As the year closes it is customary to look back on some of the important events that took place throughout the 12 months. Toronto FC had an eventful 2011. The year started with a brand new management team, some poor MLS results in the early going, a new and strengthened squad at midseason and a breakthrough performance in the Champions League.
2011 At A Glance
January 6:
Toronto kicked off the year with a
major management announcement
. Incoming head coach and technical director Aron Winter, his assistant Bob de Klerk and director of player development Paul Mariner were appointed to right the ship at BMO Field.
July 2:
The Reds struggled in MLS play in the early months of the season. Three league wins, nine draws and seven losses through the end of June confirmed Winter’s suspicion that the squad simply wasn’t up to par. Big changes were ahead, but one constant remained under the new boss; Toronto lifted the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for the third straight year, earning a spot in the 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League by
beating Vancouver 3-2
over two legs.
July 15:
Although they were
introduced on June 29
, German legend Torsten Frings and Dutch target man Danny Koevermans officially became TFC players at the mid-summer MLS transfer window. Winter promised wholesale changes and soon other acquisitions were made in Ryan Johnson, Eric Avila, Andy Iro, Terry Dunfield, Peri Marosevic and more. BMO Field was abuzz with upgrades, but the squad suffered heavily losing centre backs Adrian Cann and Dicoy Williams to season ending knee injuries and subsequent depth issues at the backline followed. Toronto amassed a record of three wins, six draws and four losses in MLS since July 15, looking stronger since September as the core settled.
September 10:
It took 12 games over five years but Toronto finally beat Columbus Crew and lifted the Trillium Cup for the first time. Following a two-week international break, a well rested TFC squad showed what it’s capable of at full strength
beating Columbus 4-2
at Crew Stadium. Nick Soolsma and Ryan Johnson put the Reds up 2-0, before Julian de Guzman and Danny Koevermans struck late to complete the scoring. An injured
Stefan Frei’s emphatic reaction
to Koevermans rounding the Crew keeper for the fourth goal succinctly captured the release from five years of frustration.
October 18:
In a must-win match for Toronto FC to secure passage into the 2011-12 CCL quarterfinals, the Reds came through with a
3-0 victory over FC Dallas
at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Koevermans struck inside the first half hour and a pair of fine finishing touches in the final frame from Joao Plata lifted TFC to
a new level
in continental football. The Reds will take on MLS Cup and league champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the CCL quarterfinals on March 7 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto and March 14 in Carson for the return fixture.
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