Ty Harden (left) of Toronto FC battles for the ball with Alex Nimo of Real Salt Lake during Saturday night's game at BMO Field. (Abelimages/Getty Images)

Any coach will tell you that every game is a must-win, but this was one that Toronto FC desperately needed.

It would be going too far to suggest that Toronto’s playoff hopes have been dashed following a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake Saturday night at BMO Field. It is, after all, still August, Toronto hasn’t been officially eliminated from the post-season race, and according to the calendar there are still plenty of games remaining on the Major League Soccer schedule.

But maybe fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high of seeing TFC secure its first-ever post-season berth — not after Saturday’s disappointing result against the reigning MLS champions.

While Coach Preki lauded the efforts of his players, team captain Dwayne De Rosario said Toronto was fortunate to earn a tie. “We had one or two chances, but they definitely had the better of the play,” De Rosario admitted.

BMO Field has been a fortress for the Reds this season. Toronto was won six and suffered just one defeat in nine home games. A 4-1 setback at the hands of the New York Red Bulls last week was the club’s first home loss in 17 matches.

With Toronto’s historic road woes a matter of public record, home contests such as this one take on a greater significance, and mandate the Reds to take the full three points. Anything less has to be viewed as a failure.

That may sound harsh, especially when you consider there are nine games left in the season, which means 27 points are up for grabs. On the surface, Toronto has plenty of time to make up the one-point gap on the Colorado Rapids, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot.

But six of Toronto’s remaining matches are on the road and if there’s one thing the Reds have proven over time, it’s that they can’t get it done away from the cozy confines of BMO Field.

The overwhelming evidence: just one win in nine road games this season and a grand total of seven in franchise history.

You read that correctly. Seven.

Uphill road

Since entering the league in 2007, Toronto’s inability to win on the road is one of the many clothespins upon which the club has hung its major shortcoming, namely not qualifying for the playoffs. Unless the Reds can take 10 out of a possible 18 points on the road from now until October — and that’s a big task — TFC fans will have to wait at least another year to see their team in the playoffs.

“It’s concerning but if [we’re] going to make the playoffs we have to [win] on the road,” Preki said.

De Rosario said he believes he and his teammates have it within themselves to win away from home down the season stretch. “We have a tough road ahead of us,” TFC’s captain said. “We have to pull out some big wins on the road, so hopefully everybody is ready and focused to do that because it’s a tough task ahead of us.”

Saturday’s game called for a sense of attacking urgency, something that was lacking in the Reds’ play for the opening 45 minutes.

Looking to spark his team into life, Preki substituted defender Maksim Usanov out at the start of the second half, replacing him with forward O’Brian White and playing him in an attacking trident with De Rosario and Mista.

Toronto showed more offensive verve in the final 45 minutes, but lacked creativity in the final third of the field as they were continually thwarted by a stalwart Real Salt Lake defence.

If anything, the champions looked more dangerous going forward, hitting the post on one effort and forcing TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make a handful of heroic saves. If not for the work of the Swiss custodian, the damage could have been much worse for Toronto.