Not wanting to feel left out as its MLS counterparts were beaten by lower-level opposition, Toronto FC fell, 1-0, at home to the USL’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship, the country’s round-robin qualifying tournament (also including the Montreal Impact) for the CONCACAF Champions League. And it was no second-string eleven fielded by Coach John Carver for the home defeat.
Carver was so incensed by his team’s first-half performance that he removed three players at the break, but it wasn’t enough to claw back the goal conceded on a Martin Nash penalty kick. “That team that went out there in the first half didn’t perform to the level that I want,” Carver said. “They couldn’t pass the ball. There was no communication. There was nothing. It was lifeless.”
Jeff Cunningham, subbed in at half-time for Danny Dichio, had a goal disallowed for offside, but Carver refused to blame the game officials for the defeat. Cunningham was less reticent, claiming that the officiating was “bad the whole game. It [the result] was a bit embarrassing. But the officiating decided the game today.” Present at the game were former Norwich City striker Darren Huckerby and former Manchester City forward Paul Dickov, both reportedly TFC transfer targets.