Ben Knight
Ben Knight writes and publishes
Onward!
Just like that, you get it in the neck
“I know it’s over. I just wish it was mathematically over.”
– A Toronto FC fan, in the wake of another needlessly blown result.
It’s kind of like watching a wildlife documentary:
“The Toronto FC late goal-against is a cunning, sneaky and remorseless predator,” a breathless David Attenborough whispers. “It never attacks the same way twice, and is a master of camouflage. You never see it coming. There’s just an eerie sense you’re going to get it in the neck. Then, out of nowhere, a three-man attacking opposition line forms up, and just like that, you get it in the neck.”
It was deep in second-half stoppage time, and I was laying out this exact scenario for a friendly, chatty chap from Oldham, England on the north terrace of BMO Field. Toronto FC was leading the hopeless San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 is a game with do-or-get-eviscerated playoff implications.
TFC had controlled the game, but (surprise, surprise) not finished enough of their chances. If not for inspired young defender Nana Attakora coming all the forward and ripping home a screamer, they wouldn’t have been on the scoreboard at all.
Now, the pink-shirted Torontos were all falling back on defence, and San Jose were rising capably to their first shot of sustained attack all afternoon – possibly in weeks.
Suddenly, fatally – in thick traffic in the TFC penalty area – the three-man attack wall shimmered into being. They had the ball and were all racing forward.
Bang, bang, rebound … lob!
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