while challenging for the podium

[ldh2013]

“Not the prettiest game but we earned that point. .” – Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), on Twitter That one sentence sums it up, while at the same time, leaving so much out. Another workman-like effort on a difficult night for Toronto FC earned the team their first draw of the season in a 2-2 tie at Sporting Kansas City. The first half was among the worst 45 minutes of football you will see in Major League Soccer. The lone highlight/lowlight of the first half was Kansas City defender Igor Juliao vomiting on the field. Seriously...that was it...and those watching had the similar nausea suffering through the awful display. The second half was an entirely different game - Talking points...goals...a red card...and controversy. Through it all, 10-man Toronto FC goes home with a point in hand and thats four points in two league matches without Michael Bradley, for those counting at home. This wasnt the Sporting Kansas City team that won the MLS Cup last December. Top players Graham Zusi and Matt Besler are off with Bradley and the US Mens National team. Kansas City coach Peter Vermes was without his five - yes, five - first choice centre-backs unavailable through international duty, injury or suspension. Matters got worse with fill-in centre-back Chance Myers forced from the match in the 36th minute through injury and former Toronto FC midfielder Jacob Peterson moved to the backline. Anyone with experience watching Peterson over the years understands that defending is not exactly his forte. TFC manager Ryan Nelsen dealt with his own selection issues. Nelsen was minus three would-be regular starting midfielders. Debutant Collen Warner was forced to start at outside left, hardly his position of strength. Toronto struggled to maintain possession, yet again – a recurring theme this season. The field was tilted and, post-match, Nelsen complained all big decisions went against TFC. Any Baldomero Toledo-officiated match will leave one feeling that way. In fairness to Toledo, the 63rd-minute sending off of captain Steven Caldwell was most likely the right call – a high, studs-up challenge to the upper leg of Toni Dovante – and the 84th-minute penalty decision against Doniel Henry can easily be debated on both sides of the claim. Toledos decisions seem to be match-defining more times than not. This time around they should be considered harsh but fair. Yet, despite it all, Toronto FC outscored Kansas City 2-1 over the last 30 minutes of football while down a man. Make it two chances, two goals and two weeks in a row with Toronto FC scoring in stoppage time, flipping the script after years of conceding late. It will go down as a crucial point earned when it comes to eventual and expected playoff contention. You must pick up points on nights like these if you expect to be left standing when it comes to the post-season. Its a huge away point from a team with plenty to work on, but resiliency and push-back to be proud of.Here are my five thoughts on the 2-2 draw: 1) Warner Wins - Its incredible how segments of the Toronto FC fan base made up their mind on Warner before he ever touched a ball wearing red. “Not good enough” was a common sentiment. Suggestions as such were absolute garbage. The midfielder was solid in his TFC debut, growing into the match as it wore on. Warner was uncomfortable wide left, frequently moving inside. The team was far too narrow over the first 45 minutes. That isnt all on Warner. What we saw from the start was a player comfortable getting stuck in and one who puts himself in proper defensive positions. The newcomer showed his true worth after a double-change in the 53rd minute moved him inside. His physical presence was an asset and Warner played a massive role on TFCs first goal, not only winning the ball in the middle of the park, but also finishing his run, getting up the wing to provide Jermain Defoe another option on the break. The ball ended up on Luke Moores foot, scoring with a proper left-foot finish. But Warners run forced a defender to him and created a mismatch with Peterson late to recover on Moore. Warner will never be a flashy player, but every team needs honest, specific role players to be relied upon. Nelsen boasted about Warners physical presence post-match. “There was a reason we wanted him,” said Nelsen. Nevermind the detractors, the addition of Warner is welcome and true rewards of the trade will come after Bradley returns, giving him the freedom to get forward and attack. 2) Super Subs – Nelsen continues to get beat up by many for his “tactical” approach. Some may not like his 4-4-2 and team ball possession and consistency in attack must get better for the team to improve while getting the most out of the talented Defoe. Its far too early to make baseless claims that Nelsen doesnt know what hes doing. The head coach has only had a full squad at his disposal once all season, so its some patchwork stuff going on. What I do like is that Nelsens in-game management is growing by the game. Its been much better in recent weeks and particularly on Friday. Kyle Bekker and Alvaro Rey really struggled on the night and the midfield was a mess. Nelsen took off both players in the 53rd minute, bringing on Daniel Lovitz and Moore in their place. Lovitz went wide left and Moore straight-up front. Gilberto moved to a more outside role, almost turning the formation into a 4-3-3. It was a good move that entirely changed Toronto FCs shape. Even after going down a man, the shape was far better and more effective than anything over the first 45 minutes. Its moves like this that clearly suggest Nelsen gets it. Hes still young in his managerial career and is figuring out which buttons to press. I see progress here. Now, he needs a better-rounded team to get the most out of. Added quality at the outside midfield positions would certainly help. 3) Breaking Brad – In back-to-back games Bradley Orr has done a job for Toronto FC, from man-of-the-match consideration last Saturday to scoring the equalizer in stoppage time on Friday. Nick Hagglund did well to play the ball back inside the box after a scramble off a free kick and Orr exposed an inexperienced centre-back duo, finding a soft spot in limited space in front of the goalkeeper and keeping his cool to head home his first goal for Toronto FC for a great finish by a guy emerging as an important squad player. Look for Orr to partner Hagglund at centre-back for next weekends league match against Columbus. He deserves to stay in the team and Hagglund deserves to be beside him – a good combination of veteran presence and youthful exuberance. Caldwells upcoming one-game suspension opens the door for Orr to slide back to centre-half. Orr isnt ideal at centre-midfield and is better suited on the backline. 