Toronto FC looked poised for an upset win over the LA Galaxy, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw after yet another late collapse on a sunny Saturday afternoon before 18,355 fans at BMO Field.
Jonathan Osorio gave TFC the lead with 12 minutes left in regulation, only to see Jose Villarreal equalize deep into injury time for the two-time defending MLS champions. It was just reward for an LA club that bossed the proceedings, as the final score flattered Toronto.
How many times have we seen this before? How many times have TFC, now 1-2-1 on the season, thrown away points by conceding late? We've surely lost count by now.
Even more worrying is that some more of TFC's age-old problems bubbled to the surface against the Galaxy. Errant passes were the order the day, as were a lack of midfield creativity and offensive impotence, with coach Ryan Nelsen's side routinely being beat to 50/50 balls and giving LA far too much midfield room to operate.
Sound familiar? It should. We've seen it on countless occasions under previous managerial regimes. Though the team has changed coaches, TFC is still very much a work in progress under Nelsen, and Saturday's performance underlined the fact that the Reds are several offensive players away from becoming a complete team.
Nelsen conceded his team didn't create as much as he'd like, but he's not pushing the panic button and promised better days ahead.
"We have to be very self aware, don't we? We are who we are and we'll get better. You have to build your team on a solid foundation first. When you build it on quicksand it falls down pretty quickly. We need a solid base first, and then we can go from there," Nelsen told reporters after the game.
For the first time this season, Nelsen had a full complement of players to choose from, so it was disappointing to witness such a lifeless display against LA. Robert Earnshaw was totally isolated in Nelsen's 4-4-1-1 formation, with the likes of Reggie Lambe, Hogan Ephraim and John Bostock providing little service and making no tangible impact. Only when Osorio and Luis Silva came on as second half substitutes did TFC threaten going forward.
Nelsen saw things differently, and applauded his team's effort and its progression so far in the season.
"When you look at the schedule we had in the first four games, they're four extremely difficult games. The guys have showed that they're taking steps forward from (the opener) in Vancouver to now," Nelsen said.
"I have to look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture for me is extremely positive."
Nelsen made one lineup change from the last game, replacing Ashtone Morgan with Darel Russell. Richard Eckersley shifted from the right side of defence to the left (Morgan's spot) and Rusell started on the right.
Russell had a terrible outing, as he was defensively culpable on both Galaxy goals, but again, Nelsen viewed matters differently, saying his poor positioning on LA's equalizer was just one of those things.
"I think Darrel did well. … He showed endeavour and worked really hard, and never stopped," Nelsen stated.
LA was missing forward Robbie Keane, injured in Ireland's recent World Cup qualifier, while American midfielder Landon Donovan (back with the team following a self-imposed sabbatical) started the game on the bench. Even without the glamour duo, LA came out flying with forward Mike Magee, ably abetted by Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas in midfield, giving TFC's defence plenty of fits.
Magee opened the scoring in the 16th minute with his league-leading fifth goal of the season. Some lovely buildup play by LA was followed up by Sarvas mis-hitting his shot across the box. Magee alertly read the play and gave Russell the slip to slot the ball home at the far post.
Magee nearly doubled LA's advantage five minutes later when he connected on a powerful header off a beautiful cross from teammate A.J. DeLaGarza, only to see Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik make a sensational reflex save.
It was all going LA's way when Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini inexplicably rushed out of his box after defender Leonardo played a pass back. Earnshaw beat him to the ball before chipping it in from 25 yards out to pull TFC level after 29 minutes.
Donovan nearly scored just moments after entering the game early in the second half, latching onto a Magee pass before his right footed shot from deep inside the box was saved by Bendik.
Silva went on a darting run and took on LA defender Omar Gonzalez, putting a ball across the box that Osorio touched home at the far post in the 78th minute. Cheers quickly turned to jeers, though, when Villarreal beat Bendik from in close to give LA a share of the spoils.
"Late goals happen," Nelsen said. "Nobody's blaming anybody; definitely not me. That's just life. When you play against really good teams (conceding late goals) is going to happen."
NOTES: Toronto FC has not recorded a shutout in MLS since earning a 0-0 draw against the Montreal Impact last October… Saturday marked TFC's first home game of the season at BMO Field. The club's home opener was staged at Rogers Centre earlier this month… Toronto returns to action on April 6 when it hosts FC Dallas…
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