November 22, 2024 • 18 mins
This week on Sportsfeld Storytime, we continue our look back at the 2017 Toronto FC road to MLS Cup. This week, we're looking at two nail-biting playoff series against the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew. We're talking Jozy's dominance, Giovinco's brilliance, and also the time Jozy missed a playoff game because he got into a fight at halftime. Good times. Also, was Jake at the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals or did he just imagine it? Honestly, who are we to say?
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And as always, thank you for listening to another episode of Sportsfeld.
Sick of hearing all the ads? Subscribe to Soda Premium on Apple Podcasts to get rid of them!
Follow @Sportsfeld on X! While you're there say hello to @theZubes and @JGoldsbie or reach out to the show and say hey: podcast@sportsfeld.ca
If merch is your thing, be sure to check out the store: http://bit.ly/merchfeldIf you enjoyed today’s show, please rate Sportsfeld 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.
And as always, thank you for listening to another episode of Sportsfeld.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From Harrison, New Jersey. As the Audi twenty seventeen MLS
Cup Playoffs and after a record breaking year, these Toronto
FC fans see if their side can go further in
the MLS Cup playoffs. Expects a fast, frantic, up tempo
game between two teams that like to attack as Toronto
FC's twenty seventeen postseason gets underway here with the Eastern
(00:24):
Conference semi final first leg in New York against the
Red Bulls, Toronto FC ninety minutes away from a return
to MLS Cup, Columbus crew hoping to make their third
MLS Cup appearance. As for the Toronto FC lineup tonight,
they welcome back their front two of Josey Altador and
Sebastian Javinko after suspension, and Greg Vanny goes back to
(00:46):
a more familiar lineup Therek Savoletta returning in defense. Greg
Baholta makes two changes to the Columbus lineup, including missing
our tour in midfield who suspended.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
A very attacking Columbus Trulen up here by Greg Bhalter.
Jo signsos not left wing by position change.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Information to a three four two one.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Sports It is sports Faul story time we are looking
back to championship time in this city. It's time to
it's time to remember that fleeting moment of two fleeting
moments in a five year span where the Toronto FC,
any Toronto team at all, as a matter of fact,
(01:44):
was able to win something.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
We're not.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
I don't think we're ever gonna do. Drink something if
I'm wrong, and you can correct me if if one
day you want to do this, I don't think we're
ever gonna do uh that. Remember when Toronto Marley's won
the AHL.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Probably don't know, I forgot that even happened.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So yeah, this is it's all pretty much the same,
the same era. There's Dubis shouting at the calder Cup.
That's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Sure, I'll take your word for it.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So yeah, anyway, uh we last episode went through the
unbelievable twenty seventeen regular season that Toronto we FC went through,
punctuated with two six game winning streaks in a thirty
four game season. They were top of the pops. They
had a twelve point advantage in the standings, which was incredible.
(02:33):
They were number one with a bullet twenty wins, five losses,
nine draws, a plus thirty seven gold differential and thirty
four games. All of that earned them a playoff matchup.
Two legs in the conference semifinals, started off against the
New York Red Bulls. Jake, what do you remember first
and foremost about this pre MLS Cup playoff run in
(02:56):
the first place?
Speaker 5 (02:57):
I remember that for the first leg or the first round,
I guess I was still in Montreal doing the play
one of the times, and it was one of those
I really hope they go far enough for me to
get to bemo for some games. But it was also
just like confidence until the game started. And then the
(03:20):
first two they were squeakers like, especially from the season
before where they sort of handedly handily beat Philly in
the sort of playoff round. Then they crushed New York
City FC. And then even though the Montreal game was
a classic, it was a goal filled and lots of
high scoring and all that. And then the first two
(03:41):
rounds of the twenty seventeen playoffs were just like tight
games of like sort of holding on to squeak by
and you I'd sort of thought, perhaps naively, that from
the way that the regular season went, it was gonna
be a cakewalk, but that was not the case.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yes, they they We had mentioned last time that that
you know, if you look at their regular season results,
it's littered with like four nothings and three ones and
two nothings and there's a there's a five nothing in there,
and they they blow out you name the team that
NYCFC comes in, there's the second best team. They get
blown out for nothing. Uh, you know they take on
(04:23):
La Galaxy, blow them out for nothing? You like anybody
that was a good team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
They were.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
They made a point, absolutely crushed. Chicago was a good team.
