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MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC (1) - New England Revolution (1) Post Game Summary

August 31, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


SCORING SUMMARY

TFC - Nicolas Benezet 74'

NE - Gustavo Bou 86' (Diego Fagundez)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

NE - Andrew Farrell 37' (caution)

TFC - Chris Mavinga 57' (caution)

RECORDS

TORONTO FC 10-10-8 38 points

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 10-9-9 39 points

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC - Quentin Westberg; Richie Laryea, Omar Gonzalez, Chris Mavinga, Auro (Ashtone Morgan 78'); Michael Bradley (C), Marky Delgado, Alejandro Pozuelo; Nicolas Benezet (Drew Moor 76'), Patrick Mullins, Erickson Gallardo (Nick DeLeon 63')

Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Jonathan Osorio, Jacob Shaffelburg, Ayo Akinola

NEW ENGLAND - Matt Turner; Brandon Bye, Andrew Farrell (Antonio Mlinar Delamea 83'), Michael Mancienne, DeJuan Jones; Luis Caicedo, Wilfried Zahibo (Juan Fernando Caicedo 67'), Carles Gil, Juan Agudelo, Cristian Penilla (Diego Fagundez 73'); Gustavo Bou

Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, Jalil Anibaba, Scott Caldwell, Tajon Buchanan

MEDIA NOTE

Nicolas Benezet scored his first MLS goal tonight

GREG VANNEY - HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC

On the result tonight...

"The result is disappointing in the end. I mean, we left a lot of chances on the table. I thought maybe two or three others besides the one we scored were very good position to finish and we didn't, which made the game a little more complicated as it went on. Towards the stretch after we score, we made an adjustment, Auro had to come off and we tried to push Nick [DeLeon] a little bit higher. We didn't want to change, we ended up sitting a little bit deeper than we wanted to, we still wanted to try to stay a little bit more on the front foot. But in the end, we still should have defended it out. That's a game we should get three points. We should have been able to deal with what they were throwing at us, we should have been able to deal with that shot, and we should have taken three points."

On if he takes solace that his team did dominate the game at times...

"Yeah, I was comfortable with our approach to this game. I thought we defended very well. We showed that we didn't have to have the ball the whole game and we can still hurt people in the transition, hurt the opposition in the transition. We showed a block, I just wish we would have gotten the shutout out of it, so that's something we're still scratching and clawing for and unfortunately, we're finding ways to give up that goal that comes back to haunt us. But I was very pleased with the way we played today."

On how he feels about Quentin Westberg and the goal he let in...

"I feel the same about Q [Quentin Westberg]. A lot of guys have errors or make a mistake, and it doesn't mean I dislike Q, right? That's that. As we look forward, I still have to take consideration just like every position what direction I go. We had guys miss sitters from five yards away that could have put the game out [of reach]. These things happen in both boxes, you've just got to make plays."

On if it's only a matter of time before the team starts to bury these chances...

"I'd like to think so. I think with these last two games, I think we've played very well. I think we had a great road mentality. We haven't played well in New England in a long time, so I thought it was one of our best performances here. I thought the mentality was fabulous, that's not always the case when we come to this field, but I thought our mentality was extraordinary. We should have taken more out of it. So, I'm pleased. We've got to let the fact that a couple of points slipped away in the end not impact our mentality and keep moving forward with what we have been really doing well the last couple of games. I think we are very much on the right track with this group of players that we now have together."

On the team's ability to stay connected tonight...

"Again, I thought like last week we were very well connected. They passed the ball around, but they didn't hurt us very much. I thought at the end, I would have liked just to see us try to get a little better pressure on the ball a little higher, so they weren't able to face our backline so much from those deep areas. But in general, I was pleased with our connectedness and again we made it difficult on the opposition and then we had more opportunities to win this game then they did. I can't remember a ton of great chances for them, but yeah, I was pleased. All good things start from us just being connected as a group and playing for the things we have talked about for five years and a lot of that is starting to come through with this group now that we've got guys healthy, we've got everybody in and everybody on the same page, and it's starting to take shape."

On how he takes tonight as a positive...

"We came here trying to get three points, but we wanted to make sure we came away with something. Again, this is one of the teams we are trying to track down. A couple of teams around us have one more game than us. We would have liked to get three and we were in position to get three. So that was the objective, but we wanted to make sure that we didn't go home with nothing and that's what ended up happening there down the stretch, but through much of the game we felt this was a game we could get three points."

MICHAEL BRADLEY - MIDFIELDER, TORONTO FC

On the match overall...

"It's never an easy place to play. I thought by and large we went after the game in a good way. I thought the mentality was good. I think we understood the type of game it was going to be. They're on a good run this last stretch, so to come here and play the way did and come away with a point is still positive, obviously. Given the fact that we went up one-zero and given the fact we were ahead late in the game, we feel like we should probably be walking away with three, but that's life sometimes. Now, we'll regroup and get ready for another big one in Cincinnati."

On team's trend at this point in the season...

"I think we feel good about what we've been able to do the last few weeks. Games this time of year are scrappy, and they can hang in the balance for a long time. Obviously, we were able to grab a point late in Columbus. Tonight, we gave away a lead late, but the mentality has been good. I think we're continuing to improve. We're more solid. Those are all important things as we head into the last part of the season."

NICOLAS BENEZET - FORWARD, TORONTO FC

On scoring his first MLS goal...

"When I score, I feel good. I [would have loved] to win tonight. One point when you play outside Toronto is good."

On the team's performance...

"I think we played good. We had the ball every time, but when we have the goal time continues to go, you should win tonight. I hope to win the next game."

On if he can be a good player in this league...

"Yeah, I think we have the good team and the good players. When I play with [Alejandro Pozuelo], I like it. I'm angry, because I hoped to win tonight."

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