MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC (1) - Houston Dynamo (3) Post Game Summary

Published on July 20, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


SCORING SUMMARY

HOU - Tommy McNamara 4' (Memo Rodríguez)

HOU - Tomás Martínez 23' (Mauro Manotas, Adam Lundkvist)

HOU - Mauro Manotas 57' (Tommy McNamara)

TFC - Jozy Altidore 75'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

None

RECORDS

Toronto FC 8-9-5 29 points.

Houston Dynamo 9-9-3 30 points.

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC - Quentin Westberg (C); Auro Jr., Eriq Zavaleta, Laurent Ciman, Justin Morrow; Nick DeLeon (Michael Bradley 58'), Liam Fraser, Jonathan Osorio, Jay Chapman (Jacob Shaffelburg HT); Patrick Mullins (Jozy Altidore HT), Tsubasa Endoh.

Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Richie Laryea, Ashtone Morgan, Omar González

HOUSTON DYNAMO - Tyler Deric; AJ Delagarza Jr. (Kevin García 59'), Maynor Figueroa, Aljaz Struna, Adam Lundkvist; Memo Rodríguez (Romell Quioto 67'), Matías Vera; Boniek García (C), Tomás Martínez, Tommy McNamara; Mauro Manotas (Juan Cabezas 79')

Substitutes Not Used: Michael Salazar, DeMarcus Beasley, Joe Willis, Marlon Hairston

MEDIA NOTES:

Justin Morrow made his 200th appearance (all competitions) for Toronto FC.

Patrick Mullins made his debut with Toronto FC.

GREG VANNEY, HEAD COACH - TORONTO FC

Greg can you explain what was behind the rotation tonight.

Yeah, it's our third game in a short period of time. I think just in the summer months it's hot, it's humid. In the last game a lot of our guys tanks were empty. I made a calculated move to try to bring an energetic group onto the field to boost the tempo from the start. Knowing that we would have guys to come and try to push the game at the end was extra quality we were trying to get. The problem was we couldn't come out with any energy in the first. We were stagnant, slow, passive, too soft. The goals we were giving away were ridiculous. It didn't work for us in terms of rotating the guys. It should've been an opportunity for us dealing with group of guys who could easily go out and try to push it and prove something and it just came off real slow. Like I said, passive. Made a couple moves and became more aggressive in the second half. We were able to really pin them back but the third goal for me is just killer because at 2-0 with the quality of the group that was coming on, I thought we had a real chance to get back into that game.

Coach, the poor start to the match. Do you think that was a depth problem or what was it about the starting lineup that you think didn't work?

It was an intensity problem. I don't think it's necessarily a depth problem because if you look through that group there's some good players, but it lacked intensity, direction and leadership on the field I thought. With that it all just kinda became massive and they were able to play to their one forward and their one forward gave two of our centre-backs all kind of trouble. It was too passive, it lacked intensity and purpose and aggression at home when you want to go for it. In the end it was too comfortable for them.

You said that the team was making some kind of comeback in the second half and then that third goal happens, how does that goal even get scored?

I don't even know how to explain it. It's one guy against 5. For us to not be able to end that play - multiple ways to end the play - win it back, commit a foul and end the play. But for him to get through 5 of our guys and get the goal is completely inexcusable. I can't even explain how we got into that situation.

MICHAEL BRADLEY, MIDFIELDER - TORONTO FC

You came on in the second half of that game, what do you think was lacking from the team today?

When you don't start a game it's hard to be the one afterwards to stand here and say this was no good, that wasn't good enough, that's not who it works, you know. Guys who started the game tried to do the things we talked about, tried to go after the game, had every intention of stepping on that field and being sharp and going after things in a good way from the beginning. Obviously, there's two teams on the field and just because you step on the field wanting to do those things you know there's an opponent and in this case an opponent that in this case was dangerous in some ways. They've not had a good run, Wednesday they played in Atlanta and lost by a heavy score line and you know they come in with a chip on their shoulder and just ready to do anything possible to come away with points and it makes for a tricky night. We're disappointed to not take advantage of another home game.

