Happy Monday, ladies and gentlemen. Between some internet problems at my house and a busy period I got away from doing this for a bit. Freedom Kicks will be back for all five work days this week. Lucky you!
United vs Toronto FC: United officially hit rock bottom in 2-1 loss to TFC | UnitedMania
Have any of you ever seen the video where Yale fans get Harvard fans to hold up cards so it spells out "We suck" in the stands?
WASHINGTON There were plenty of interesting storylines to follow heading into Saturday night's encounter between D.C. United and Toronto FC. TFC's front office is led by Kevin Payne, who less than a year ago was calling the shots at United. On the sidelines, Toronto's head coach is also a former United man, having hoisted the 2004 MLS Cup while wearing the black and red.
It used to watch the Soviets - now TFC blogs D.C. UNITED VS. TORONTO RFK STADIUM FIRST HALF: KICK OFF - There's always espionage in the air when Toronto FC, the boys from Canada's capital city, head down to the American capital to meet D.
This must surely be one of the great cripple fights in the history of Major League Soccer. D.C. United, riding a 12-match league winless streak, host Toronto FC, themselves winless in 11. That's a combined 23 matches between the two sides since either of them collected three points. Both will obviously try to change their fortunes - and avoid the inside track for the wooden spoon - with a victory tonight.
Whisper it, but D.C. United might just be turning this train to hell around. We won a game against a moderately competent Philadelphia Union side - playing arguably their best eleven, no less - in the US Open Cup. We scored three goals in doing so. Dwayne De Rosario, with the hat trick, may be about to get back on track on a consistent basis.
Anybody else still feel a little dizzy after Wednesday night? It's been so long since D.C. United won in any competition, I think my tolerance for the happiness chemicals in my brain must have dropped, and I'm suffering what can only be described as a dopamine hangover. But by tomorrow night, when the Black-and-Red host Toronto FC, I'm hoping to be back at 100% and ready to endure another happy hangover (and not the kind that can follow losing.
With a win in the US Open Cup now behind us, the attention shifts to D.C. United's weekend game against Toronto FC. And if there was ever a team that was built to be a slump-buster, besides this year's United, it is this TFC team. After some bold words from Kevin Payne in the preseason and an early victory over Sporting Kansas City, the team has regressed to what they have been in years past.
Over the past few months here on the site, we've seen several regular commenters say they still enjoy going out to RFK Stadium with family, friends, and fellow supporters despite the difficult opening to the season. And why not? One of the great things about soccer is that it is a pastime/passion best enjoyed in the company of others.
It has to be a Rongen (TM)! Pity those poor dads who fall victim to the hackneyed cliché that are terrible Father's Day gifts. Pity-squared those poor papas who have taken that dark path in life referred to as "Toronto FC Supporter" who receive those aforementioned terrible gifts as well.
""Who smokes the blunts? We smoke the blunts." It was renowned 20th Century poet, lyricist and Loverboy Michael J. Reno who penned "Everybody's goin' off the deep end. Everybody needs a second chance." Indeed, for Toronto FC members, their days of preparation are actually "work for the weekend" - how successful they are is another article.
Harry Redknapp thinks New York is "triffic" Here in Toronto, we're no strangers to MLS expansion clubs. Why, we've had one for seven years now! Alas, there is a new club on the horizon who will make the playoffs before Toronto FC, the long-rumoured "NYC2" club - now christened New York City FC.
WASHINGTON — Ryan Nelsen can't help but play the "What if?" game. How could he not? Point after point dropped because of lapses in concentration. Poor decisions. Bad luck.
With nine goals conceded in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, it's not hard to understand why Toronto FC went three months without a win.
D.C. United entered this match with a chance to increase its yearly point total by 50%, and more importantly, to move out of the cellar of MLS's Eastern Conference. With a win at RFK Stadium tonight, United would have passed its opponent Toronto FC and would no longer be considered the worst team in the league.
The top two teams in the MLS Western Conference square off today as the Portland Timbers face off against FC Dallas at Jeld-Wen Field in the marquee match of the day (5pm, ESPN).
The Timbers are riding a 12-match unbeaten streak and will be looking to knock off FC Dallas and move into first place in the West.
Although their shock fourth round exit in the U.S. Open Cup has Sporting Kansas City fans feeling extra blue, they can take at least one positive away from Wednesday night's loss to Orlando City.
Forward Teal Bunbury made his first appearance since last August in the loss, coming in for Jacob Peterson in the 76th minute.
Five-A-Day Football News Wednesday June One-Two is a post from: Serie A Weekly Five-A-Day Football News Wednesday June One-Two is a post from: Serie A Weekly Italy swung by Haiti to play an international friendly for charity and the result was a 2-2 draw against a poor opponent. Enzo Misuraca breaks down the performance and grades some players.
Omar Cummings return to the practice field couldn't come at a better time for the Houston Dynamo.
With Giles Barnes and Anthony Arena two more names to add to the injury list, the Dynamo were pleased to see Cummings participating in full practice for the first time since suffering a right knee injury in April.
