East Side Stand Up

Toronto FC shock all as they down MLS Cup favourites Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in their home opener. A Robert Earnshaw brace proved last week was no fluke as his early energy this time resulted in a goal and he followed it up with a penalty conversion. The defence held their own through the second half onslaught to put TFC a step ahead of 2012 and give supporters some more optimism in these early weeks of their transition into Season Seven.

Toronto FC begin 2013 much like 2012, and that is with a big, fat zero. The Vancouver Whitecaps defeat the Reds 1-0 and while TFC were able to hang in for ninety minutes, the 'Caps cohesiveness was the difference as the second half was in their favour. For TFC Robert Earnshaw and Kyle Bekker looked the part and now it will be a matter of when reinforcements will arrive to get Toronto into a more competitive state for the upcoming weeks.

That's right ESSU 30/30 is back and timed perfectly with Toronto FC's first match of the 2013 pre-season. Waking the Red's Kristin Knowles comes on board to discuss the team heading into their four match tournament, what can be accomplished over this short period, Ryan Nelsen's official arrival at the club and our expectations for the season.

But Toronto FC have yet to try bringing in a coach with zero experience, halfway through the season - maybe this one will work? Your guess is as good as ours as the lads look back on the last few months that has seen big shake ups at TFC with the appointment of Kevin Payne as well as firing of Paul Mariner and announcement that Ryan Nelsen, currently playing in the BPL. There is no doubt that this is only the beginning of what will another dramatic year at Toronto FC

For all the talk about needing goals and creating a goal difference buffer, in the end all that will matter is a result. Canada down Cuba 3-0 in a match where Les Rouges had well over a dozen clear chances on goal but only finished three. A 0-0 draw between Panama and Honduras means Canada just needs one point to advance to the Hex. Can they go into Central America, learn from their past mistake a month ago and advance to the last round of World Cup Qualifying since 1998? That will all be answered Tuesday night.

Unfortunately that is the M.O. for TFC in 2012 - even with a game that most would have considered a write off prior, during the game TFC found a way to play well enough to earn at least a point, but as has been the story all year, just can't hold on through 90 minutes. It was a tough one to swallow as the team is on a winless streak that is more embarrassing than the start of the year. With only three games left, one has to turn into a win or they will once again go into the record books for futility.

After all, 4-1 is a step in the right direction from 2011's 5-0 thumping and think that's without the 4+ players needed to get the team on track. Toronto FC began brightly with an outstanding strike from Ryan Johnson, but it quickly came undone through defensive mistakes and the gap in organization and cohesion was evident once the final whistle blew. TFC are going through the motions and it is a tough stretch against teams who are still in the playoff picture - no rest for the wicked and it is looking tougher to see when any reprieve will come for suffering fans.

It's time to celebrate the small things in life, like TFC defeating CD Aguila 3-0 in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Reds are lifted by a Terry Dunfield brace as well as a pair of assists from Ryan Johnson, The team now has something to play for in Torreon, Mexico, no matter how unlikely it is they will overcome the mighty Santos Laguna.

Six months after their epic victory, Toronto FC return to the scene and are humbled by the vastly superior LA Galaxy. It was a mismatch right from the opening whistle as the Galaxy midfield overran TFC's and had their way in the 4-2 win. The Reds are now ten games without a win and doubts are mounting on what direction, if at all, this club is going in.

Toronto FC can't hold on to a lead and drop two points against another side lingering at the bottom of the league. TFC draw 1-1 with the Philadelphia Union, a team that represented one of the last real chances for the Reds to get a win in the league. Eric Hassli opened the scoring but once he was out from injury, there was little bite left and Philadelphia were able to level the score in the final ten minutes. With few opponents left that are as poor as Toronto, this season looks to end much like it began.