They beat them three to one. There was like every
reason to believe that they would come into this and
really run roughshot and it did not happen that way.
The first one, the first game is against New e
Read Bulls in Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Uh
and Vasquez who we talked about in the first episode
of this month or it just like was a real
(04:51):
dream ad I scores in the eighth minute to make
it one to nothing for the FC. Uh.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Yeah, I will admit I'd don't remember this leg at all.
I think I made I think say we were doing
the show at this I may have been had probably
had a show that night, so I don't remember these
games at all against New York other than like checking
the score and hoping that things would go the right way.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
They would give up a penalty on the other end
Royer forty fifth plus three. So right at halftime they
give a penalty, but it's Giovinko who the fl seventy
second minute, giovinco puts them up two to one. It
is Javenko, step past in.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Javeko cooks turn to fsa backyard front.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
There's almost unstoppable from free kicks.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Look at this one. I got to say, rule bless
is at fault. Yeah, tay, they'll try to put them
on back in the lady goes too late. Absolutely incredible
free kick.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yes, that would hold through the first leg and the
second leg. They actually lose one nothing but the two
road goals, Espally the Geo second goal ends up being
a huge deal as there are it's double red at
halftime New York and Toronto Altador gets thrown off and
(06:22):
Cleiston gets thrown off at the half. I mean, was
this the one that was it was they fought in
the tunnel, Yes.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Yeah, yeah, they got into a fight going off the pitch,
and I remember there was big concern of Josie being
suspended for it.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yes, that is correct. They get carded at thirty four
each and then thrown out on the second red, second yellow,
with a red in the forty fifth plus two. As
you said, going into the tunnels at halftime, there's a
dust up. Bradley also picks up a card in that
and right Phillips scores in the fifty third to make
it one nothing Red Bulls in the second leg. But
(06:59):
of course the Google aggregate is enough to get Toronto
through to the conference finals, where they would await the
Columbus Crew.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
The rival, I guess, former current rival Columbus Crew. But
to your point also or not to your point, to
the previous note, no Josie Altador in this one and
no Sebastian Javinko in this one for TFC, which I
(07:30):
gotta say, it didn't feel good going into the.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Game on the road. Basically we just need to hold
on right you're you're basically if you can get a
row goal, that's great, but on the road without your
two absolute premier guys, it is yeah, Sphinter clenching a
tight one and they you know it's it's Ricketts Hasler, Ozario, Vasquez, Delgado, Bradley, Beta,
(07:54):
shore More, Mavinga, Moro and Bono and they played under
the draw. I mean they managed to get a with
a with a nothing nothing drawn, but sort of not
the best you can help for, but but pretty darn
close given the given the situation of their lineup.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yeah, I do remember this, and I remember that was
sort of the that was I don't want to say
the goal because they're you know, it's the away leg.
You always want to get one, but I definitely think
it was. The overwhelming thought was like just survive without
Seba and Josie and then you get to bring it
back to Toronto and go from there.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
And bring it back to Toronto. They would in front
of the Bemofield crowd. This is to get them back
to the MLS Cup in back to back years. They
need to be Columbus at home in front of the crowd. Uh.
Do you remember this one?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
As I do? I believe. So I've been trying to
remember if I was at this game or not. I'm
pretty sure I was, but I'm not one hundred percent,
but I'm pretty sure I was at this one. Uh,
And I don't know why I can't remember because like
watching rewatching the highlights, I'm like, I remember all of this,
but I'm just like not sure because my brain is broken.
