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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

THE MATCHUP: Shh!... It's Champions League (Now with 30% more Freddy Hall!)

Don't ask about the triangle

TORONTO FC VS. C.D. AGUILA
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP 1
 
BMO FIELD - WEDNESDAY 8PM ET
TV/RADIO: NONE
 
THE KICKABOUT:
If an El Salvadorian footballer dives in a forest but it's only streamed online... does he still make an "agonizing" yelp? This is the fixture to answer such questions as Champions League returns to Toronto for the first time since The Reds fell to Santos Laguna in the semifinals of the 2011/2012 edition. Due to the Olympics and apathy, there is no traditional broadcasting of TFC's opening CCL fixture this year in what will be a much harder go of things compared to previous trips through this tournament. With the new format seeing only one team per group advance and TFC landing Santos Laguna (again) along with Wednesday night's foe, C.D. Aguila of El Salvador, los going may be mucho rough.
 
Like many Central American clubs, Aguila is a great unknown to us up here in the tundra - but they were 1976 CONCACAF Champions. That being said, the Bee Gees were big in '76 as well. They will play as most Central American teams play and shoddy refereeing will allow it. The question will become if Paul Mariner's more direct tactics will work in the CCL like Aron Winter's managed to. The direct pass/little possession style doesn't usually win in Continental competitions but hey, if it doesn't, at least no one will have seen it on TV.
 
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "El Webtraffico"
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: Reggie Lambe, Ryan Johnson, Luis Silva
C.D. AGUILA: Darwin Bonilla, Yaikel Perez, Henry Romero
 
THE ODDS:
- Attendance at BMO Field resembling Olympic venues: 2-1
- TFC announcing a solid 18.000+ attendance: 3-1
- Supporters looking for online stream distracted by a hilarious cat video on YouTube - forgetting that the match was on: 5-1
 
WHO ARE YA?
Aguila has one of Central America's most unique club badges (see above). The infamous badge seems to draw from many European influences and this is backed by club information on their logo translated from Spanish to Dutch and then into English here:
"The gentleman's shield of C.D. Aguila harnesses the positive power of our club's colonial overlords. The great Germanic eagle that has always been a symbol of peace and friendship world over; the Spanish-style badge representing the Conquistadors who did so much good in Latin America and slaughtered only those they wanted to; The Orange of the Nederlander represents the harmony, teamwork and selflessness we crave; the Greek laurels symbolize the healthy, stable financial nature of our club; and finally the "A" in an upside down triangle. This is a secret."
 
POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "REDS LOOK SHAKY AFTER TWO SHOTS FROM AGUILA"
 
BONUS SECTION: READY FREDDY
Since you spent the time getting to the bottom of this match preview, you deserve to hear that Toronto FC solved its defensive crisis today with the signing of a backup goalkeeper. As long rumoured here and in most TFC circles, the club inked 27-year old Bermudian Freddy Hall to a deal today providing Milos Kocic with some experienced relief. What this means for either Kocic or Stefan Frei long-term is up in the air but with Hall having a bit more professional pedigree than youngster Quillan Roberts, TFC's coaches won't worry as much every time Kocic looks banged up.

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