Toronto FC dropped a tough one on Saturday night, losing 1-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo.
The only goal of the match was ruled an own-goal, an Alistair Johnston cross from the right that was redirected into the TFC net by Lukas MacNaughton under pressure from Romell Quioto at the back-post in the 69th minute.
Toronto had two goals ruled offside, both from Ayo Akinola, and despite a red card to Kamal Miller in the 81st minute for a second booking, the Reds could not find a way to draw level.
“We were under pressure most of the game, they pushed us deep,” said Bob Bradley post-match. “We defended for the most part pretty well, but weren't able to put enough football together, weren’t able to connect enough passes which kept us deep.”
“We spoke at halftime about ways we could get out a little bit more. The way they set up, especially on one side, Miller had too easy of a time getting balls and playing balls forward,” he continued. “We did a little better with that in the second half, but still not enough football. And then we really make a mess out of the goal-kick 15-20 seconds before the goal.”
“We played short to Mimmo [Domenico Criscito], when it comes to Shane [O’Neill], under pressure, we end up in the corner. If they've stepped up that high, [we’ve] probably got to take a touch and play a ball forward and move out,” Bradley added. “On the end of the play, the cross to the back-post, Lukas goes deep; we did not do a good enough job in that area and Alex [Bono] gets caught.”
It’s never a good feeling losing to Montreal.
“It’s quiet, we’re disappointed,” said Bono. “Whenever you have a derby match against your rival, you always want to show up and make a statement, let them know that you’ve still got one up on them. Today that didn't quite happen for us.”
With Jonathan Osorio a late scratch, Bradley opted to go with a back-three of Criscito, O’Neill, and MacNaughton. A handful of scares aside, they largely held Montreal at bay.
“The way Montreal plays, where they push their wing-backs very high and you’re dealing with five across the line, we felt that we could handle that better playing three in the back,” explained Bradley. “Shane in his role in the centre, especially in the second half, was aggressive, stepped up.”
“Early in the game, our back three didn't do a good enough job of stepping to [Matko] Miljevic, so we were letting their two strikers, Quioto and [Kei] Kamara, hold all three of our defenders,” he continued. “That got a little bit better in the second half, but overall, defensively Shane was pretty solid.”
Having spotted the opponent a lead too many times this season, it was a more resilient start from TFC.
“The start is so important in these games,” levelled Bono. “As of late for us, we’ve struggled at times, so it was really important for us to get through the first five/ten minutes, be smart, not shoot ourselves in the foot like we've done in the past.”
“We were defending for a lot in the first half, it was tough getting on the ball, but credit to the guys,” he added. “We dug in and when we were up against it we defended pretty well.”
A few crucial saves from the Toronto keeper, including a highlight reel glove hand on an early effort from Kamara, helped keep the match scoreless.
Not that that was any solace for Bono come the final whistle: “I would have rather had the other guy’s night and come out with a 1-0 win.”
An away day in Montreal always brings out the travelling supporters. Saturday was no different.
“I saw a lot of red all around the stadium,” said Bono. “The supporter’s section here is always rockin’ and we can always hear them.”
“We appreciate the unwavering support, especially as we're going through a tough time as a group, trying to dig ourselves out of it. It's important for all of us to stay together as a group right now – players, locker room, fans,” said Bono. “We can't lose belief.”
“The second we start to lose belief, we're doing everyone a disservice,” he continued. “The support doesn't go unnoticed. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we appreciate the travelling support.”
A season full of change was always going to be difficult. Between players in, players out, the usual disruption of injuries and such, Toronto have been in a holding pattern, trying to inch forward.
With 13 matches remaining, reinforcements are set to arrive: Lorenzo Insigne is still pencilled in to debut in the club’s next match on Saturday at BMO Field against Charlotte FC and Ferderico Bernardeschi will be formally introduced on Monday.
That Charlotte match will kick off the next triplet of matches – away to the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 26 in the Canadian Championship final and then away to the New England Revolution on July 30 – to close the month.
“It's been a challenge,” said Bradley. “I always keep saying ‘the first half of the season,’ but the way things have gone it's moved into the beginning of the second season. When you consider waiting for players, injuries – today’s another example, when we lose Oso, we have to change our idea of how we want to play – that's not ideal, but obviously you got to find a way to keep everybody going.”
“That's been the biggest challenge: keep everybody believing that we’re going to get it where we want. It's hard work right now,” he added. “We’ll be excited to get a lift when some of these other guys get here, get on the field, see if we get ourselves on a little bit of a run.”