SoccerMarvell's Wynne-ing spirit

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Yet on an autumnal day, when many spectators did their duty and turned up to back the team, and perhaps get a rare glimpse of Canadian star Dwayne De Rosario, one man chose his moment to remind them why they were there in the first place.

With Chad Barrett and Amado Guevara unable to convert a hatful of chances, and the team struggling to find its rhythm after gifting the visitors an own-goal, Marvell Wynne showed his teammates how it’s done.

The American youngster, already cherishing memories from the Beijing Olympics, now has another reason to smile when he reflects on 2008.

We’ve always known Wynne was fast – very fast - and clearly it runs in the blood. After all, his father was known for stealing bases during his eight-year career in Major League Baseball. Wynne Junior’s problem, from an offensive viewpoint, has always been what to do with the ball when approaching the opponents’ penalty area. The final ball has often lacked conviction or accuracy leaving Wynne to race back down the field to attend to his “day job” of defending at right-back.

Not this time. There would be no layoff to a more experienced teammate; no fancy chip ahead; no slide-rule pass. This time his mind was made up. He’d keep his head down and get the ball up. Up and over and in! For a fraction of a second time stood still as the ball arched over the head of the advancing Pat Onstad – and nestled in the back of the net.

Pandemonium! BMO Field exploded into life in celebration of a special goal. That’s Special, with a capital ‘S’. Marvell Wynne’s first-ever goal as a professional, struck with his weaker left foot, appeared as unlikely as Toronto FC actually bridging the gap to the playoffs. But there it was, right in front of us, a masterful finish from a player who decided to try his luck and ended up winning the lottery.

Much as Wynne’s goal was the highlight for many Reds’ fans – the fact he found the net when others around him failed, highlights a disturbing trend for Toronto FC.

In the last five games, which have produced just two points, Toronto’s strikers appear to have gone AWOL. Wynne is merely the latest to get his name on the scoresheet, following in the recent footsteps of Carl Robinson, Tyler Rosenlund and Jim Brennan.

At the risk of repeating myself, a team averaging a goal a game is not going to produce a winning club. Are the strikers not getting good enough service, or are they, as individuals, simply not good enough? Better minds than mine are trying to solve this puzzle as we speak.

But, amid the gloom, Marvell Wynne shone like a beacon – and let’s not forget seconds after scoring he produced a last-ditch tackle to deny DeRo at the other end. At this rate it will be 2011 before Wynne scores again.

I’ve already circled the date in my diary.

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