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Toronto FC Vs New England Revolution: 3 things we learned – No Giovinco, no problem

By Andrew Dowdeswell

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 17: The crowd sings the national anthem. Toronto FC vs New England Revolution during 1st half action in MLS regular season play at BMO Field. This is the season opener for TFC. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 17: The crowd sings the national anthem. Toronto FC vs New England Revolution during 1st half action in MLS regular season play at BMO Field. This is the season opener for TFC. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 17: The crowd sings the national anthem. Toronto FC vs New England Revolution during 1st half action in MLS regular season play at BMO Field. This is the season opener for TFC. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 17: The crowd sings the national anthem. Toronto FC vs New England Revolution during 1st half action in MLS regular season play at BMO Field. This is the season opener for TFC. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

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.

light. Related Story. Atlanta United Vs Philadelphia Union: Winners and losers

Here are three things we learned from the exciting 3-2 Toronto victory.

HARRISON, NJ – SEPTEMBER 22: Michael Bradley #4 of Toronto FC during the Major League Soccer match between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on September 22, 2018 in Harrison, NJ, USA. The Red Bulls won the match with a score of 2 to 0. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ – SEPTEMBER 22: Michael Bradley #4 of Toronto FC during the Major League Soccer match between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on September 22, 2018 in Harrison, NJ, USA. The Red Bulls won the match with a score of 2 to 0. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /

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:

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.

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