Michael, it's been very rare that you've been healthy and not started for TFC. I know it's 3 games in a week, you had a busy Gold Cup schedule, tough conditions. Did you think this was perhaps the time that some rest would help you the rest of the way? I know it's not your decision.

It's not my decision, Greg takes a lot of things into account when he chooses teams and makes decisions. I always want to play, I wanted to play tonight. I felt good and I feel good. I feel like I'm in a good rhythm of playing and doing all the things I need to but again decisions get made for different reasons. Decisions get made with bigger contexts in certain moments and tonight that was the decision. Certainly, we all stand behind Greg in terms of what he wants and the decisions he makes. We always feel very good and confident of the team that we have and it's not to say. It's 11 guys and in a lot of moments over the last few years we've had to rely on our full roster and guys have come through in a big way. Tonight, it doesn't work but that's life, so we regroup and get ready for a really important home game against Cincinnati.

The changes are made, and Toronto seem to be finding their way back into the game and then the third goal goes in. How does a goal like that third goal get scored?

I'll be honest, I was standing, and Nick Tesla was giving me the sub card and we were trying to get everything ready to get me on the field, so I didn't have a good view, didn't really see much so hard to even answer that one.

LIAM FRASER, MIDFIELDER - TORONTO FC

A disappointing result for you guys tonight, what do you think the team could have done better?

I think we came out flat, me included. I think it's been said in the dressing room a few times and all the guys know we didn't come out with the energy that we needed to and given that it was a big starting 11 change. I think we really didn't do a good job doing that. We knew we all had fresh legs and that should have been our priority coming out and pressing them and putting all our energy on the field, but we didn't do that, and we got behind the 8 ball really quick in the game.

Conditions were the same for both teams being pretty hot out there, what was it like playing in those conditions.

It was hot, but again, it's the same for both teams, so I think it comes back to us not putting enough energy out on the field and we got to get back to the training ground next week to get some momentum again.

Looking back can you think of any particular reason why you guys didn't come out with the needed energy?

No, might have just been, again this is me included, I just think that some guys weren't ready to play. I think we did have the right mentality going out and we maybe thought it was going to be easier than it was given that they've been on the road for a bit but they came out and were better than us today.

WILMER CABRERA, HEAD COACH - HOUSTON DYNAMO

Wilmer, can you talk to us a little about the game tonight?

Yes, we had a plan similar to Atlanta. But this time we were more disciplined, and we executed well. It was important for us to win on the road. To stop losing and just to continue believing in what we do.

Were you surprised at the line up TFC had today?

They have a good team. The have a very good team. It is a deep squad. I think they have been playing a lot of games too. We have been playing a lot of games on Wednesdays and Saturdays and travelling and everything. You have to manage different situations and they were trying to manage that and for us we didn't care about their lineup. We just care about our needs and our possibilities to be disciplined and to stop the situation we went through.

All the players have good comments about you. What can you say about that?

When we win the coach looks good. When we lose the coach is the worst. We won today.

TOMMY MCNAMARA, MIDFIELDER - HOUSTON DYNAMO

Tommy can you talk to us about the play of the team today.

We played for each other today. We had to sacrifice a hell of a lot to get the three points and we desperately needed three points. It was a tremendous effort and we desperately needed the three points and, like I said, and we got them.

Talk to me a little bit about your goal tonight? How happy are you?

You know I am happy, and I am happy playing in the middle. I feel like I am more dangerous there and I help the team there more. Memo (Rodriguez) got the ball and Tomas (Martinez) made a great movement off the centre back that drew him out of position and so I saw the space and made the run and Memo made an inch perfect pass right into my path and I just took one touch and finished it. It was a really good team goal. It was really good movement. It was a good play and it was a good way to start the game on the front foot.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 20, 2019


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