In news that shouldn't surprise anyone, Toronto FC winger Hogan Ephraim was recalled from his loan deal at the Canadian club, returning to Queens Park Rangers.
The English club was relegated but appears to have Ephraim in their first-team plans this season, and want him fresh and ready to go come July.
With just minutes remaining in their physical match with the visiting Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC seemed destined to end their late game woes.
The struggling Toronto squad, up 1-0 off a Jonathan Osorio goal, was on the verge of their second win of the season when a late Union throw-in fell into the path of league-leading scorer Jack McInerney.
Sporting Kansas City and the Montreal Impact are both eying the top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference and tonight's match-up at Sporting Park will offer us some evidence of just which of them is the more likely challenger to fellow East powers Houston and the New York Red Bulls.
When New York Red Bulls manager Mike Petke gave his opinion of the referees performances during his side's 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew last Sunday, it was a calculated decision, one that he knew would come with a fine.
There' s an old saying in golf that you can't win a tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it. That's what has happened to D.C. United this season. After a difficult opening 12 games, they continue to sit dead last in the overall Major League Soccer table. Although two thirds of the season remains, the hole D.
The New England Revolution beat Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday night behind goals from Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo. The win gave New England (4-4-4) its first back-to-back wins of the season and sent Toronto to their fifth straight loss.
New England is now 3-1-2 in its last six games. What is impressive about this run is who NE has played; Philadelphia (H), Portland (A), RSL (H), Houston (A), New York (H), Toronto (H).
At the beginning of the 2012 Major League Soccer season, Toronto FC set a record for utility by losing their first nine matches. The Reds were roundly called one of the worst teams in MLS history at that point. In fact, one of their highly paid star players, Danny Koevermans, famously said they were "setting the record for the worst team in the world.
The New England Revolution are winners of back-to-back matches for the first time in 2013, and they owe both victories to their two bright young forwards.
After scoring in last week's 2-0 win over Houston, Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo got on the scoreboard again on Saturday night as New England defeated struggling Toronto FC 2-0.
Despite Dwayne DeRosario's go ahead goal from the spot, D.C. United's horrific season continues to spiral downhill as they lost this evening to visiting Toronto FC 2-1 at RFK Stadium. The loss extends United's club-record winless streak to 13 games. Photo: Martin Fernandez
It's fair to say that Toronto FC are not doing very well this season. Now twelve games into the 2013 MLS, they have only won a single fixture and are currently on a five game losing streak.
Typically set up in a 4-4-2 formation, Toronto's starting XI has rarely been the same from game to game, especially in midfield.
Don’t worry everyone, Poetry Corner Kicks is back! I realize that skipping a poetry recap feels like being a TFC fan after minute 85, but even I need a vacation once in a while. Though I was away from home, I wasn’t away from the Union as I was able to watch their game against the Nor’easters in the USOC.
Well then. That was something fun and different. The Philadelphia Union had a string of three goals in six minutes in the first half as they routed the Columbus Crew by a final score of 3-0 on Wednesday night at PPL Park.
Right out of the gate, the Union played an aggressive counterattacking game that while sloppy at times, made them appear much more threatening right out of the gate than they ever looked over the weekend against Toronto FC.
The Union are 3-2-3 against Toronto all time. We've got all of the match stats, highlights from our match reports and analysis, video highlights, and more.
A few days before New England's football team put paid to a hapless Toronto FC in conditions that might have made Andy Dorman pine for a January nighttime fixture at Inverness County during a North Sea howler, the smart money at a Dunkin Donuts chat session held that wunderkind Diego Fagundez might one day fetch a cool five million to eclipse Clint Dempsey for the highest transfer fee fetched by a Rev player.
Revolution defender Chris Tierney played a crucial role in Saturday's 2-0 win over Toronto. (Photo: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz)
Don't look now, but the Revolution might be putting together a run. Not a mini-run, a two-game glimpse, or a tease of terrific form. But a legitimate,we-taking-overkind of run.
Revolution keeper Bobby Shuttleworth picked up his second straight clean sheet in Saturday's 2-0 over Toronto. (Photo: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
The Revs beat Toronto 2-0 last evening in a game played in poor conditions, with the rain combining with the artificial turf to make it difficult for both teams.
"Please sir, can you pound on us some more?" "In all my years of managing the business of TFC, one thing I have learned is that you cannot predict," - Paul Beirne; TFC VP of Business Operations
"If TFC hints at something on their official website it's already a done deal.
"You waived who in the whatnow?!" In the past when TFC has jettisoned "plumbers" like Dan Gargan, Ty Harden and their ilk we have met the news with bemusement that their stars had even managed to shine so brightly here. It was usually a mix between Torontonians' odd love affairs with "blue collar" athletes and some savvy Toronto FC marketing that propelled lesser skilled players to stardom in the vacuum of talent.
Danny Califf was almost a Philadelphia Union player again, but his return to his former team was stopped before it was officially completed.
Toronto FC was part of a three-way deal including the Union and the Chicago Fire that would have sent both Califf and Stefan Frei to Philadelphia and Bakary Soumare to the Windy City.