(09:09):
But uh, you know it's the playoffs and they needed
and it's Josie and in twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen, as
we talked about, he just shows up and does what
needs to be done, will bring this one down here
(09:31):
up against Menson into the path about to bats guests back.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Choousy, when Fay made a hero out Chelsey to the levels,
Oh no much never pebal taus right on the hour.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Mark TFC come good and it was a whole football
form of the a past season maker does it tremendously wrong?
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Then if Pacy say.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Compulsion and Fasquas just to take that touch for Josie
Altadal to make the run, Protaly run there, walts way
of pastaific walt to finish from Josie Altidol almost left
this field five minutes a goal with an ankleingjiny strapped up,
step back on this field and he gives TFC the
(10:22):
all important.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
One just about an hour in. Uh, it's a classic.
You watch it and Seba has five guys like guarding him.
He somehow gets Da Vasquez and Josie breaks through an
unreal pass from Vasquez to hit him perfectly in stride.
But man, if this isn't the beginning of this goal,
isn't exactly what it was like for so many of
(10:46):
the goal for this team, Like Joevinko brings it down
and two defenders can't take it off him, so a
third guy, the mayfielder, holds back and tries to square
him off. He dribbles through that. The winger comes back
and tries to cut that angle off. That doesn't work.
The guy that was guarding Josie comes back and tries
literally I'm looking at the pass he makes a Josie,
there are two three, there are six Columbus crew either
(11:11):
right beside him or looking at him trying to stop
this pass, and he managed that. Half the team is
guarding Djuvinko on this play. Like that's unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, And it was also like the I guess sort
of the theme that I felt throughout these playoffs, which
I don't know how accurate this is with sort of
the general mindset of the TFC fan base, but we
I know this was the mindset for the finals, which
we'll talk about in a sec. But it all kind
(11:42):
of felt like, oh god, it's the final of twenty sixteen.
Is happening again? Yes, like a great team can't break
down the door. And then just like both games have
Josie scoring around the hour mark and it's just like
joy and relief and it's, uh, it's good stuff.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
There is some sloppy play in the early part of
like they give up that two on one in about
twenty minutes in, and they really think Columbus should get
a chance off in Bradley with the crazy run back
and the diving stop. Twenty five minutes in, they have
a corner that they that they there's a no call.
And the one thing, if you want to the team
(12:21):
did talk to the refs and awful lot that was
one team did love the yell at the referees.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
So it goes, yeah, I mean I bucket help them.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
There's a penalty in the twenty six I sort of
brush over it. Not a no call. There, there's a penalty, uh,
and it's Vasquez and he has stopped on a penalty.
And you want to talk about worrying about the previous
MLS Cup, this was this was like, Oh my god,
how is this going to go on? I do remember
that because they have more than their fair share of chances,
(12:54):
as does Columbus. Like the guess the difference is there
at least chances in this game. But it's not crazy
to see this going going sideways and being yet another
sort of bemo field meltdown.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
A lot yeah, a lot of holding holding the breath,
uh these in these last two games of the season.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
But again the the unbelievable uh set of goal and
then they they all they have to do is hold
on for an hour. There's a there's a corner in
the eightieth that causes a bit of a kerfuffle that
they're able to clear away. Surprisingly honestly a fairly strong
defensive team, I will say, for all the offensive fireworks,
they they when they needed to defend, especially in this playoffs,
(13:35):
like they don't get a whole heck of a lot
they saw in.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
The midfield really controlled was going to controlling.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Everything, Columbus really pressuring on. They have a cross that
gets flicked on on the header and a guy back
door absolutely wide open and is unable to convert it.
Your last real boy right through his feet uh, and
then the ninety fifth last second goalie is picked up.
