Toronto FC: 3 takeaways from 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew
By Paul Taylor
3) TFC just plain unlucky
When a club is struggling to get results, it always seems like they are getting an unfair proportion of bad luck. Step forward Toronto FC.
As already noted, the Reds entered Saturday’s game with more than their fair share of injury issues. Unfortunately for the visitors, this situation only became worse early on against the Crew.
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty was forced to limp out of the game, after going down with an apparent knee injury. The teenager was visibly distressed as he left the pitch, although at the time of posting there had been no update on the severity of the injury.
In truth, TFC dealt with the loss of Marshall-Rutty reasonably well. However, the football gods weren’t finished toying with them.
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With the game delicately poised at 1-1 in the 65th minute, Columbus won a free kick which should never have been given. Jayden Nelson was called for the foul, despite winning the ball cleanly from Pedro Santos.
Not helping Nelson’s case was the way Santos made the most of the challenge in an all-too-familiar scene in football these days. Admittedly, TFC’s subsequent defending on the free kick left a lot to be desired, but they should not have been put in the position in the first place.
On the day, you can make a case that Toronto FC deserved at least a point. Further, they actually had a real chance to take control of the game when they were leading 1-0, but just couldn’t take advantage.
However, this is often the case when a club is on a bad run of form, unable to catch a break. All TFC can do is continue to work hard and hope that some good fortune is on the way sooner than later.