Giovinco is the dangerman for TFC
It seems only fitting that a day after National Donut Day that the greatest threat to our donut dominance comes to our nation’s capital for a football match. While Toronto FC (5-5-1, 16 points) supporters might not be bringing Tim Horton’s to the land of Astro Donuts and Fried Chicken, they will certainly to bring some Italian energy when they travel to Washington D.C. to take on D.C. United (8-3-4, 28 points). The match will be at 7pm EST and be shown live on COMCAST Sportsnet DC and TSN.
After five matches in sixteen days D.C. United might need a little coffee to stay awake in this match. Ben Olsen’s side have held up remarkably well considering the number of injuries it has sustained. Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire is a perfect example of this. Without defenders Taylor Kemp and Chris Korb (who have started at left-back in 43 of D.C. United’s past 49 matches over the past two years) midfielders Michael Farfan, Luis Silva, and Chris Rolfe (who was suspended) Olsen put together a patchwork team and has somehow set the club record for twenty consecutive matches unbeaten at home.
The club’s injury woes continued this week as it was announced that midfielder-forward Chris Pontius will be out of Saturday’s match with a hip problem. With a thin roster D.C.’s depth will be tested against a Toronto side that has not played a match in a week.
Toronto F.C. have had their own injury issues to deal with. Star striker Jozy Altidore is currently out with a hamstring injury and starting center-back Scott Caldwell is still nursing a knee injury. But Toronto have steadily come on in recent weeks, having gone undefeated in their last four matches (3-0-1, 10 points) and having lost just once in the last six matches (4-1-1, 13 points) .
As opposed to last season, where Toronto rode the hype train only to crash and burn late, this club seems to have finally found their form. Without Altidore, Sebastian Gionvinco has flourished; scoring five goals and tallying six assists. Gionvinco’s best asset is his navigation on diagonal passes. So many players who play as an attacking midfielder struggle to make that run and at the same time find balls in space. The Atomic Ant, as evidenced by his goal three weeks ago against the New York Red Bulls.
The task of defending Giovinco will be a difficult one for D.C. United. The player who is most capable of doing this, without a healthy Korb or Kemp, is right-back Sean Franklin bring in Opare as a center-back. Without Korb or Kemp, Olsen will likely shift center-back Steve Birnbaum to left-back. Birnbaum put in a serviceable performance against the Fire on Wednesday but was responsible for the Fire’s and only goal. Franklin will need to work with defensive-midfielder Markus Halsti in providing a 1-2 combination of pace and strength to stop Giovinco.
The key for United when doing this will be having someone push to the red side to cover up the open gap. TFC midfielders Jackson and Luke Moore beat were successful last year against United making similar runs to the outside. If Olsen chooses to have Franklin engage Giovinco then it will be up to Opare and Birnbaum to provide the overlap.
For Toronto they will need to show more defensive resolve late to get a result against D.C. United have scored twenty-one of their thirty-three goals in the second half, while Toronto have given up fourteen of their twenty-one goals in the second half. TFC coach Gregg Vanney has brought in some discipline to what was a reckless squad last season. But Toronto still struggles at times to maintain their shape and playing against a squad like United who love to make small runs designed to get defenders out of position their patience will be put to the limit.
On the attacking end for United the player to keep an eye on is Halsti. The Finnish national has come back strong after injury. Against Chicago he nailed a twenty yard cross, which found Jairo Arrieta in space. With Espindola (knee) still coming back from injury look for Arrieta to start up front alongside Chris Rolfe.
D.C. United are riding high off of their twenty game unbeaten run and looked primed to be in the thick of the MLS Supporters Shield race. But they will be ending a long stretch of matches and two weeks of tired legs may show up on Saturday. Toronto FC might not pitch a doughnut with a sterling defense or bring a baker’s dozen of goals. But then again with Giovinco a couple Italian glazed golazzos might just be enough.
