NEW YORK – There were ample opportunities, both in the run of play and on set pieces.
But none found the back of the net for Toronto FC in a 2-0 loss to New York City FC Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Such is the reality of a team in the midst of a losing streak.
“It’s frustrating for sure. We let a few more points slip away,” TFC captain Michael Bradley said after the game. “We continue to say the same things after losses and after wins. We have to keep going. It’s a difficult moment for us. The last three games haven’t gone the way we wanted. There’s no sugar coating that. It’s in moments like this that you find out the true character and strength of the group.”
And in that, Bradley’s beliefs are resolute.
“I have no doubts about that. Everybody just needs to continue to work and look at themselves in terms of the bigger picture and what they are able to do for the game,” Bradley said. “We don’t need to worry about teams above us or teams below us. We just need to figure out how to get ourselves back on track.”
According to TFC coach Greg Vanney, the answer isn’t necessarily a change of formation or even personnel. It comes down to effort and in that department Wednesday night, he felt his team was second best.
“All in all we need to work harder collectively,” Vanney said. “Dig down and defend better collectively. Work a little harder, go a couple yards more when we need to. We’ve left a lot of opportunities on the table these last few games.”
Vanney said his team didn’t do a good enough job to contest Frank Lampard when the English legend scored his first Major League Soccer goal in the 20th minute. And when those bevy of chances didn’t find the back of the net, Vanney said his team started to press and lose their shape in search for the equalizer.
“We are losing our discipline and responsibilities because we are creeping forward because we are trying to get that goal and then they are getting out too often against us on the counter attack,” he explained. “We’re just losing our discipline and our responsibilities because we are chasing that goal. It just felt like it was going to be another one of those days where it is tough to get that goal.”
Bradley pointed to a stretch of games at BMO Field beginning with a match against Colorado on Saturday (2 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US) as a chance for TFC to turn their fortunes around.
“We get to go home now and get five games in a row at home before finishing the season at Montreal. There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves, to look at the other results, the standings, this, that,” Bradley said. “It’s about continuing to work and getting ourselves back home in front of our own fans in our own stadium and getting ourselves back on track. There’s not a doubt in my mind that we will.”
