Toronto interim head coach Nick Dasovic admitted after Toronto's nil-nil draw away to Cruz Azul that it wasn't pretty football, but he wasn't in the altitude, heat and poor air quality of Mexico City to win a beauty contest.
The Reds' effective draw has set them up to close out the group stage of the Champions League with two winnable home games that could see Toronto advance to the Quarterfinals of the continent's top club tournament - though only with more hard work ahead.
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VIDEO: September 21, 2010 - Toronto draws Cruz Azul in Mexico City.</p> |
On the popular football website Goal.com, Cruz Azul's Christian Gimenez is reported to have complimented Toronto's defence, albeit in a backhanded manner. The Argentine midfielder and set-piece specialists called the Dasovic plan "complicated" and "tiresome." He went on to say, "the truth is we could not break through their defence."
"It's impossible to play like that, when they put all 11 in front of you and waste time, even though it's also our fault but we're fine with the game because we gave it our all."
"In Mexican football it's difficult to play the way Toronto played - it's too tiring. Here we couldn't break that defence and you leave a bit upset, hurt because those were three important points at home."
In fact, Gimenez' teammate Fausto Pinto was so frustrated by Toronto's ability to close down space, that he lashed out with an elbow to Julian de Guzman at the 80th minute that cost the Mexican defender an ejection from the match.
Toronto advancing to the quarterfinals may sound a bit far fetched given that Salt Lake and Cruz Azul are at nine and seven points respectively to Toronto's four. But if TFC takes maximum points in its final Champions League games against Salt Lake on September 28 and in the October 19 finale versus Arabe - both at BMO Field - the improbable becomes possible.
Should the Reds advance, both former coach Preki and current boss Dasovic will be credited for taking four points out of six from powerful Cruz Azul - a type of feat against Mexican clubs that MLS teams rarely ever boast. The head-to-head superiority over Mexico's league leader could be a cutting (and cunning) edge in Toronto's pocket when the dust settles.
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