Toronto 2, Vancouver 2
Q. I'm guessing those are two goals coming I guess from set pieces you think perhaps should not have been conceded. What were your thoughts about the goals that the team gave up today and also the overall performance?
CHRIS ARMAS: Yeah, look, the players have put so much work into everything we're doing around here that on a day like today where they come out, and against a team that's coming off a big win against Portland, we get the lead, and now we feel like we're in a pretty good situation. We just have to keep pushing the game and try to get that second goal, while we're trying to mitigate counterattacks and set pieces. We knew this was their strength on the day.
So, yeah, I'd love for the players, all of us, just to get rewarded on the day, for the work, the way they showed up on the day but that's not the case. Yeah, when you defend deep and you defend in a low block, let's say, certain things become really important and now we talk about control in part of the field, really controlling our actions while we're still stepping to plays.
Yeah, it's disappointing that that one, yeah, for sure, a free kick set play, the other is a penalty, but yeah, that doesn't -- that makes it -- that makes it hard to sit with us. So the good news is the guys made a real push at the end. They made a real push to get back into the game and maybe we leave on somewhat of a positive there.
Q. How nice was it for you to be able to put in Osorio, Akinola and Altidore, and what did you think of the way that they helped turn the game around for you guys to have that push?
CHRIS ARMAS: I think they added something for sure. It's good. It's a big step for us. You know, Jozy back out there. Pat's done a nice job but having Jozy as an option, there it's a big step for him and our team.
Also, Singh, right, when he's on the pitch, the football up the field gets easier. He's able to bring people in and to understand the final third with quality, and you know, he's going to -- he's going to keep pushing forward and help -- help that part of thing.
Ayo, it's been awhile, so we have to be thrilled that he's back on the pitch being dangerous. He had a couple of good moments, even a near post run that's really close.
The other one I would add is Jacob. Jacob's shown he's growing and he's dangerous and he offered us speed on the flank. I think it's a big plus for us. It's still early in our season and we're bringing -- we're talking about getting stronger each -- each day, really, as guys come back in. On that note, it's a positive and we thought all those guys helped make a real push at the end.
Q. Couple of big goals, Luke Singh scores his first as a professional, and Jonathan Osorio, goal. What are your reactions seeing the ball bounce around? Ever see a more beautiful goal?
CHRIS ARMAS: Yeah, look, we talk a lot about urgency. Urgency on the pitch and none more than in each box. Specifically, that, call it 18 by 20, right. That 18 out, 20 yards wide. Can we have, you know, reactions to defend goals with more urgency, and that showed up on some plays today, although we set ourselves down in a few moments.
But on the attacking end, to think about the second ball, really anticipating and for that, it's great. When it's in the bounds, that shows that guys are hungry to score and anticipating and, you know, thrilled for those guys, especially Luke, getting his first in just his second game, right.
Q. Last week you talked about how the team just kind of came up second throughout the match, whether it was in tackles, duels, addles, whatever, just came up second the entire game. Just wondering today what you saw. Was it better on that front today?
CHRIS ARMAS: It was better. We showed up on the day. The guys competed for sure. We saw a team on the front foot from the beginning. Right away we earn a corner kick in the first 20 seconds of the match. We're pushing, in the run of play, we are fairly organized and they get through a few times, you know, with you against Vancouver, it's always about transition, right. So with Cavallini, and up the pitch Dajome, these guys are just good in transition, with Caicedo coming in, it challenges us if we want to play in the opposition's half.
So that's not a lack of intensity. It's not a lack of focus. It's just dealing with transition. And I'll tell you what if we're better with the ball up the field, of course counter pressing is something we rely on to win the ball back but we had a lot of cheap giveaways up the field. So that stresses the back line.
No, I think the intensity, the approach to the game, the first goal, the way we pushed at the end showed we were up for it today. We just have to be sharper.
Q. Congratulations on your first point with Toronto FC.
CHRIS ARMAS: Thank you.
Q. What happened there at the end? It seemed like tempers sort of flared or after the final whistle. Do you know what happened there? It seemed Teibert was upset. What did Marc say to you after the game was over?
CHRIS ARMAS: We wished each other well. You know, I congratulated them on a good start to the season. He wished us well in the Champion's League. It was just, you know, a warm coming together there. In terms of players, you'd have to ask them. You know, it's a competitive game. Sometimes these games end like this, but it's nothing much to talk about, I don't think.
Q. It's early in the season, you started along this path towards a new style in the preseason. Only four games under your belt, it's a long journey to developing a new style but how far along the path to your vision are you seeing this club right now?
CHRIS ARMAS: It's early. It's early for our team. Again, we've talked about some of our challenges physically early on. You can see we're slowly getting fitter, we're getting -- the sharpness is going to come. I think you all tell me all the time, you know, asking about the Mavingas, the Jozys, the Pozuelos. It's all going to come together.
What I do see and what I love most is a major commitment to what we are doing, and I see that because I know it poses challenge for us if we are going to play with intensity and be aggressive and stepping into plays and playing up the pitch, it sometimes leads to fouls and it leads to transition moments. I see a big commitment every day from these players and the entire staff. The whole crew here, it makes me happy, a couple of months in that we are -- I think that we are playing more vertical. I think we are playing with more intensity and we are able to score and in the run of play we are not giving up a ton, even against Leon. We had some big challenges early on, some good opposition. Yeah, we've got to get back to work. There's a lot of work to do. We're early on in the process and we'll get back to work starting tomorrow.
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