SoccerHope springs eternal for Toronto FC

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Crucially the final two home games, against San Jose and Salt Lake respectively, are now relevant and present the potential for Chris Cummins’ team to force its way into the top eight. DC United’s lacklustre performance in front of its own fans against Chivas USA has left the door ajar, and New England’s inconsistency bears comparison with Toronto’s own Achilles heel.

In fact I’m getting ahead of myself here. The final home game against RSL will only count for something on the basis Toronto earns maximum points against the Earthquakes. Anything less against Frank Yallop’s under strength team will abruptly end the dream.

Minus Guevara

While Cummins will have to make do without Amado Guevara against San Jose, his opposite number may have to take a head count to make sure he has enough remaining players to make the trip to BMO Field. Yallop, already beset by a crop of injuries, will also have to find replacements for a trio away on World Cup qualifying duty.

Chief among the absentees, and Cummins would do well to thank his lucky stars for this, is Arturo Alvarez – one of the better attacking midfielders/strikers in Major League Soccer. Earlier this year the American-born, 24-year-old made his senior debut for El Salvador and while he’ll be continuing his international education, San Jose will definitely miss his ability and vision.

Alvarez will join his San Jose teammate and national captain Ramon Sanchez in Mexico City on the weekend, while another midfielder, Simon Elliott, will be trying to help his native New Zealand negotiate a path to South Africa via a two-legged playoff against Bahrain.

But what are we worrying about? Toronto FC has already beaten the Earthquakes in their own backyard at a time when Darren Huckerby was still causing trouble for MLS defenders. The Englishman has since had to concede defeat to a chronic season and career-ending hip injury – a great shame for an instinctive competitor who briefly brought some genuine quality to the franchise.

Toronto FC must show its good side

You and I both know what concerns us. It’s got nothing to do with San Jose and everything to do with TFC. Specifically, which TFC turns up on the day.

The road to the playoffs, though by no means clear, is navigable but only if Toronto shows us its good side. This team has fooled us, and itself, too many times for us to be taken in by all the positive locker-room sound bites. We know these players are capable, but can they handle the responsibility when the pressure is really on?

Can the men in red demonstrate commitment, understanding, patience, creativity, passion and finishing skill without the defensive lapses for a full 90 minutes? And if they can do it once, can they do it all again the following week and probably the following week as well?

I’m not seeking perfection. We all know it’s not possible and mistakes are inevitable, but what we do have a right to expect is a whole-hearted, never-say-die effort from every individual. If Toronto FC has serious aspirations to reach the promised land of the post-season it must know it has used up its annual allocation of bad days at the office.

There will be more help along the way. New England, for example, has to face Columbus twice in its final three games while DC United, which has only two games to go, must also meet the Crew before journeying to Kansas City on the final day. Ultimately though, TFC must help itself and rely on its own ability rather than the inability of its rivals.

It is true Toronto FC’s fate does not lie in its own hands. However, if the soccer gods see fit, there’s still time for that fate to be twisted.

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