Jessica Dempsey
Toronto FC were eliminated from the MLS playoffs after an hour and a half on the field.
The Toronto team was defeated by their rivals, the Montreal Impact Thursday night.
They lost 3-0 at Saputo Stadium in Quebec.
The three Montreal goals were by Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba came within the first 38 minutes.
Mitchell Tierney, manager of Waking The Red website, said that he was completely stunned by how the game went.
“I was pretty surprised, once the first one went in it kind of flowed from there. Once one went in they kept doing the same thing,” Tierney said.
Toronto lost their last regular season game on Oct. 25, and lost their home field advantage.
“We kind of backed into the whole thing how we lost the last game and our chance for home field,” Robert Wagner, vice president of the Red Patch Boys fan club said. “Home field is massive in MLS. The home team wins 60-70 per cent of the time.”
Fans blamed the team’s loss on a lack of defence, which is something the team has struggled with in the past.
My cats are better defenders and you dont have to pay them money just feed them @torontofc
— Dyl (@BruzzeseDylan) October 29, 2015
“It looked like we didn’t show up, it was like the guys didn’t get off the bus they weren’t motivated,” Wagner added.
Toronto FC tried to rally back in the second, but it was too late.
“Toronto’s defence wasn’t prepared for Ignacio Piatti, the Montreal Attacker. So once the one went in they kind of just kept doing the same thing, kept finding the back of the neck,” Tierney said.
This was the first time in Toronto FC history that they made the playoffs, and fans were pumped.
“I was pretty excited,” Wagner said. “Finally to have made it to that spot was really exciting.”
The evolution of the Jays and Raptors into winning teams has bolstered their popularity. Will this translate for the Toronto FC?
Tierney said that it could.
“I think it hurts that there wasn’t a playoff game in Toronto,” Tierney said. “I think a home playoff game would have been better in terms of how the city sees the team.”
Wagner added that it probably wouldn’t help soccer in Toronto for the same reasons.
“If we had a couple of home games with big success it may have stoked the interest, but i don’t think it did anything positive yesterday,” said Wagner.
After the team’s historic run, fans are hopeful for a 2016 MLS Cup win.
Not the way we wanted to end the season. A huge thank you to our fans all year for the support. We’ll be back stronger next season! #TFC — Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore) October 30, 2015