Wednesday evening’s opponent, Orlando City, snapped a three-game losing streak of their own on the weekend with a 5 – 2 win over the Crew. The Lions’ five goals in that game followed three that they put past New York City in a 5 – 3 loss the week before.
At the heart of this offensive explosion is Brampton, Ontario’s Cyle Larin. The Canadian forward, selected number one overall in this season’s SuperDraft, scored three in loss in New York and another two versus Columbus. That brought his season total to 11 goals, tying the rookie record. While it is still former FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka who will bring casual fans out to the stadium, it is Larin that dedicated MLS observers will want to keep their eye on.
Success stories in Canadian men’s soccer have been too far and too few between in the last decade, and Larin’s emergence as a bona fide MLS star, in a league that is far more visible in Canada than it was even five years ago, could have tremendous knock-on effects for Canadian player development. Quota or no-quota, Larin is proving that MLS still provides a pathway to professionalism for young Canadian players with the talent and drive to make an impact at this level. Even as that level continues to improve.
TFC’s own offense was muted on the weekend in New England. Jozy Altidore’s red card in the first half of that game means that he’ll be absent against Orlando while serving a suspension. Sebastian Giovinco’s halftime substitution was almost certainly precautionary, with thoughts of this game in midweek taking priority over trying to rescue a two-goal disadvantage while a man down.
The status of TFC’s captain, Michael Bradley, is the real question. The American international has been absent since leaving for Gold Cup duty with his national team, and returned with a calf injury. Collen Warner’s return from suspension should prevent Greg Vanney from being forced to play Robbie Findley in midfield. With Altidore unavailable, however, that means there should be a place for Findley at his natural position of forward.
Unless Vanney surprises by handing rookie Jay Chapman a start -- Chapman has been seeing regular minutes as a substitute recently -- the only other real option at forward is Luke Moore. But lack of production from Moore and Findley points to one of TFC’s weak spots: over-reliance on their Designated Players. Yes, it is remarkable that Giovinco has scored or assisted on over two-thirds of the team’s goals, but that level of importance has a necessary corollary: shut down Gio, and you’ve probably shut down TFC.
Finally, at the back, the great right back question of 2015 will probably be back to the only solution that has ever really worked. If Ashtone Morgan is available to return to left back, that means that Justin Morrow can be switched over to the right. Jackson had a non-disastrous outing in the position on the weekend, but his usefulness off the bench in midfield as an impact sub, either offensively or defensively, mitigates against another start on the backline.
Like much of TFC’s summer the stakes are clear: win, and everything will feel alright again. Losing to an expansion team, at home, has already happened once this year. That was unfortunate. To lose again might seem like carelessness.