By Canadian Press

Toronto FC coach says team can rebound from disappointing loss in Panama

Feb 24, 2019 | 1:40 PM

TORONTO — Despite suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss to Club Atletico Independiente de la Chorrera in Panama, Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney says his side can rebound in the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round-of-16 game Tuesday at BMO Field.

But Vanney says his players will have to up their intensity in order to get out of the deep hole they dug themselves Tuesday in Central America.

“I truly believe that if we perform well, we will get a positive result,” Vanney said Friday. “And we didn’t perform well on so many levels in this past game.”

“I still think we can turn this around,” he added.

Crime

Man, 23, sent to hospital after weekend shooting

3h ago

Nursing education

New early admission option to help alleviate tight timeline for nursing students

4h ago

On the ice

Weekend rink report: Mintos split in Southern Sask., Northern Bears swept by Regina

18h ago

Goalkeeper Alex Bono agreed.

“By no means are we out of this,” he said. “We have to believe that we can go in next week and really make a comeback for the ages.”

Toronto will have to score a bucketful of goals and keep Independiente off the scoresheet, given away goals count double in event of an aggregate tie.

Asked if the Panama hangover was over, Vanney delivered a critique of the TFC performance that lasted two minutes 40 seconds — longer than some post-game news conferences by Leafs coach Mike Babcock.

Bottom line Toronto lacked intensity, failed to stick to the game plan, stumbled on defence and was unable to take advantage of its chances. As a result, a well-drilled Independiente had a field day in transition. 

“We met today and everybody sort of raised their hand and said ‘Yeah, that wasn’t good enough,'” Vanney said. “There’s no excuses. It has to be better.”

“I still see a lot of opportunity there for us, when I look back at the game,” he added.

Neither Vanney nor Bono had any explanation for why the team failed to have the intensity needed.

Vanney says winger Nick DeLeon, who missed Tuesday’s game with a bad back, should be ready for the rematch. Defenders Drew Moor and Eriq Zavaleta are also close.

But striker Jozy Altidore, who didn’t train Friday, is still regaining match fitness after undergoing ankle surgery in October and likely won’t be ready.

The team had a video session Friday ahead of training, going over what went wrong in Panama.

“Watching this one back again was pretty painful,” said Bono. “And everyone felt that way.”

“Showing up for games and giving your all for 90 minutes has to be base level if we want to have any success this year,” he added. “Unfortunately we learned that lesson the hard way.”

Vanney hopes that is the case.

“If we’re eight to 10 games in (the season) and having the same discussion, it’ll be a big problem,” he said of the team’s troubles Tuesday. “But after one Champions League game in Panama, I think it’s a wake-up call a little bit for us that the season has started and we need to be ready to go.”

Toronto, which opens MLS play March 2 at Philadelphia, trained indoors Friday but turned off the heat in the bubble at their training ground to get used to the cold that will await them Tuesday.

The forecast calls for temperatures of minus-10 and snow showers Tuesday. While it will be cold, BMO Field does have underground heating.

Vanney expects Independiente to protect its lead while waiting for counter-attack possibilities. 

On the plus side, he expects the ball to move faster on the natural grass at BMO Field, which will be watered to help make the surface slicker.

The ball moved slowly on the dry artificial turf in Panama. Vanney said Independiente relies on the local fire department to water its field and it apparently had more pressing things to take care of.

In the wake of a tumultuous training camp that saw star striker Sebastian Giovinco and playmaker Victor Vazquez depart for greener pastures in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, respectively, Toronto continues its hunt for reinforcements.

Toronto has been linked to KRC Genk playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo, a 27-year Spaniard, as a designated player target. Argentine striker Jonathan (Jony) Menendez, a 24-year-old currently with Independiente of Argentina, also has been linked to a loan move.

“We’re hopeful,” said Vanney. “Our targets are identified … Hopefully clarity comes fast.”

Help is needed. Toronto, playing Terrence Boyd as the main striker in a 4-3-3 formation, showed little offence — outshot 12-7 (8-5 in shots on target) in Panama. Independiente ‘keeper Jose Guerra had a quiet night.

Vanney hopes the additions, when they arrive, will slot into the 4-3-3 formation he is utilizing this season. Last year the team played primarily 3-5-2 and 4-4-2.

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press