Lots of bad things have befallen Toronto FC lately, most notably the hamstring injury to important defender Torsten Frings and goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s broken leg.
The hits kept coming when Toronto got thumped by San Jose in league play last week, 3-0.
The timing of it all certainly stinks, because Toronto is about to walk into a spotlight, meeting Mexican power Santos Laguna tonight in a first leg CONCACAF Champions League semifinal. (Fox Soccer Channel, 8 p.m. ET)
The Reds are here because they upset the heavily favored Los Angeles Galaxy in the tournament quarterfinals. Based on that, there’s hope, right? The men of BMO certainly think so.
“I think it’s a good thing we’re cast as underdogs because people don’t expect too much,” defender Richard Eckersley told reporters after Tuesday’s training at BMO Field. “So if obviously we put on a good performance tomorrow, it will be great.”
Still, it’s awfully difficult to like their chances. Santos continues to sit atop the Mexican Clasura table, alongside Morelia with 26 of a possible 36 points. And don’t forget, Los Guerreros, kicked a quality Seattle side around pretty good three weeks ago.
With the return leg against Toronto set for April 4 in Torreon, Mexico, Brian Straus of the Sporting News sets up why this figures to be such a struggle for the Reds.