An academy team that was playing in USL PDL for the last couple seasons and learned a hard lesson about the difference between playing against men and boys today. Not that TFC2 is old by any means, but they are battle tested. The majority of the players on today’s side played last season in League1 Ontario.
While the PDL is made up of college players staying fit, L1O is a semi-pro league that demands professional standards. It’s only that Canadian instinct to assume they do things better than us that makes people think PDL is a greater challenge than L1O is.
Now one game doesn't prove anything as it relates to the difference between L1O and PDL – those inclined to dismiss L1O still will – but the one game today demonstrated that TFC’s academy grads were more pro ready than Montreal’s were.
The best players on the pitch came directly from TFCA and the L1O title winning side.
Especially Mo Babouli.
Those that follow me are likely sick of hearing about Babouli. The intriguing, occasionally infuriating, creative goal scoring machine that is the most creative Canadian product since a certain man from Scarborough broke onto the scene 15 years ago.
He was everywhere today, playing a 10-like role. In the past, Babouli was thought of as a pure poacher, but today he showed that his ability to feed players the ball is as exciting as his knack for putting it into the back of the net.
There was a moment in the first half where he stripped the ball off a Montreal player just outside the 18, did a full 360 on the ball, and then found Mark Anthony Kaye in behind the bewildered FC Montreal back-line. Kaye probably should have finished, but in that moment the Babouli skeptics became MoLievers.
It didn't hurt when he blasted one off the bar on a 25-yard free kick minutes later, played a perfect ball into Marcos Nunes for the game’s first goal (his first pro goal in the 38th), hit the bar again in the second and basically drew triple coverage for most of the second half.
I’ve been told that TFC wants Babouli to play the full year in USL to develop maturity. They might have their hand forced if he keeps playing like this.
There were other good performances. Alex Bono looked better, Adam Bouchard was solid at the back and Raheem Edwards was dangerous in a sub role (and forced the 71st minute own goal that put the game out of reach).
Yes, there was plenty to like about a lot of things in the club’s MOnificent, MOmentous and MOstoric win.
Now MOre, please!