AFTER 90: Real tough to swallow

The (Stockton) shorts end of the stick

THE BUZZ:
Will Toronto FC leave Utah with as dubious record holders?

Remember back in 2007 when RSL a bigger mess than us? Yeah.

Can Torsten Frings return balance to the midfield?

Do The Reds have the firepower up front to breakdown RSL?

Is Aron Winter brave enough to stick with his system?

Does Steve Nicol get GOL TV?

How do I look in these 1987 Utah Jazz shorty-shorts?

 

FIRST HALF:
7' - GOAL: Real Salt Lake - Kyle Beckerman

REAL SALT LAKE 1 - TORONTO 0

18' - PENALTY: Torsten Frings PK saved by Nick Rimando

 

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHT: Richard Eckersley looking like he wanted to stab Adrian Cann in his handsome face

FIRST HALF LOWLIGHT: Torsten Frings becoming the first German footballer in history to miss a penalty kick

 

HALFTIME: REAL SALT LAKE 1 - TORONTO 0

SECOND HALF:
48' - GOAL: Toronto - Eric Avila

REAL SALT LAKE 1 - TORONTO 1

57' - GOAL: Real Salt Lake - Richard Eckersley OG

REAL SALT LAKE 2 - TORONTO 1

59' - SUB: Doneil Henry on for Richard Eckersley

68' - SUB: Joao Plata on for Terry Dunfield

76' - SUB: Logan Emory on for Ashtone Morgan

77' - GOAL: Toronto - Doneil Henry

REAL SALT LAKE 2 - TORONTO 2

80' - YELLOW CARD: Torsten Frings

90'+ - GOAL: Real Salt Lake - Jonny Steele

REAL SALT LAKE 3 - TORONTO 2

 

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHT: Eric Avila giving his all

SECOND HALF LOWLIGHT: The inevitability of the winning goal

 

FULL TIME: REAL SALT LAKE 3 - TORONTO 2

 

PLAYER RATINGS: Milos Kocic 6 / Richard Eckersley 4.5 (Doneil Henry 7) / Adrian Cann 5 / Miguel Aceval 6 / Ashtone Morgan 5.5 (Logan Emory N/A) / Terry Dunfield 5 (Joao Plata 5) / Julian de Guzman 5.5 / Torsten Frings 5.5 / Reggie Lambe 6 / Ryan Johnson 5 / Eric Avila 6.5

 

THE YORKIES' TFC PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Eric Avila

 

THE MOOD:
If you were told that TFC was going to have a "record breaking" season in 2012, this wasn't likely the record you would have guessed at. Yes, your beloved Torontos take their place in the record for worst start to a MLS season at a lusty 0-7 with little in the way of optimism that things are going to improve soon. Supporters can now legally say that 2012 "couldn't have started worse".

 

The Reds did show some fight against RSL but the technical frailties, especially in defence, are still the stuff of dreams for their opposition. While we aren't yet on the "Fire Winter" train, those calls will justifiably grow louder. A few days after giving fans his 100% playoff guarantee, the affable Dutchman still hasn't found a way to make these players work in his system. A heartbreaking ending indeed but in all honesty, the 1 point would have only soothed souls temporarily and put a band-aid over a deeper wound.