4) Challenging Challenges – Lets start with Caldwell - he knows better than to fly in for such a clumsy, unnecessary tackle around midfield that saw him sent off. The captain made the argument that, perhaps, it should be just a yellow. Any time you challenge studs-up high on an opponent with clear intent, youre asking for trouble and Caldwell knows better...and he is. Caldwell will now most likely play Wednesday night in the Canadian Championship against Montreal. Fortunate for Caldwell, his team picked him up and earned the point. On the other hand, Doneil Henrys untimely challenge leading to the Kansas City penalty and second goal is all-too- familiar. Its the fourth penalty on the year given up by the 21-year old. The penalty call itself was debatable as Henry came flying across the box to help cover in defence. Juliao played the ball past Henry and crashed into the defender. It was no surprise that Juliao dropped to the ground and the penalty was given. Juliao would have never got to the ball and I wouldnt have given a penalty. The collision was true, but the intention was not. I would have preferred discretion used by Toledo on a call inside the penalty area. An instant Twitter poll with over 50 respondents (@WheelerTSN) showed 52 per cent believing that the penalty was rightfully given. Henry was far too rash in his challenge, sprinting out to the player without any wherewithal to put his body in a position to react. Lumbering into a player just inside the 18 almost never ends well, no matter the intent. It was inelegant from Henry. More discipline and sound defensive one-on-one positional play is essential for the player to grow. I assume he will start alongside Caldwell Wednesday in another chance to prove he has the discipline to play at this level. 5) Cool Foot Luke – It was written in this space last week Nelsen must consider starting Moore over Gilberto for the time-being and Moores second goal in as many games reinforces the argument. The Englishman finished the type of chance Gilberto has let gone to waste in recent weeks. The suggestion Gilberto should head to the bench short-term isnt intended to bash the Brazilian. His work-rate and effort remains desirable, but strikers need do more than simply work hard. There needs to be proper link-up play and the ability to finish. Both need improvement. It looks as though Defoe and Moore have complimentary movement off the ball. Its tough to entirely tell with TFC playing so defensive with not nearly enough attacking play. Starting Moore over Gilberto isnt about killing his confidence - its about doing whats best for the team. Make him earn his way into the squad. It is not preferable, but designated players can be sent to the bench. Claudio Bieler has been banished to the bench at Sporting Kansas City and they keep rolling on. Nelsen has to do whats best for the team and thats not simply handing a spot to Gilberto in the starting XI because hes a designated player. Toronto FC welcomes the Montreal Impact to BMO Field Wednesday April 28th at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt for the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship. . -- The Detroit Tigers think Alex Gonzalez is not too old to be a solution to their shortstop problem. . -- Darrun Hilliard scored 21 points and Josh Hart added 13, lifting the undefeated No. . – The field is now set for the Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials next month in Winnipeg.TOBLACH, Italy -- Alex Harvey was solid in a fifth-place result on Saturday in his final World Cup cross-country ski distance race prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. After spending a week doing high-altitude training in Italy, the 25-year-old from St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., bounced back into race form while challenging for the podium in the mens 15-kilometre individual start classic-ski race. Harvey clocked a time of 37 minutes 30.1 seconds. "That was a solid race from Alex today. He started out conservative and then made up ground throughout the race," said Justin Wadsworth, head coach of the Canadian cross-country ski team. "This week is all about shaking out the cobwebs after being at altitude so it was a good day." Harvey set a pace ahead of the eventual winner, Russias Alexander Legkov, in the final lap. Legkov set the time to beat at 37:02.7. Switzerlands Dario Cologna was second at 37:05.6, while Swedens Marcus Hellner rounded out the podium in third with a time of 37:20.3. Four other Canadians hit the start line including two relative rookies to thee World Cup, Graeme Killick and Jesse Cockney, along with Olympic veterans Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov. . Kershaw, from Sudbury, Ont., finished 39th with a time of 39:31.7, while Killick, from Fort McMurray, Alta., placed 40th (39:32.3). Cockney, from Canmore, Alta., was 51st (39:48.6), while Babikov, also from Canmore, finished 62nd (40:24.4) in the wet and mild conditions. "Devon and Ivan struggled with their skis today in the conditions," added Wadsworth. "All of the guys are feeling really good and I think are looking good heading into the Games." Whitehorses Emily Nishikawa was the lone Canadian to start in the womens 10-kilometre classic-ski race. Nishikawa placed 40th after clocking a time of 30:06.8. Norways Marit Bjoergen finished on top at 26:54.2. Therese Johaug, also of Norway, grabbed the silver medal with a time of 27:30.9, while Swedens Charlotte Kalla skied to the bronze after stopping the clock at 27:37.1. The final World Cup race prior to the start of the Olympic Winter Games takes place on Sunday in Toblach, Italy. ' ' '