SEATTLE – Saturday night's game was never going to be an easy task for Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney and his squad. They had to face the Seattle Sounders in a hostile CenturyLink Field environment without star strikers Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, and with a new-look backline. It didn't work out; they fell to the Sounders in a 2-1 defeat.
However, in the end, Vanney said he felt his short-handed side put forth an effort that could have led to a big road result if not for some unfortunate luck. “I thought we deserved something out of the match,” he said after the game. “But ultimately, these games come down to a play here or a play there. And that’s what it was in the end.”
Toronto’s task was made all the more difficult due to the replenished Seattle attack that Vanney’s inexperienced backline was tasked with stopping. Seattle stars Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins started together in an MLS match for the first time since May 31 on Saturday. They would end up making the difference, as both Sounders strikers tagged Toronto for the decisive goals.
In addition to the absences of Giovinco and Altidore, Vanney's team was missing starting center back duo Damien Perquis and Ahmed Kantari due to injury. Versatile fullback Justin Morrow, meanwhile, had flown home prior to the match to see the birth of his child.
Vanney opted to go with a three-man backline made up of rookie Clement Simonin, recently acquired fullback-turned-right back Josh Williams, and Eriq Zavaleta.
After falling behind in just the sixth minute courtesy of a Martins finish of a Dempsey feed, Toronto didn’t fold, finding a big 59th minute equalizer off the head of former Sounder Zavaleta.
But Seattle managed to find a fortuitous game-winner after Dempsey cashed home a rebound off a run from Martins in the 78th minute, sending Toronto home empty-handed.
“[Dempsey and Martins] were able to get behind us a little bit too much, but other than that, I think we kept them at bay,” Zavaleta said. “It’s a good team, a desperate team that has some talented players. They made some plays and were able to win the game.”
Vanney was also complimentary of the play of his backline, saying they gradually improved their handling of Dempsey and Martins despite their limited experience playing together.
“Those three guys [in the back] haven’t played together a ton – at all really,” Vanney said. “So they’re trying to coordinate with the drops and the steps and the passing of two very good forwards that are very clever about their runs. I thought they, by and large, got better at it over the course of the game and had strong performances.”
