Oct. 17, BMO Field, Toronto
TFC 0, COLUMBUS CREW SC 2 (Att.:24,253)
Partly cloudy, cold; Game time temp.: 5 C/41 F
Match Report
Only 65 hours removed from scoring the game-winning goal, seven minutes after stepping on the field as a substitute, helping Toronto FC overcome New York Red Bulls and clinching a first ever MLS playoff berth for the club, Sebastian Giovinco was back in TFC’s starting lineup, playing as a lone striker, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Captain Michael Bradley returned from an injury absence in midweek to spearhead an attacking midfield trio, which included Marky Delgado and Robbie Findley.
Giovinco was isolated for the most part through the first quarter hour of the match as TFC tried in vain to service him with through balls in central areas but was largely ineffective. Columbus Crew’s centre back tandem of Michael Parkhurst and Gaston Sauro kept Giovinco in check throughout that span of time, as they were very alert to the threat posed by the Atomic Ant.
It wasn’t until the midway point of the first half that Giovinco finally found space to create TFC’s first legitimate scoring chance. He took a pass from Delgado at the edge of the Crew goal area, then cut towards the middle before striking a shot that deflected off a Crew defender and out for a corner.
From the corner flag, Seba lofted a cross towards the back post where Findley headed against the woodwork.
However, that was the only shot TFC would manage on target in that first half and the host club would rue that missed opportunity as the Reds fell a goal behind in the 40th minute, conceding from a set piece as a Federico Higuain corner was played to Ethan Finley who simply tapped in to score past keeper Joe Bendik.
Only a minute later however, TFC responded with a well-worked play that saw Findley play a backheel to Collen Warner, who fired a shot from the top of the box that Giovinco just missed slotting in at the far post.
For Giovinco it was one of the quietest 45 minutes of the season and after the match, Head Coach Greg Vanney explained the reasons for that.
“When Seba‘s up there in our initial shape or when we have two forwards,” said Vanney, “he has the freedom to drift and move around the field as he finds spaces available to him. I thought he was getting hung up a little bit between the centre backs too often. They were able to stay tight to him and man mark him too much.”
At the start of the second half, TFC began to press higher up the field, attempting to force the Crew into turnovers but the visitors were patient with the ball and were rarely caught out of their shape.
The only chance of note in the early part of the second half came in the 63rd minute when Giovinco lined up a 30-yard free kick from a central position that Crew keeper Steve Clark punched away to his right.
Two minutes later, Vanney, realizing Giovinco’s inability to free himself of the marking, sent on strikers Luke Moore and Herculez Gomez as TFC shifted to a 4-3-3 with Giovinco slotting out wide on the left flank.
“As we moved him out wider,” explained Vanney, “I thought he was able to find more chances where he could pick up the ball facing forward and start to create attacks out of that position, whether for himself or others.
“But if we’re not sharp with the ball and not moving it quickly it’s easy for defenses to find him and clog up spaces and make it difficult on him. Today we just weren’t sharp enough with the ball.”
Vanney made a final substitution in the 76th minute, sending on defender Eriq Zavaleta for Delgado, re-shaping his formation once again to a 3-4-3.
However, that change didn’t turn the tide as the Crew kept coming, first with Higuain striking the post in the 78th minute and then, in the first minute of added time, Higuain would score an insurance tally, stealing the ball from Josh Williams and chipping over a helpless Bendik.
Giovinco was unavailable for comment after the match but Findley described some of the frustration the players felt in not being able to provide service to their best weapon.
“I started the game out wide and towards the end of first half I moved up top with Seba,” Findley said. “I felt like we needed an option behind and that’s why coach (Vanney) made the move he did. In the second half, when he put three up top, I thought we were dangerous.”
Bradley felt TFC started well but gave up a soft goal and it was always going to be difficult to fight back against a solid, technically sound Crew side.
“Little plays can make a difference,” the TFC captain said, “between making space and scoring, or slipping a final pass in for an assist. There are two teams on the field trying to impose themselves on each other, trying to do everything they can to compete, gain an edge, to win. It’s been by and large a very good stretch for us, so we’re not going to drive ourselves crazy worrying about a few things that didn’t go our way today.”
With a victory, TFC could have clinched home field advantage in the playoffs but now have seven days to gather themselves before playing their final regular season match against Eastern rivals Montreal Impact in Quebec, after which they’ll learn who their playoff opponent will be and where that first playoff match will be played.
Giovinco’s Key Moments:
21st – takes pass from Delgado, cuts into middle at edge of area, shot deflected wide for corner
22nd –takes corner, ball headed off post by Findley and cleared
38th – takes pass from Findley, runs at defense, goes down under challenge at edge of goal area, pleads for foul but no call from referee Chris Penso
41st – Findley backheels to Warner, his shot is targeted towards the far post but Seba just missed tapping in
63rd – takes free kick from central area 30 yards out, ball is punched away by GK Clark
85th – takes pass from Williams, draws foul from Sauro who earns yellow card
Giovinco’s Key Stats (via WhoScored.com):
Shots = 2
On target = 1
Touches = 40
Passes = 14
Passing accuracy = 78%
Giovinco’s Match Rating: 6
One of his quietest games of the season; little more than a spectator for large stretches of the match as Crew SC centre backs Parkhurst and Sauro man-marked him rigidly. Never able to drive at the defense with the ball at his feet. Shift to left wing late in the match did not have the desired effect and he ended the match with only 40 touches, one of the fewest totals over a full 90 minutes this season.
MVP Watch – League Stats:
Goals = 22 (T-1st)
Assist = 15 (T-1st)
Shots = 175 (1st)
Shots on Goal = 70 (1st)
Games remaining = 1
Giovinco’s Next Game:
Sun. Oct. 25 at Montreal Impact – Stade Saputo, 5pm ET
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