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Toronto FC: 4 things we learned from Champions League stumble

By Alex Taylor

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 19: Head Coach Greg Vanney of Toronto FC juggles the ball during the first half of the 2018 Campeones Cup Final against Tigres UNAL at BMO Field on September 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 19: Head Coach Greg Vanney of Toronto FC juggles the ball during the first half of the 2018 Campeones Cup Final against Tigres UNAL at BMO Field on September 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – APRIL 10: Alex Bono goalkeeper of Toronto gestures during the semifinal second leg match between America and Toronto at Azteca Stadium on April 10, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Luis Licona/Getty Images) /

Toronto FC crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday night, after being unable to pull themselves out of the hole they dug.

Just one season after reaching the CONCACAF Champions League final, Toronto FC have been eliminated at the first hurdle. While fans hoped for a miracle on Tuesday night, the team was always going to struggle after putting themselves in a 4-0 hole last week in Panama.

TFC jumped to an early lead in the 19th minute after a Jordan Hamilton header. However, it was too little too late for the home side.

Hamilton’s goal brought the Reds back to within 4-1 on aggregate. It was clear from the way the players hastily brought the ball to centre field that they believed the tie was still salvageable.

How wrong they were. Omar Browne scored for the visitors in 67th minute, to make it 1-1 on the night and 5-1 overall.

Here are the four things we learned from TFC’s now annual CONCACAF Champions League struggle, and what it means for the team going forward.

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