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MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC (2) - New York City FC (1) Post Game Summary

April 2, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


SCORING SUMMARY

TOR - Jesús Jiménez 31' (Jonathan Osorio, Alejandro Pozuelo)

TOR - Thiago Martins 43' (own goal)

NYC - Héber 90+2' (Alfredo Morales)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

NYC - Thiago Martins 59' (caution)

NYC - Alexander Callens 59' (caution)

RECORDS (W-L-D)

Toronto FC 2-2-1 6 points

New York City FC 1-3-1 4 points

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC - Alex Bono; Lukas MacNaughton, Carlos Salcedo, Shane O'Neill; Kosi Thompson, Michael Bradley (C), Jonathan Osorio (Noble Okello 60'), Luca Petrasso; Alejandro Pozuelo, Jacob Shaffelburg (Jayden Nelson 87'), Jesús Jiménez (Jordan Perruzza 89')

Substitutes Not Used: Quentin Westberg, Chris Mavinga, Kobe Franklin, Ralph Priso, Deandre Kerr, Ifunanyachi Achara

NEW YORK CITY FC - Sean Johnson (C); Chris Gloster (Héber 84'), Thiago Martins, Alexander Callens, Alfredo Morales; Keaton Parks (Gedion Zelalem 76'), Nicolás Acevedo, Santiago Rodríguez, Maximiliano Moralez (Thiago Andrade 76'), Talles Magno (Gabriel Pereira 46'); Valentín Castellanos

Substitutes Not Used: Cody Mizell, Tayvon Gray, Vuk Latinovich, Andres Jasson, Justin Haak

MEDIA NOTES

Kosi Thompson made his first start for Toronto FC.

Toronto FC recorded back-to-back MLS wins at BMO Field for the first time since a pair of wins against FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire on September 29 and October 3, 2021 (3-2 and 3-1).

BOB BRADLEY - HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC

Q: Wonder if I could get your thoughts on Jonathan Osorio. As you know he comes back from a hectic schedule with Canada, and he was just flying out there today, I thought. Such a beautiful pass on the opening goal. Your thoughts on his play?

I think Oso has had a great start to the season. Obviously a really important player for us in terms of leadership, in terms of just what he brings to our midfield. The goal, the first goal was really well done.

I think it went from Kosi to Ale and Ale slipped a good ball to Oso. And the timing of the final pass to Jesús was very good and then a great finish.

But, for sure, Oso's presence in our team, his ability to take some pressure off Michael, so that as teams try to squeeze him with the ball, Oso is available for an outlet. You see the understanding that those two have.

Early on in the game we tried to get Oso a little higher; the second game in a row, so we had a little more presence stepping up towards Parks and Alfredo Morales. So he's smart tactically. When you give him changes even on the field, he's quick to understand what you're doing. So, really important. And, yeah, for us a key guy.

Q. It's three goals in five appearances now for Jesús Jiménez, a great start to his MLS career. What have you seen from him? Why has he been such an effective player this year? What does he do well that defenders struggle to deal with?

He's just a smart, skillful attacker. Obviously he can move away from defenders and receive balls and help us in terms of our buildup play. And then in the right moments, his timing and his reading of spaces going forward.

We've really pushed him to continue to make sure that he's a real threat getting into the box. And I think there's more to come from him. Physically, he can even push himself and give us more. But he's an attacker that has just a really good set of skills. And he's smart and he's easy to play with.

And so when we get football going, and he can find the balance between dropping off defenders a little bit, receiving balls, making passes and still being on the move and getting balls going into the box, I think that's the balance we need.

Q. Can you comment on your back line? They looked like this was a game where it looked like things were sort of coming together for them as a unit. What do you think?

Yeah, I think that early in the game, the way NYCFC moves, they do a lot in between the lines. You had, early in the game, Rodriguez and Maxi Morales and Talles Magno all sort of moving into those spots. And as they do that their outside backs are still pushing high.

