TORONTO – The date was November 6, 2016. The location: Yankee Stadium.
Late goals from Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts had given Toronto FC the advantage from the first leg at BMO Field, but what ensued was unexpected. A 5-0 route, a 7-0 aggregate defeat, the heaviest in MLS history.
Sebastian Giovinco netted after six minutes, added a second from the penalty spot 14 minutes later, and competed his hat-trick in stoppage-time. Altidore blasted a tight-angle rocket high into the net and Jonathan Osorio quelled any illusions of a second half comeback with his 50th minute strike.
Fast-forward eight months and the two teams will meet once more, twice in fact, over the next fortnight: on Wednesday at the scene of the crime and again on July 30 in Toronto.
“Without a doubt, they're going to remember it,” said Eriq Zavaleta after training on Monday. “They're going have a chip on their shoulder to avenge what is a sour taste in their mouths for how they ended last year.”
Greg Vanney called NYCFC, 'a team with a lot of pride'.
“My assumption is they'll come out, play hard, look to set things right, prove their quality and value at home, and send a statement,” continued Vanney. “It's always an entertaining, fast-paced, lots-of-chances type of game. We have to stay tight and work for moments to create and take our chances. It's an interesting game on this small field. It's a hyper game. They've upped their pressure, opposing teams higher up the field which makes for a faster game. Should be fun.”
Games at Yankee Stadium between the two have a way of producing goals. In addition to the playoff encounter, there was the 2-2 draw last season where David Villa scored a brace with Giovinco and Damien Perquis responding for Toronto.
And no one could forget the epic 4-4 draw in 2015 where Giovinco scored a hat-trick and Villa a brace.
There is something special when those two players and these two teams meet on the pitch in New York.
“Two teams that are aggressive, attack-minded, on a small field where you can force turnovers, situations where teams are opened up,” explained Vanney. “Because it's a small field, you're in the box nice and quick. Because you have two aggressive teams, it lends itself to that kind of game. There tend to be opportunities; both teams are capable of punishing mistakes.”
“It's important that we're are smart. We had a game plan last time, it worked out,” elaborated Vanney. “Part of the reason it continued to was because we got our first goal early, which then set up the rest. We hope we can be as fortunate, but we have to play the long game. This is a place where anything can happen.”
Recalled Zavaleta: “Our game plan was perfect. We played as well as we could have; never gave them opportunities to get out of their half. We dictated the game, dictated field position. It was a fun game to play in because collectively we played as well as we could.”
Of course NYCFC are a different beast now, nipping at Chicago and Toronto's heels in a three-way race for supremacy in the Eastern Conference.
“They're better. Different than what they were last year,” outlined Vanney. “They've got more legs in midfield. [Alexander] Ring, [Yangel] Herrera. These guys cover ground and fast. On this field, it makes it challenging to create opportunities. It's important for us that the ball moves fast, take advantage of the spaces and windows when they're there.”
The massive playoff victory provided a boost at a crucial point in the hunt for MLS Cup, a result on Wednesday could well do the same with the playoff race heating up as summer stretches into fall.
“It was huge,” said Zavaleta. “It was the third or fourth game we had firmly established ourselves in a 3-5-2. We wanted to fancy ourselves as a pressing team and collectively that's difficult unless you have everybody bought in on how we were going to play, how we felt we could win a championship. Beating a good team 7-0 in aggregate is going to give any team confidence.”
And for Vanney, matching wits with Patrick Vieira is a special treat: “The game is challenging from a coaching standpoint because he's not afraid to throw in nuances, shifts, play with things tactically, which I appreciate, because it keeps us on our toes. I enjoy these games. He's one of these younger minds who is very savvy. That makes it exciting.”