If Shlock gets blocked, whistle goes. Toronto FC is headed
(14:05):
back to their second consecutive MLS Cup final, and once again, Jake,
it is going to be hosted at Bemofield in Toronto.
Your I know you said you can't remember whether or
not you were at the stadium for this. Do you
remember the immediate aftermath of beating Columbus and being ready
(14:26):
to go for.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
The n Oh? Yeah, it was just like it was
sort of that thrill of a making the final again,
but also the fact that it was going to be
in Toronto again, like it sort of felt I don't
want to say second chance like, but just I remember
it was sort of at least from purely my personal perspective,
(14:49):
which is really what matters in all this. Of course,
it was such a thrill in twenty sixteen to be
literally at a finals, especially like after the fun of
and the expectation of the Blue Jays in twenty fifteen,
which you and I went to a lot of the
(15:10):
games and we sort of had that feel like we're
gonna get to go to like the World Series, and
then with TFC in twenty sixteen being like I'm at
because like it's Toronto, right, Like, no, no Toronto team
had been in a final since the Jays in ninety
three at this point, other than I guess the Marleys
or the Argos ye both pack and yeah, but it
(15:32):
felt like it felt cool to be like at a final.
And then I personally spent most of twenty seventeen being like,
like it from my own selfish perspective, as much as
I wanted like team's success, I wanted to go to
another final and experience because we talked this whole time.
You know, I'm a big sports crowd guy, yes, and
(15:56):
so it was like I wanted to be in that
crowd again. I wanted that crowd environment and that fun
and that like hanging on every moment with thirty thousand
people again because it's fun as hell. And so I remember,
you know the fact that in twenty sixteen we had
(16:18):
to sort of be like, Okay, well they finished ahead
of Seattle, like there was like the four or five
or whatever the seeding was. They just they kind of
lucked into hosting it. And then this time it was
like we're the first place team. Let's just get to
the finals so we can host the final again. And
so it was sort of this mix of like really
excited that the team was good, but the team was
(16:40):
also sort of I kind of felt like I expected
them to be there because they were so good, Like
I think they were literally, statistically, at least the time,
the best MLS team ever. So it was kind of like,
of course they're gonna be in the final, but then
to actually be there and be like, all right, we're
going again was just like, it was real exciting. It
was real excited.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
They did get back and another beautiful opportunity and a
much more fun and much more exciting game. We will
talk about that and what comes after next week on
a new episode that's Sports Felstrit Time
Speaker 5 (17:57):
Sports
From Harrison, New Jersey. As the Audi twenty seventeen MLS
Cup Playoffs and after a record breaking year, these Toronto
FC fans see if their side can go further in
the MLS Cup playoffs. Expects a fast, frantic, up tempo
game between two teams that like to attack as Toronto
FC's twenty seventeen postseason gets underway here with the Eastern
(00:24):
Conference semi final first leg in New York against the
Red Bulls, Toronto FC ninety minutes away from a return
to MLS Cup, Columbus crew hoping to make their third
MLS Cup appearance. As for the Toronto FC lineup tonight,
they welcome back their front two of Josey Altador and
Sebastian Javinko after suspension, and Greg Vanny goes back to
(00:46):
a more familiar lineup Therek Savoletta returning in defense. Greg
Baholta makes two changes to the Columbus lineup, including missing
our tour in midfield who suspended.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
A very attacking Columbus Trulen up here by Greg Bhalter.
Jo signsos not left wing by position change.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Information to a three four two one.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Sports It is sports Faul story time we are looking
back to championship time in this city. It's time to
it's time to remember that fleeting moment of two fleeting
moments in a five year span where the Toronto FC,
any Toronto team at all, as a matter of fact,
(01:44):
was able to win something.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
We're not.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
I don't think we're ever gonna do. Drink something if
I'm wrong, and you can correct me if if one
day you want to do this, I don't think we're
ever gonna do uh that. Remember when Toronto Marley's won
the AHL.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Probably don't know, I forgot that even happened.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So yeah, this is it's all pretty much the same,
the same era. There's Dubis shouting at the calder Cup.
