MLS Thursday Night: Toronto FC v Red Bull New York

By: Bob | October 4th, 2007

The last time we saw Toronto FC play on that great American experiment we like to call MLS Thursday Night…oh wait…Toronto FC has never played on Thursday night. What? The league’s new kids with their great fan support have never been the focus of our normal Thursday evening routine of yelling at Eric Wynalda? ESPN must be biased against Canada. They will try to make up for it this evening by sending broadcast signals from BMO Field straight into our living rooms. Might be a good night to have a Netflix handy.

On paper this one doesn’t look especially appetizing. Toronto FC has not won a match since the Fourth of July (an occasion that might make it a holiday in Canada too). They have scored exactly two goals in their past 12 games. In a league where even the LA Galaxy still are alive for a playoff birth, Toronto has been all but eliminated. They play hard, they have some players that are fun to watch, but mainly they are an expansion team that has taken its share of lumps all season long.

Their opponent can clinch a playoff spot with a victory this evening. The New York Red Bulls are currently third in the Eastern standings and sixth in the league overall. They enter the contest having played to three consecutive 2-2 draws. Juan Pablo Angel is second in the league with 17 goals. Jozy Altidore leads all 17-year-olds with 8 goals on the season. Captain Unibrow, Claudio Reyna, will not suit up for this one. He has found yet another body part to injure.

A few things to keep an eye on while you admire Toronto’s stadium and fans, while likely ignoring the play on the pitch.

1. Dane Mon – If I had a vote for MLS Rookie of the Year it would go to New York’s Dane Richards. The diminutive midfielder from Montego Bay, Jamaica has been solid since day one and has saved some of his best soccer for the end of the year. If you watch him this evening, keep an eye on how much of the dirty work he does in the midfield for the Red Bulls.

2. Edu, not Adu – If I had to vote for MLS Rookie of the Year and I couldn’t vote for Dane Richards, I’d probably throw my support behind Toronto newcomer Maurice Edu. The expansion team’s top draft pick has had a nice rookie campaign and with a little more talent around him he could blossom into a premier MLS player.

3. Red Infantry – Much attention has been paid to Toronto’s fans this season and deservedly so. The group that brings the funk in “The Bunker” behind the goal is collectively known as the Red Patch Boys (I’ve seen some lovely ladies in that mix too). The name is derived from the “Red Patch Devils”, a nickname for the 1st Canadian Infantry Division mobilized at the outbreak of World War II

Regardless of whether this one turns out ugly or if it is a thriller, do your North American patriotic duty and tune in…unless you have a really good Netflix to watch.