Toronto FC overcame the New England Revolution in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on Sunday night. Here are three things we learned.
After a week off in Week 2, Toronto FC returned to action in Week 3 by hosting the New England Revolution on Sunday night. After seeing the likes of the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United thump their respective opponents, the pressure was on the Reds to deliver.
And deliver they did, even if it did take a late winner from Jozy Altidore to rescue them from off the bench. The Revolution, meanwhile, have just one point from three matches and looked somewhat toothless.
Here are three things we learned from the exciting 3-2 Toronto victory.
3. Bradley the metronome
Michael Bradley is a highly contentious figure among U.S. soccer circles. Often seen in a highly critical manner, anyone who praises him apparently doesn’t watch the games and anyone who criticises him is lynched for not being positive about one of the most consistent U.S. players of the past decade. As is often the case, the truth lies between the two.
And on this occasion, Bradley, playing in an all-round box-to-box role, not the centre-back position that he continually looked lost in last season, was excellent. Industrious and dogged without the ball, calm and composed with it, he was the perfect, metronomic midfielder. This was his pass map from Sunday night:
Michael Bradley pass map for @torontofc against New England on Sunday night. Metronomic.
— Andrew Dowdeswell (@a_dowdeswell) March 18, 2019
More for @MLSMultiplex later today! pic.twitter.com/GwRV5Yw6wW
That is what I would describe as a metronomic, controlling, commanding midfield performance. Bradley was one of many good performers for Toronto, and it was the orchestration and foundation that he provided that was so valuable to his team. In this form, Bradley is one of the best central midfielders in the league.