronto FC having success down the flanks. It was more the fullbacks pushing forward than influence from the outside of the midfield. Regardless, proper role definition leads to a level of comfort and greater fluidity. The team will have to find more depth at the wing positions or consistent build up will be sacrificed. 5. Keep the Ball! To nobodys surprise, Real Salt Lake dominated in possession, managing 63 per cent of the ball in the contest. This marks the third straight week TFC have been short in possession. TFC may never be a dominant ball possession team, able to boss the proceedings, but they have to be much better. Poor field conditions and inconsistent surfaces, combined with unfamiliarity with new teammates are certainly excuses, but its too many long balls out of the back and not enough service to the feet of the strikers that are ultimately responsible. Defoe, Gilberto and Dwayne De Rosario are forward players who demand the ball at their feet. Having the trio chase down searching balls, while regularly competing in aerial battles, is a waste and hardly how to get the most out of the talent. It starts at the back, but the build through the midfield has a ways to go. This is a work in progress. Keeping the ball and playing along the ground with quality is paramount in the growth of the team. Toronto FC is next in action on Saturday when it the visits the Columbus Crew. You can catch all of the action live on TSN 1050 at 4pm et. Ricky Vaughn Jersey . The former Toronto FC designated player played three of his 15 professional seasons with the team. Carlos Carrasco Jersey .The Ottawa Senators winger was relegated to a corner seat in the locker-room to allow Daniel Alfredsson to return to his regular stall one last time. http://www.indiansteamproshop.com/ . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. BALTIMORE -- After Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen put together another dominant performance Friday against Seattle, his thoughts were with his family and friends thousands of miles away in his native Taiwan. A deadly gas explosion in Kaohsiung reportedly killed at least 25 people and injured close to 300. None of Chens family were injured but he expressed concern for those affected by the tragedy. On the mound, Chen was fully focused as he won his fifth consecutive start and had a season-high eight strikeouts to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 2-1 victory over the Mariners. "Unfortunately back in my hometown there was a horrible accident," Chen said. "So today this win I would like to give out to my home people and I would like to send out my best wishes to them and hope everybody is all right there." Baltimore has won nine of its past 11 games and remained atop the AL League East. An RBI single by Manny Machado in the third, snapped the Orioles scoreless streak at 19 innings. Chen (12-3) allowed one run and five hits with one walk over 7 1-3 innings. Andrew Miller, acquired from Boston on Thursday, pitched a scoreless eighth in his debut for the Orioles (61-47). Left-hander Zach Britton picked up his 22nd save. The Orioles improved to 18-2 when Chen goes seven or more innings. "If you get seven innings out of your starter, youre going to win your share of games," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Shortens up a lot of things in the bullpen and really allows you to put people in situations that they prosper in. But regardless of the analysis of the game, it starts and most of it is with Wei-Yin. Hes really solid for us here lately in a time of need, obviously standings-wise." Robinson Cano had two hits for the Mariners and is 115 for 317 (.363) lifetime at Camden Yards. "Hes tough," Cano said about Chen. "He threw everything for a strike. Hes not a guy that is just going to give you anything." Mariners left-hander Roenis Elias (8-9) allowed two runs and seven hits with seven strikeoutts and one walk over 5 2-3 innings. Andrew Miller Jersey. It was his longest outing since June 28 against Cleveland. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead on Machados single in the third. The Mariners answered the next inning on a double by Kendrys Morales that scored Cano when Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph could not hold onto a relay throw by J.J. Hardy. That snapped a streak of 11 consecutive scoreless innings by Chen against Seattle. In the sixth, Machado led off with a double and Hardy drove him in with a two-out single for a 2-1 lead. "Both pitchers really good," Hardy said. "I think Chen threw the ball great. Elias threw the ball really well, and then our bullpen came in and shut them down and luckily we got a couple big hits." Seattle fell to 5-37 when trailing after seven innings. "They played a better game than we did," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It was a hard-fought game. It was one of those games where they beat you. We didnt lose." TRAINERS ROOM Orioles: Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will make a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. He is then expected to rejoin the Orioles when they travel to Toronto for a three-game series beginning Tuesday. ON DECK Mariners: Left-hander James Paxton (2-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his first start after initially going on the disabled list on April 9 with a left lat strain and then going on the 60-day DL with a left shoulder injury. Orioles: Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (5-5, 3.77 ERA) will be facing the Mariners for the second time in his career. The previous start was less than a week ago when he did not get a decision in the Orioles 3-2 victory. BIRTHDAY BOYS The game between the Mariners and the Orioles featured two players celebrating their birthdays Friday. Seattle left-hander Roenis Elias turned 26, while the Orioles centre fielder Adam Jones became 29. Jones went hitless in three at-bats against Elias. CRUZ BREAKS SLUMP Baltimores Nelson Cruz had a double in the fourth, snapping an 0 for 21 skid and the longest of his eight-year career. Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Oklahoma City Thunder Jerseys Cheap Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys Cheap Phoenix Suns Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Dallas Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Houston Rockets Jerseys Cheap Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys Cheap San Antonio Spurs Jerseys Cheap Golden State Warriors Jerseys ' ' ' |
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