That's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Sure, I'll take your word for it.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So yeah, anyway, uh we last episode went through the
unbelievable twenty seventeen regular season that Toronto we FC went through,
punctuated with two six game winning streaks in a thirty
four game season. They were top of the pops. They
had a twelve point advantage in the standings, which was incredible.
(02:33):
They were number one with a bullet twenty wins, five losses,
nine draws, a plus thirty seven gold differential and thirty
four games. All of that earned them a playoff matchup.
Two legs in the conference semifinals, started off against the
New York Red Bulls. Jake, what do you remember first
and foremost about this pre MLS Cup playoff run in
(02:56):
the first place?
Speaker 5 (02:57):
I remember that for the first leg or the first round,
I guess I was still in Montreal doing the play
one of the times, and it was one of those
I really hope they go far enough for me to
get to bemo for some games. But it was also
just like confidence until the game started. And then the
(03:20):
first two they were squeakers like, especially from the season
before where they sort of handedly handily beat Philly in
the sort of playoff round. Then they crushed New York
City FC. And then even though the Montreal game was
a classic, it was a goal filled and lots of
high scoring and all that. And then the first two
(03:41):
rounds of the twenty seventeen playoffs were just like tight
games of like sort of holding on to squeak by
and you I'd sort of thought, perhaps naively, that from
the way that the regular season went, it was gonna
be a cakewalk, but that was not the case.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yes, they they We had mentioned last time that that
you know, if you look at their regular season results,
it's littered with like four nothings and three ones and
two nothings and there's a there's a five nothing in there,
and they they blow out you name the team that
NYCFC comes in, there's the second best team. They get
blown out for nothing. Uh, you know they take on
(04:23):
La Galaxy, blow them out for nothing? You like anybody
that was a good team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
They were.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
They made a point, absolutely crushed. Chicago was a good team.
They beat them three to one. There was like every
reason to believe that they would come into this and
really run roughshot and it did not happen that way.
The first one, the first game is against New e
Read Bulls in Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Uh
and Vasquez who we talked about in the first episode
of this month or it just like was a real
(04:51):
dream ad I scores in the eighth minute to make
it one to nothing for the FC. Uh.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Yeah, I will admit I'd don't remember this leg at all.
I think I made I think say we were doing
the show at this I may have been had probably
had a show that night, so I don't remember these
games at all against New York other than like checking
the score and hoping that things would go the right way.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
They would give up a penalty on the other end
Royer forty fifth plus three. So right at halftime they
give a penalty, but it's Giovinko who the fl seventy
second minute, giovinco puts them up two to one. It
is Javenko, step past in.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
Javeko cooks turn to fsa backyard front.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
There's almost unstoppable from free kicks.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Look at this one. I got to say, rule bless
is at fault. Yeah, tay, they'll try to put them
on back in the lady goes too late. Absolutely incredible
free kick.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yes, that would hold through the first leg and the
second leg. They actually lose one nothing but the two
road goals, Espally the Geo second goal ends up being
a huge deal as there are it's double red at
halftime New York and Toronto Altador gets thrown off and
(06:22):
Cleiston gets thrown off at the half. I mean, was
this the one that was it was they fought in
the tunnel, Yes.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Yeah, yeah, they got into a fight going off the pitch,
and I remember there was big concern of Josie being
suspended for it.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yes, that is correct. They get carded at thirty four
each and then thrown out on the second red, second yellow,
with a red in the forty fifth plus two. As
you said, going into the tunnels at halftime, there's a
dust up. Bradley also picks up a card in that
and right Phillips scores in the fifty third to make
it one nothing Red Bulls in the second leg. But
(06:59):
of course the Google aggregate is enough to get Toronto
through to the conference finals, where they would await the
Columbus Crew.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
The rival, I guess, former current rival Columbus Crew. But
to your point also or not to your point, to
the previous note, no Josie Altador in this one and
no Sebastian Javinko in this one for TFC, which I
(07:30):
gotta say, it didn't feel good going into the.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Game on the road. Basically we just need to hold
on right you're you're basically if you can get a
row goal, that's great, but on the road without your
two absolute premier guys, it is yeah, Sphinter clenching a
tight one and they you know it's it's Ricketts Hasler, Ozario, Vasquez, Delgado, Bradley, Beta,
(07:54):
shore More, Mavinga, Moro and Bono and they played under
the draw. I mean they managed to get a with
a with a nothing nothing drawn, but sort of not
the best you can help for, but but pretty darn
close given the given the situation of their lineup.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yeah, I do remember this, and I remember that was
sort of the that was I don't want to say
the goal because they're you know, it's the away leg.
