Rapid fall for Toronto FC in Colorado  By Pat Rooney / MLSnet.com Staff

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Toronto FC knew it had a golden opportunity to boost its playoff position before the kickoff of Saturday's match at Colorado. Yet, for the third consecutive match, the club's scoring touch was completely absent.
The Reds suffered a 1-0 loss on the road against the host Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, denying Toronto's bid to leap New England and D.C. United in the Eastern Conference standings.

Toronto has now gone without a goal in its past four games and has posted only two wins in its past nine league matches, going 2-4-3 during that span. The club has been held scoreless four times over that stretch after suffering only three shutouts in its first 15 contests.

Toronto (8-9-7) has not scored since getting a tally from O'Brian White in the 65th minute of a 2-0 win against D.C. United on Aug. 15. Since then, Toronto FC has suffered a 2-0 loss at Chivas USA and posted a scoreless draw against Seattle before Saturday's loss in Colorado.

Rapids forward Conor Casey made amends for a missed penalty kick in the first half by scoring the winning goal in the 52nd minute, heading a shot past Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei off a crossing pass from Jacob Peterson. It was Casey's league-leading 12th goal of the season.

The Rapids dominated possession for much of the first half, outshooting Toronto FC 7-2 during the period, but tight marking by Toronto's back line against Casey and fellow forward Omar Cummings held Colorado in check.

Toronto's only decent scoring chance during the first half occurred in the 10th minute when Pablo Vitti found open space near the top of the box, but Rapids 'keeper Matt Pickens was able to smother Vitti's low shot.

Toronto FC escaped falling into an early hole when Casey misfired on a penalty kick in the 25th minute. Toronto was whistled for a hand ball in the box during the possession battle following a Mehdi Ballouchy corner kick, but Casey's attempt deflected off the crossbar, keeping the match scoreless at halftime.

Toronto's fleeting chance at a comeback essentially was dashed in the 76th minute when midfielder Amadou Sanyang was issued a red card after receiving his second yellow card of the match, forcing Toronto to play a man down during the waning minutes. Defender Adrian Serioux also was issued a red card ejection in the 85th minute after a hard takedown of Cummings just outside the penalty box.

Toronto FC played without second-leading goalscorer Amado Guevara, also the club's leader in assists, who was called up to the Honduran national team.

The teams complete their home-and-home set next week in Toronto
 TFC Coach Cummins paint Reds playoffs picture

With eight games remaining in Toronto FC regular season and only eight of the 15 teams making the MLS playoffs, TFC coach Chris Cummins has set a target of 12 more points or an equivalent of four wins for the Reds to make the MLS playoffs.

 

However, there is a serious twist to what seems like a reasonable objective by Cummins since five of the Reds remaining eight games are away from BMO Field where the Reds have had more than their share of troubles.

 

The Reds is in third place in the Eastern division with 30 points and while trailing Columbus (39) and Chicago (38) they are tied on points with fourth place New England Revolutions which has two games in hand on Toronto, and one point ahead of DC United who has 29 points.

 

With the top two teams in each conference qualifying as the top seeds, Coach Cumming and the Reds will have to focus on the wild card spots by finishing as one of the best remaining four teams base on total points, regardless of conference.

 

Cummins is confident that his target of 42 points will put the Reds into post season play for the first time in the club's history, and if he is correct, it would be very interesting to watch how he  utilize his players to gain consistency.

 

In lieu of Cummins optimism, the Reds lost to Chivas USA 2-0 last Saturday after defeating DC United by the same margin of victory the week before. Player suspension is adding to Cummins woes but I feel that the Reds can make the playoff if he uses the available players effectively.

 

Much is being made about the Reds missing Jim Brennan play against Chivas USA, but Carl Robinson and Adrian Serioux will be missing against Seattle on Saturday due suspension for an accumulation of 5 yellow cards and the team still has to gain a result.

 

From my vantage point coach Cummins is sending mix signals in his explanation of the team inconsistent play.

 

"We know we have to improve on the road and need to take points away from home if we are going to get in the playoffs," said Cummins. "We know we need four wins between now and the end of the season. If we get three points out of the next two road games then we are back on track."

 

That statement was all good but Cummins confused the issue when he said "It was evident last weekend when Jimmy was out that we missed having a natural left footer”. Who is responsible for the selection and player substitution?

 

Cummins continued, “With Carl and Adrian missing it will give other lads the opportunity to come in and play and try and show what they can do. All of the lads are aware when they are close to a suspension, but you can't tell them to go out and play not to get booked."

 

Cummins answers seemed to be laced with political correctness and this is the time that he has to step out of the box and manage the team. The Reds will have to show some character since their next two games are against teams that could eliminate them from playoff contention.

 

More than anything Coach Cummins have to insist on better positional play from his team especially in the defensive zone which has been the Reds Achilles heel. It is a given that in road games players have to hang tough and forward Pablo Vitti, will have to step up in this regard.

 

From my vantage point the Reds next three games against Seattle and a home and away against Colorado Rapids could be a defining moment in the 2009 season. The Reds will have to defeat Colorado and contain Seattle to have a realistic chance to the playoffs.

 

Although there is a log jam in the Eastern Division, Seattle, Colorado, LA Galaxy, Chivas USA and Real Sault Lake from the Western Division seems to have a lock on the four wild card spots.

 

In the West, Houston Dynamo is all but assured of a playoff spot with 40 points while Chivas USA 33 points with three games in hand on the other teams is in the best position for the next top seeded spot in the Division.

 

LA Galaxy with 35 points from 23 games, Seattle Sounders with 33 points from 22 games, Colorado with 30 points from 21 games and Real Sault Lake with 29 points are all obstacles to Toronto FC’s projected 42-point path to the last 4 wildcard playoff spots.

 

The Reds-Seattle Sounders match on Saturday will be on CBC with a 4:00 p.m. ET kickoff time.

Reds end five-game winless skid behind youthful spark