And so it requires just good communication, not only amongst those three, but then especially with Michael in front of them, so that they're not stuck following somebody in the wrong situation.

It took us, I think, about 15 minutes to sort of make a couple little changes. But from that point on in terms of handling different situations, I thought all three did very well. The understanding and then the ability for all of them to read plays, step in at the right time, that part, it's a good group.

Q. What did you think of Kosi Thompson in his first MLS start (indiscernible)?

Kosi did really well. I said at some point in an interview that from the beginning of the year he made a positive impression. Young guy, but smart. Picks up things very quickly. Comes in every day with a really good mentality. Trains well.

He's earned the respect of everybody. And in his first start today I think you saw all of that. Athletically, his ability to deal with some talented attackers. NYC, a guy like Talles Magno is a really good player, a young talented player. And Kosi's ability to deal with different situations -- early on, I keep talking about some changes tactically, early on I think he was a little slow to release.

And so it left too much where between Ale at times trying to be inside to deal with Morales and Parks and then outside to deal with Gloster. And when Kosi started to step up faster, it allowed Ale to be more closer to the 6s. Oso stepped a little higher at that point.

So I think Kosi's understanding of how important it was for him to get up a little bit earlier on Gloster was an important adjustment. But in all ways, for a first game, he showed confidence and he played really well.

Q. On that second goal, do you give credit to Lukas Macnaughton for getting in there and making that run and putting the pressure on? Or is it just a fantastic ball from Pozuelo that leads to -- I'm pretty much it's going to go down as an own-goal?

It's a little of both. At the start of it, between Luca Petrasso and Ale, a little fake in terms of who was going to take it, which sometimes can freeze their line or their line drops a little bit. And then it's important to get enough guys moving at the right time. The ball was really, really hit well, the right pace, in the right spot.

And then in those moments, as you're running hard into those areas, it can be really difficult defensively. So it's a combination of all those things.

Q. I understand Jahkeele had the procedure yesterday. Could you give us an update on what was found? Is there a timeline as to his return?

Yeah, there was a small fragment that had come loose that they were able to take out. Everything else looked quite good. And so the prognosis for everything is very positive. My guess is that we're probably somewhere in the 8- to 10-week range.

Q. Both wins back to back here at home, does it feel like you're seeing your team to the things that you want to see out of your club?

I think little by little we're improving. The vision that I think we all have for this team is to be a team that's good with the ball, has moments of smart possessions, still finding different ways to go forward. Finding moments to press, and then moments to make sure that we're very compact.

So there's a lot of details there. I still think at times there are moments where the timing of a play between one player and the next or the confidence to give the ball at the right time, the quality of some of the passes, I still think those are things that are going to get better and better.

The month of March was not kind to us in terms of just ability to continue training in a good way, between weather and training fields and in the bubble and out of the bubble and all this kind of stuff.

So, I really look forward to, at some point here, just feeling like the training part can get back into a consistent routine because I think we can take the things that we're trying to do and just be that much sharper in all areas.

But I see the confidence of the team. I see good performances by key players. I see young guys improving. So those are all things that are very positive.

Q. Alex made a pretty big save tonight, denying Keaton Parks from the top of the box. What are you getting from him that's working well for you right now?

That was a key save. One of the things I've spoken to Alex about, spoken to Jon about, is his ability to set his feet and get down and get that hand out to make a low save.

And so that was an excellent example of getting down, making an important save at a key moment. So for me, when they're closer -- and obviously Alex is a big body, his ability to stand up and make saves, I believe has always been there. But the area that I've challenged both Jon and Alex with is just the pure ability of sizing up certain shots from just around the box, just outside the box, in the D, getting the feet settled a little faster and getting down with that bottom hand and being able to make some of those saves. And so I was really pleased with that save.

And then disappointed that we just couldn't see it out for a shutout. But if we continue developing, I think we'll see some shutouts as we move forward.