You always want to get one, but I definitely think
it was. The overwhelming thought was like just survive without
Seba and Josie and then you get to bring it
back to Toronto and go from there.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
And bring it back to Toronto. They would in front
of the Bemofield crowd. This is to get them back
to the MLS Cup in back to back years. They
need to be Columbus at home in front of the crowd. Uh.
Do you remember this one?
Speaker 5 (08:45):
As I do? I believe. So I've been trying to
remember if I was at this game or not. I'm
pretty sure I was, but I'm not one hundred percent,
but I'm pretty sure I was at this one. Uh,
And I don't know why I can't remember because like
watching rewatching the highlights, I'm like, I remember all of this,
but I'm just like not sure because my brain is broken.
(09:09):
But uh, you know it's the playoffs and they needed
and it's Josie and in twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen, as
we talked about, he just shows up and does what
needs to be done, will bring this one down here
(09:31):
up against Menson into the path about to bats guests back.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Choousy, when Fay made a hero out Chelsey to the levels,
Oh no much never pebal taus right on the hour.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Mark TFC come good and it was a whole football
form of the a past season maker does it tremendously wrong?
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Then if Pacy say.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Compulsion and Fasquas just to take that touch for Josie
Altadal to make the run, Protaly run there, walts way
of pastaific walt to finish from Josie Altidol almost left
this field five minutes a goal with an ankleingjiny strapped up,
step back on this field and he gives TFC the
(10:22):
all important.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
One just about an hour in. Uh, it's a classic.
You watch it and Seba has five guys like guarding him.
He somehow gets Da Vasquez and Josie breaks through an
unreal pass from Vasquez to hit him perfectly in stride.
But man, if this isn't the beginning of this goal,
isn't exactly what it was like for so many of
(10:46):
the goal for this team, Like Joevinko brings it down
and two defenders can't take it off him, so a
third guy, the mayfielder, holds back and tries to square
him off. He dribbles through that. The winger comes back
and tries to cut that angle off. That doesn't work.
The guy that was guarding Josie comes back and tries
literally I'm looking at the pass he makes a Josie,
there are two three, there are six Columbus crew either
(11:11):
right beside him or looking at him trying to stop
this pass, and he managed that. Half the team is
guarding Djuvinko on this play. Like that's unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, And it was also like the I guess sort
of the theme that I felt throughout these playoffs, which
I don't know how accurate this is with sort of
the general mindset of the TFC fan base, but we
I know this was the mindset for the finals, which
we'll talk about in a sec. But it all kind
(11:42):
of felt like, oh god, it's the final of twenty sixteen.
Is happening again? Yes, like a great team can't break
down the door. And then just like both games have
Josie scoring around the hour mark and it's just like
joy and relief and it's, uh, it's good stuff.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
There is some sloppy play in the early part of
like they give up that two on one in about
twenty minutes in, and they really think Columbus should get
a chance off in Bradley with the crazy run back
and the diving stop. Twenty five minutes in, they have
a corner that they that they there's a no call.
