AFTER 90: "City that never sleeps" visited by offence that never clicks

Times (for a new GM) Square

NEW YORK 1 - TORONTO FC 0

"In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made, oh
There's nothing you can't do..."

Unless of course you are Toronto FC and want a crucial 3 points. With apologies to Jay-Z for the above, TFC indeed had yet another flaccid outing in New York City (or New Jersey at least), a place quickly becoming their nemesis. With all the pre-game buzz being around NYRB's collection of designated players, most would have expected a dazzling array of skills on show. Instead, New York really didn't have to break much of a sweat for a workmanlike victory over a TFC whose road record, especially offensively, is truly terrible.

A single goal from NYRB's Estonian midfielder Joel Lindpere was all that was needed by the Energy Drinkers and enough to deflate any early pressure TFC may have shown. After dropping down a goal, TFC's Prekiball offence went from bad to lost. Counting on the likes of Jacob "The Invisible Mormon" Peterson and later O'Brian "Montego Molasses" White for your offence is already a handicap but when your hottest striker Chad Barrett (I know, I shook my head too) goes down to injury it just highlights how paper-thin Mo Johnston's masterpiece is.

With Champions Leagues' added six matches and a "playoff run" (again, we are shaking heads) mixed together over the next two months, the shocking lack of depth on TFC is alarming to the most optimistic supporter. When Dwayne De Rosario briefly pulled up injured in the second half, even his most harsh critics had flashes of what TFC could look like with one or two key injuries. Good thing this is only Year 4 of Mo's 5 Year Plan eh? Apparently the fifth year is when Preki starts allowing an offence.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Joel Lindpere (NYRB)

GOAT OF THE MATCH: Jacob Peterson (TFC)

MATCH IN FIVE WORDS: Flaccid. Clueless. Conditioning. Empty seats.

SENSATIONAL HEADLINE: "PREKI BUYS CASE OF RED BULL FOR TFC OFFENCE"

TOTALLY FAKE POST-MATCH QUOTE: "I am liking the Big Apples City very much. Today I see Empire Building - punch it. Chrysler Building - punch it. Grand Central Railway Station - punch. Then went to Sbarro for a pepperoni slice of Italian pie - also punch. Next time will come backs to see Statue of Lady Liberty - I will punch." - TFC defender Maxim Usanov describes his first visit to New York