Game day 26 against the San Jose Earthquakes, at home in BMO Field, will be crucial; but that was said of many games as of late. Thus is the reality of MLS, where you can truly be out of it with one bad result. That Toronto FC beat Houston away in the last minute kept a dwindling dream alive. Unfortunately for Houston, it means that any playoff hopes they had have been all but extinguished. Obviously Toronto FC is looking for a home win against San Jose. What Toronto FC needs to be looking for, however, is a comprehensive win. The team desperately needs a 3-0 showing, with goals coming from names that don’t end in “Rosario.” They need to dominate and control the game, defend properly when needed and show San Jose that Toronto is a team to be reckoned with. A total team effort will keep Dasovic’s boys confident and hungry.
If, and this is a big if, Toronto FC can win all five remaining games, they will make the playoffs. However, things get a little more complicated when you exit dreamland stage left, and enter reality. Toronto FC will find it very difficult to win five games. A dismal road record (8 wins in 4 seasons away) and a tough home match against the Columbus Crew, who are fighting for the Supporters Shield, will ensure that these next few weeks are filled with drama and heartbreak. For Toronto FC to make the playoffs, they need to muster a miracle the likes of which haven’t been seen since that fateful evening in Montreal.
Five games being tough enough, Toronto FC also have CONCACAF Champions League obligations as well. Hosting Arabe Unido and Real Salt Lake will be draining to say the least. It is for this reason that Dasovic needs to utilize the fullest squad possible. That means play the reserves, starting the kids, and letting Usanov and Hscanovics run their legs off, leaving the big boys to play important league matches. The Champions League is an unrealistic dream for Toronto FC, or any MLS team for that matter; The league, barring maybe Los Angeles Galaxy, is simply not there yet. Yes, you can have the FC Porto-type victory, a one-off win for one season great work, but most of the time, the Champions League falls in the hands of the "Real Madrids" of this continent. That’s the sad reality, and right now, Toronto FC needs to focus on reality. This is why Toronto FC needs to put the Champions League on the back burner and concentrate solely on the league; trying for both will yield nothing.
Today also marks the return of Sam Cronin to BMO Field. He is the only player who I believe Toronto FC sold mistakenly. Rumour has it that he was a strong leader in the locker room, and that Preki couldn’t deal with someone like him. The same could probably have been said for Honduras captain Amado Guevara, but that is a different story altogether. Sam Cronin has had a good year for San Jose, but I say with all honesty that if Toronto FC can sign the young midfielder again, they should. He was someone that young Torontonians who aspired to play professional soccer could have looked up to. But that’s in the past now. Toronto FC will hold the friendly handshakes and buddy-buddy smiles until after the game, and pray that Cronin doesn’t punish them in-game like so many former players this year have.
The season is coming to a close, and a loss or tie today won’t be the end of the world, but a lot of what occurs from this point on is external-result based. Toronto FC needs to mix good results with good luck if they are to make the playoffs this year. If the soccer gods are kind, we may be seeing winter soccer in Toronto. If they are truly pleased with the boys in red, Toronto FC could take the field at home on November 21st, and attempt to win that MLS Cup!
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