Tigres 3-2 Toronto FC: The good, the bad & the ugly (CCL Edition)

Good

That was an entertaining match. I crossed my fingers and made deals with the soccer gods for the full 90 minutes. Stress sweat really does smell worse than normal sweat. Don’t know if I can handle another series like this… Chris Mavinga’s goaltending abilities… TFC holding their shape during the first half and posting a true five-man back line… Jonathan Osorio’s high socks. I’m positive that they’re contributing to his stellar form… Greg Vanney’s snappy red tie. He and Terry Dunfield really need to start texting each other before each game though… TFC taking their own chefs to Mexico… Mavinga’s first-half tackle on Ismael Sosa (again!)… Osorio’s flea-flicker pass to Giovinco on the own goal. Still can’t believe that Seba didn’t shoot!... the ferocious chanting by the fans after the OG. It was almost blood-curdling. The volcano really did erupt… the ground covered by Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio… Seba’s tremendous play. He was the lone TFC attacking midfielder and forward on the night, all rolled into one… the free kick. OMSG! (Oh my soccer gods!)… the hearty and gracious handshake between Ricardo Ferretti and Greg Vanney… the speed of the ball kids down the near touch line… the free kick!... Ferretti and I have the same $10 dry-erase coach’s board... the free kick!

Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images

Bad

All this talk of a “magnificent performance in Mexico”. It wasn’t. The stats: 19 shots against; only three shots for; only 35% of the possession; only 318 passes attempted, with a meagre success rate of 75%. Toronto was “good”. More so, they were very lucky to have escaped with their Champions League lives intact… the injuries to Justin Morrow and Chris Mavinga. Now what?!... Marky Delgado had a dreadful night… Jozy Altidore was a non-factor. Unless you count a weak yellow card and several over-reactions to inconsequential plays… the lack of creativity on the lone English banner at the stadium. What is “The Famous Double L 1998,” anyway?... too many cheap giveaways in the defensive end… the penalty call on van der Wiel was harsh. Incidentally, why is his wrist bandaged?... Drew Moor facing the wrong way for most of the match… Gignac’s attempt at the “Osorio back-heel” (70th minute). He should just leave it to the master.

Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images

Ugly

The size of the nets! Do they double as shelters when the fans start pelting the pitch. No, wait a minute. That’s West Ham… the tiger-mauling of Bono (for the ball) after Tigres’ second goal… Gignac’s move on Zavaleta in the first half. Hope Eriq retrieved his jock strap… Tigres made mincemeat of the Hagglund-Auro combination on the left side. In fairness, Auro was put in a tough position and did fairly well. Hagglund was just terrible… TFC falling asleep on Tigres’ first goal. Why doesn’t Vanney place a bloody defender on the far post during corners?! I’ve said he should do this many times, and I’m getting tired of repeating myself!... those hideous Tigres jerseys. Should we tell them that tigers are typically orange?