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Toronto FC Vs New York City FC: 5 things we learned – Welcome, Ifunanyachi Achara

By Andrew Dowdeswell

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 07: Fans sing the national anthem prior to the first half of an MLS game between New York City FC and Toronto FC at BMO Field on March 07, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 07: Fans sing the national anthem prior to the first half of an MLS game between New York City FC and Toronto FC at BMO Field on March 07, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 07: Ifunanyanchi Achara #99 of Toronto FC dribbles the ball as Ronald Matarrita #22 of New York City FC defends during the first half of an MLS game at BMO Field on March 07, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 07: Ifunanyanchi Achara #99 of Toronto FC dribbles the ball as Ronald Matarrita #22 of New York City FC defends during the first half of an MLS game at BMO Field on March 07, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

3. Ifunanyachi Achara has potential

You throw a 2020 SuperDraft pick into your team’s MLS home opener having never played a minute in the league before and you never really know what to expect. That unpredictability and uncertainty is reminiscent of what everyone feels when Ifunanyachi Achara has the ball, including Ifunanyachi Achara.

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In the best and worst possible ways, the 22-year-old is chaos. When he dribbles with the ball, he does so with pace, purpose, power, directness, but not with precision. The ball is consistently in his control and simultaneously out of it. It is equally effective as it is ineffective.

His end product is similarly as threatening and infuriating. He curled a terrific effort towards goal in the first half that Sean Johnson palmed clear of the far post. He also passed the ball straight to an NYCFC player on the first three occasions he received possession.

And then there are the two ‘goals’. Both showed similar anticipation, running in at the far post to finish crosses. The first was offside; the second was not. What a way to make your MLS debut.

As a young player who was making his senior debut for TFC — or any professional team for that matter — there were plenty of signs of encouragement, enough to suggest that there might just be something there. For Toronto FC, Achara is worth investing in and being patient with.

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