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TORONTO, Ont.—I will start at the end and work backwards. Toronto FC have made it to the MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals for the third time in club history, in a manner like no other since the inception of MLS.
When Lucas Rodriguez smashed home a redirected corner kick in the 93rd minute, it appeared to erase the most tenuous of Toronto leads, and more than a handful of heroic Quentin Westberg saves.
Conceding late used to be a staple of previous Toronto FC performances, so when DC equaled with all 11 men attacking, it felt like TFC’s 10-match unbeaten run (and the season) might end with a wimper.
But that was not to be. Not on this night. Here are some numbers relative to last night’s 5-1 extra-time win over D.C. United.
So much has been made of Toronto FC’s struggles with the penalty spot, and it appeared that they were just 30 minutes away from another nervy test.
I am very guilty of adding to this foreboding doom.
30 minutes away.. #TFCLive @TorontoFC @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke https://t.co/c0B2J4dIPu
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
But then Laryea happened. And Oso. And Oso again. Finally, DeLeon decided to go top cage for the fourth goal in the FIRST HALF of Extra Time.
Old and Busted: TFC are 1-3 in shootouts
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
New Hawtness: TFC outscore their opponents 6-0 in ET@TorontoFC #TFCLive @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke
It’s not often that a club can DOUBLE a league record. And yet, here we are.
It appears @TorontoFC has DOUBLED the @MLS record for goals in ET by a club #TFCLive @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke @LukeWileman @KristianJack pic.twitter.com/E360uBdmjV
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
Jonathan Osorio had just the second multi-goal match in TFC post-season history.
Osorio is just the second @TorontoFC player with a @MLS playoff brace or better, joining Giovinco’s hat trick v. @NYCFC in 2016 #TFCLive @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke @LukeWileman
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
It wasn’t the first time that Toronto has banged in a handful during the post-season.
This is the 3rd time @torontofc have scored 5 in an @MLS playoff match - in only 13 matches #TFCLive @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke @LukeWileman
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
Here, we look back on similar goal binges in Toronto FC’s club history. (**Spoiler alert: NOTHING COMPARES!)
Obviously nothing in @TorontoFC history compares to FOUR goals in ET (13 minutes approx 93’ to 115+1’). But here’s a look at the quickest four goals in #TFCLive history. A thread. @24thminute @vocalminorityCA @WakingtheRed @joshuakloke @LukeWileman @KristianJack 1/x pic.twitter.com/uTCze2Caq7
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
As I mentioned before, early-TFC used to have a toxic relationship with added/extra time. It appears that this relationship has blossomed ever since Will Johnson gave his leg for our 5th Voyageurs Cup.
Of the last 48 goals scored in the 90’ and beyond: 73% have been scored by #TFC (35 of 48) and only 13 by their opponents. #RIPTobias @WakingtheRed @vocalminorityCA @24thminute @joshuakloke pic.twitter.com/tEJZz8N7Pc
— Martyn Bailey (@martyn_bailey) October 20, 2019
The playoffs continue in New York on Wednesday, so there’s no time for us to catch our breath (but really, drink lots of water, and maybe have an afternoon nap today?)
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