KOSI THOMPSON - MIDFIELDER, TORONTO FC

Q. How tough was it for you to push through? You had that close call early in the match with the penalty that ended up being overturned. How do you mentally have to push through a close call like that?

I mean, that's the game of football, you take it with a grain of salt. It gets overturned, you can't own it too much. It will leech into your game.

After I saw it was overturned, I let it go, that's done, move forward. And that's what I did. And I thought that mentally I stayed positive and pushed forward, forgot about it, and played well for the rest of the game.

Q. You looked pretty shocked when the referee pointed to the penalty spot. In your view there was no contact?

In my view, so basically as I saw Bones come collect it. There was no intention. I just slowed down. Bones already had the ball, and I was shocked when he went down. And when the ref called it, obviously calling a penalty in the first five minutes, you're definitely going to be shocked, no matter who you are on the pitch. And so I just waited. Thankfully went to VAR, was able to correct his mistake. After that, there was no more shock.

Q. Just to be clear, there wasn't any contact or there was a slight accidental contact, what did you feel?

No, if anything, with the slightest contact, it was his back heel. Nothing intentional, nothing malicious. There was also a lot of contact -- he sort o triipped over himself as well. So that's pretty much all the contact that I saw myself.

Q. Did you feel your confidence growing as the game progressed?

Yes, for sure. First five, ten minutes, first start, I tried to go out there with confidence. Obviously you're not going to have it from the beginning. You need, your confidence needs to be backed with how you're playing. And first five, ten minutes I thought, as I started getting more touches on the ball, my confidence grew and grew. And then it was just at that point where I didn't need to worry about confidence anymore. I just knew it was there. And I played the rest of the game like how I played.

Q. Did this live up to your expectations as someone who has played in this program to play on this field and play in front of these fans?

For sure. A lot of kids dream to be in a position that I'm in. As a young player, getting a chance to start and prove myself and continue to prove myself, the emotion's indescribable. That's the best way I could put it.

Q. Just wondering, when did you find out that you were going to be in the starting lineup? And what instructions, if any, special instructions, if any did sort of Bob give you before going out there today?

Well, throughout the international period, I was put out as a right wing back. And throughout the weeks Bob was telling me to really play with confidence going forward. And, yes, I have defensive responsibilities but really play with confidence going forward. Look inside as that's our identity and basically coming into the game we throughout the week I knew what he wanted as a tactical standpoint. So the advice that I heard from all the coaching staff was confidence, fearless. And so I took that and carried it into the game with me.

Q. On the first Toronto goal, it seemed like you were a little surprised how much space you had in front of you. What was going through your mind in that moment and what did you see on that play?

I wouldn't say surprised, but I received the ball and there was a lot of space. So I said, you know what, I'm going to carry it a bit.

And I saw the gaps open up and quickly they closed. So thought on my feet, took a couple more touches. As you're moving you're going to see gaps open up. And it was a good movement from Ali. And slipped it to him and obviously great connection between Ale and Oso and from Oso to Jesús. And the ball's in the back of the net.

Q. Did you allow yourself a bit of a moment today to sort of look up in the crowd and dream about where you were?

Yeah, after that final whistle, I had family and friends here today. After I heard that final whistle, I was able to take in really what I had just accomplished. And it's a great milestone for me. Yes, I was able to take in where I am, who is around me, the atmosphere, everything. Everything.

Q. You're one of a long line of young Canadian players getting their chance this year under Bob Bradley. Can you give us a sense of what the atmosphere is like at the club right now for a young player like yourself? Is it like anything's possible?

Yes. I mean, we're at that point where you're going to play if you're performing well. Bob doesn't really care if you're young, if you're 18, 19, if you're 45. He doesn't care. If you're playing well, you're going to play. And he trusts us. I think that's the big point. He really does trust us. We need to trust ourselves. And the atmosphere for the young guys is amazing. The atmosphere here for everyone is amazing.

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