Toronto FC: Drew Moor – the critical defender

Drew Moor may be underrated and underappreciated by many, but the defender’s importance shouldn’t be dismissed, as Toronto FC attempt to win the MLS Cup.

Toronto FC have been astonishing in all three areas of the pitch in the 2017 campaign. Greg Vanney has put together a solid framework that terrorizes opponents match after match.

The result shows, as the Reds found their way to another MLS Cup Final for the second consecutive seasons.

A lot of attention goes to the club’s two studs in Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. Both attackers deserve the recognition, as they’ve been nothing but sublime since arriving at the club.

On the other hand, some say that defence wins championships. The statement certainly applies to Toronto FC, especially in these playoffs.

Both the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew have given Toronto’s backline a test. Vanney’s four at the back have passed each assessment, propelling the Ontario club to the finals.

Featuring in the club’s defence is Justin Morrow. Morrow was the runner-up for the MLS Defender of the Year, an award he narrowly lost.

Fans tend to forget about the rest of the defense while focusing their attention on the Reds’ number 2. What supporters have been missing all season long is the superb play of their number 3, Drew Moor.

Moor was key in the second leg against the Crew. The 33-year-old notched two tackles and an interception. The centre back gave Frederico Higuain a hard time as the attacking midfielder was trying to supply right down the middle, but Moor was there to stop him. According to WhoScored, Moor was TFC’s best player with a 7.75 match rating.

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The impressive performances from Moor don’t stop with that one match. The centre back has been stunning right before fans’ eyes all season long.

The defender has registered over 2,000 minutes this season, scoring two goals and adding an assist. The American has an absolutely amazing 87 percent pass success rate. Moor loves to jump up as a centre back, to torture opponents with his strong crossing ability.

His strength is in his own end, where Moor has been clutch all year. He registers nearly two tackles and interceptions per contest, while amassing four clearances.

At 33 years of age, Moor only has so many years left in him. Even at his age, Moor still plays like he has some prime years ahead of him. Give Vanney credit for applying the proper tactics to help him shine in each contest.

Expect to see a lot from Moor in the cup final against the Seattle Sounders. A clutch performance will be needed to beat the defending champions, something Moor can always provide.

Next: Will Altidore be fit for the MLS Cup final?

What do you think of Moor? How crucial is he to the backline of the Reds? Let us know in the comments below.