And the one thing, if you want to the team
(12:21):
did talk to the refs and awful lot that was
one team did love the yell at the referees.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
So it goes, yeah, I mean I bucket help them.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
There's a penalty in the twenty six I sort of
brush over it. Not a no call. There, there's a penalty, uh,
and it's Vasquez and he has stopped on a penalty.
And you want to talk about worrying about the previous
MLS Cup, this was this was like, Oh my god,
how is this going to go on? I do remember
that because they have more than their fair share of chances,
(12:54):
as does Columbus. Like the guess the difference is there
at least chances in this game. But it's not crazy
to see this going going sideways and being yet another
sort of bemo field meltdown.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
A lot yeah, a lot of holding holding the breath,
uh these in these last two games of the season.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
But again the the unbelievable uh set of goal and
then they they all they have to do is hold
on for an hour. There's a there's a corner in
the eightieth that causes a bit of a kerfuffle that
they're able to clear away. Surprisingly honestly a fairly strong
defensive team, I will say, for all the offensive fireworks,
they they when they needed to defend, especially in this playoffs,
(13:35):
like they don't get a whole heck of a lot
they saw in.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
The midfield really controlled was going to controlling.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Everything, Columbus really pressuring on. They have a cross that
gets flicked on on the header and a guy back
door absolutely wide open and is unable to convert it.
Your last real boy right through his feet uh, and
then the ninety fifth last second goalie is picked up.
If Shlock gets blocked, whistle goes. Toronto FC is headed
(14:05):
back to their second consecutive MLS Cup final, and once again, Jake,
it is going to be hosted at Bemofield in Toronto.
Your I know you said you can't remember whether or
not you were at the stadium for this. Do you
remember the immediate aftermath of beating Columbus and being ready
(14:26):
to go for.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
The n Oh? Yeah, it was just like it was
sort of that thrill of a making the final again,
but also the fact that it was going to be
in Toronto again, like it sort of felt I don't
want to say second chance like, but just I remember
it was sort of at least from purely my personal perspective,
(14:49):
which is really what matters in all this. Of course,
it was such a thrill in twenty sixteen to be
literally at a finals, especially like after the fun of
and the expectation of the Blue Jays in twenty fifteen,
which you and I went to a lot of the
(15:10):
games and we sort of had that feel like we're
gonna get to go to like the World Series, and
then with TFC in twenty sixteen being like I'm at
because like it's Toronto, right, Like, no, no Toronto team
had been in a final since the Jays in ninety
three at this point, other than I guess the Marleys
or the Argos ye both pack and yeah, but it
(15:32):
felt like it felt cool to be like at a final.
And then I personally spent most of twenty seventeen being like,
like it from my own selfish perspective, as much as
I wanted like team's success, I wanted to go to
another final and experience because we talked this whole time.
You know, I'm a big sports crowd guy, yes, and
(15:56):
so it was like I wanted to be in that
crowd again. I wanted that crowd environment and that fun
and that like hanging on every moment with thirty thousand
people again because it's fun as hell. And so I remember,
you know the fact that in twenty sixteen we had
(16:18):
to sort of be like, Okay, well they finished ahead
of Seattle, like there was like the four or five
or whatever the seeding was. They just they kind of
lucked into hosting it. And then this time it was
like we're the first place team. Let's just get to
the finals so we can host the final again. And
so it was sort of this mix of like really
excited that the team was good, but the team was
(16:40):
also sort of I kind of felt like I expected
them to be there because they were so good, Like
I think they were literally, statistically, at least the time,
the best MLS team ever. So it was kind of like,
of course they're gonna be in the final, but then
to actually be there and be like, all right, we're
going again was just like, it was real exciting. It
was real excited.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
They did get back and another beautiful opportunity and a
much more fun and much more exciting game. We will
talk about that and what comes after next week on
a new episode that's Sports Felstrit Time
Speaker 5 (17:57):
Sports
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