Saturday, September 8, 2007

FC Dallas 2 TFC 0

The TFC story seems to be on repeat mode. Play, allow the team that you are out-playing to score one or a couple, don't score yourself, lose. This is getting tough to take. The effort of the team is there, but it undermines your confidence. If they pour heart and soul into the game and hour after hour cannot put the ball in the net, it has to raise questions about the talent ? I know it is a matter of finishing, but that is the talent which makes a player, which make a team.....
TFC had plenty of fire and were in attacking mode throughout the first half. Reminded me of their meeting in Toronto, made you wonder which team was play-off bound. Too bad they had nothing to show for it. There was continued pressure in the second half, but the cloud of desperation seemed to grow. When Andrea Lombardo failed to score on his breakaway, the night was over.
The first penalty call was harsh, if Marshall made contact at all, it seemed slight. Forrest and Reed were right to be puzzled in the broadcast booth. If it was a last man foul, why give Marshall a yellow card ? So Denilson scored on the penalty. It seemed that there was two chances to stop the shot, before it hit the post it was out of reach, but it looked like it rolled along the line for a second before it crossed.
The second penalty call was almost kind, keeping hope alive takes it's toll. Joey Melo was caught wrapping his arms around the Dallas player. Dallas scored on the penalty, but that was pre-ordained. I hereby predict that there will be a balance between TFC penalty stops and goals scored by them for the remainder of the season. I am getting grouchy about this.
My man of the match is Adam Braz. Too many nights his intensity scares me and his offensive contributions tonight amounted to nothing (but that would be true of everyone else too). Yet he seemed to be the equal of Denilson's runs down the right and was a solid force in the back.
I am not sure if this CBC broadcast is truly HD, but the red and white hoops of Dallas and the road gray and red of Toronto made for a poor contrast. Time for a third uniform...but players to wear the red should be the greater priority.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Adam Braz???? He played OK but I don't know about man of the match. I thought Dunivant and Wynne were decent tonight playing out of position, Dunivant especially.

It's pretty simple really: without Dichio and Cunningham there's no quality upfront and without Robinson and O'Brien, the midfield has zero vision.

Andrea Lombardo should've scored on the lob, that was bush league stuff....

Unknown said...

I agree that I am probably reacting to my low expectations for him...
Midfield with zero vision sums it up nicely...

Anonymous said...

Dunivant seems to have played well for a number of games in a row now. Contributing more than I thought to the attack. For me a bright light in the side.