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.

Reds take shot of Avila as Maicon Santos heads to FC Dallas

"You new here? It's ok, so is everyone else"

And then there was one. Of all the players brought in under Preki, only Ty Harden (I know!) is still standing. The "TFC Transfer Window Wacky Funtime Hour" has continued today (official announcement) as club "captain" Maicon Santos was shipped to FC Dallas for former Generation Adidas attacking midfielder Eric Avila.
　
23-year old American Avila, is by all accounts a very versatile midfielder who fits into the Aron Winter modus operandi of being able to handle multiple positions. He also becomes the second once-highly-touted Dallas product TFC has acquired in a week after nabbing Peri Marosevic on a free. Unlike the sparsely used Marasovic, Avila has made 58 appearances with The Hoops but has fell out of FCD manager Schellas Hyndman's plans.
　
Maicon Santos will leave Toronto with mixed feelings behind. Many fans may miss some of the numbers he put up but many more will bemoan his enigmatic play. It was often frustrating to see the man many called "Mike Sanders" waste some obvious talents with play that was inconsistent and often bordering on lazy. Last month's match in Kansas City, where many blamed Santos for TFC's 1st half collapse (including Aron Winter who yanked him in the 43rd minute) was the death knell for the affable Brazilian's Toronto career. It was a performance that illuminated the worst of Santos' game which only got worse when attempts were made to force him into the midfield rather than up front.
　
TFC surely join a rare trivia group of clubs who have traded away two captains in one season. However, the armband will no doubt fall onto the much more "captainy" bicep of Torsten Frings who has been de-facto captain now for weeks. In other news, Ty Harden's suitcase is packed and ready to go.