D.C. United the latest iceberg Toronto FC has collided with
Armas #Armas
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Author of the article:
Steve Buffery 
D.C. United’s Yamil Asad (centre left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Toronto FC in Washington yesterday. Toronto FC lost in a blowout 7-1. Will Newton/AP
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Toronto FC is an organization that prides itself in always competing for trophies. This year’s team would barely qualify for a participation award.
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Toronto FC suffered a humiliating 7-1 beating at the hands of D.C. United on Saturday night at Audi Field in the U.S. capital and have lost six games in a row. The seven goals marked a club scoring record for the victors.
The misery that has been the Reds’ MLS regular season under new head coach Chris Armas continues and one has to wonder if Armas is the right man to turn this train wreck around.
“Of course those questions have to be asked,” said Armas. “I’m the guy pulling the string at the top, but, yeah, I believe I am. I believe that this group needs me, and I need them, and together we’re going to get out of this. That’s the truth.
“1,000 percent,” said TFC captain Michael Bradley was asked if the players still have confidence in Armas.
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“(But) one of my worst days at the club, for sure,” added Bradley of Saturday’s match. “We’re not in a good way right now. We have to look ourselves, and not just tonight. It’s beyond frustrating.”
Uncanny is a word to describe the way TFC keeps shooting itself in the foot early in games. Frustrating, exasperating, shocking are others. Against the Black and Red on Saturday, TFC gave up three goals in the first 21 minutes – against a D.C. United club that has had trouble scoring this season. Those three early goals set the tone.
Armas said in a media availability on Thursday that cutting down on defensive mistakes and sloppy play was a priority in training.
Something must have been lost in translation.
The Reds are off to the second worst start in team history, with one win, two draws and eight losses. A playoff spot is already looking like a distant dream.
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“These guys have been through a lot and it’s hard to stay in it … it’s demoralizing,” said Armas, when asked if he thought any of his players gave up during the match. “Part of it is human nature, in moments to just give in. You watched the game. If you saw anyone give up, you should ask them.
“We’ve just got to get going,” the coach added. “But there has to be a real shift in what goes on. We’re looking for solutions. Is it formation? Is it a couple of starters? Is it my fault? You start looking every which way. Something has to give.”
D.C. United came on strong early, and late, in the match, out-shooting TFC 21-6 overall, with nine shots on goal to three by the Reds.
Armas started a trio of youngsters – Ayo Akinola, Jacob Shaffelburg and Ralph Priso. He also had two Designated Players at his disposal coming back from injury – Alejandro Pozuelo and Yeferson Soteldo – but the pair did not start. Armas was looking towards the club’s next match on Wednesday against New England. Akinola scored the lone goal for TFC in the 39th minute – his third of the season – after TFC fell behind 3-0.
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Kevin Paredes, an 18-year-old homegrown player, scored for D.C. United in the second minute, left-footing a shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Richie Laryea answered for Toronto a few seconds later with a great march into the box forcing D.C. keeper Bill Hamid to make a good save on Laryea’s right-footed shot.
Five minutes after its first goal, the hosts scored again after the TFC back line parted like the Red Sea, when Nigel Robertha picked up a pass from Junior Moreno and walked in on Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono all alone and right-footed the ball into the corner.
They say when it rains it pours, and the third goal for the Red and Black demonstrated the TFC is caught in a hurricane. TFC’s Ralph Priso scored an own goal in the 21st minute, an unfortunate deflection off the young midfielder.
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Akinola gave TFC some hope when he left-footed a ball into the corner from the centre of the box after a D.C. United turnover and a great cross from Bradley in the 39th minute.
Soteldo came on to start the second half and Pozuelo entered the game in the 51st minute – the first time the two Toronto DP’s were on the field at the same time for TFC this season. Armas was obviously hoping the addition of Soteldo and Pozuelo might spark a comeback, or at least add some energy and creativity. And it that it did add some energy and creativity, for D.C. United.
Yet another TFC defensive mistake – this by centre back Chris Mavinga – resulted in D.C. United going ahead 4-1 in the 71st minute.
Paul Arriola tipped the ball past an indifferent Mavinga and right-footed the shot past Bono from the centre of the box.
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TFC went down a man in the 78th minute after centre back Eriq Zavaleta left the match with a second yellow card.
Ola Kamara added the cherry on the top for D.C. United when he scored in the 81st minute after picking up a long pass from Toronto’s end.
Three minutes later, Yamil Asad scored a header for the home side.
The absolute brutal defending continued in the last minute of the match when 18-year-old Griffin Yow picked up the ball at the end line and beat Bono with a left-footed shot at the near post.
The job doesn’t get any easier for Armas as TFC is set to lose five players to the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup – three key starters to the Canadian team (Jonathan Osorio, Akinola and Laryea), as well as Kemar Lawrence to Jamaica and Zavaleta to El Salvador.
SBuffery@postmedia.comTwitter @Beezersun
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