Toronto FC -V- Philadelphia

[Scotty]

Not sure if anyone is interested, but Toronto FC played their first home game of the season last night against league newcomers Philadelphia Union.

In the close season, Toronto basically assembled a new team and most players (and the coach - Preki) were experiencing the atmosphere of BMO Field for the first time.

In the close season, TFC spent more than $5 million on tearing up the artificial surface and installing real grass along with a sophisticated undersoil heating and drainage system. They also built a 4th stand, well a half-stand really at the North End of the ground.

Despite the best efforts of referee Baldomero Toledo - a ref who has had to have a police escort off the TFC pitch twice in previous seasons due to his bad decisions - TFC ran out 2-1 winners with Dwayne De Rosario scoring both goals.

Pictures from the game and some pre-match video of TFC fans on their regular "march" to the ground can be seen at another site we look after at http://tfcpics.com. One of my friends over here also writes a blog about following TFC which is an interesting read !

[Scotty]

Incidentally - and this may only interest Latviaman - TFC now have a couple of Latvian defenders on the team, well one Latvian and one Russian who has played in Latvia for a while.

Maxim Usanov, formerly of Skonto Riga & FK Riga

Raivis Hscanovics, formerly of Skonto Riga

ICT better get the decent Latvians signed up now ... looks like MLS have discovered there is some talent there !

[Kirishima]

Incidentally - and this may only interest Latviaman - TFC now have a couple of Latvian defenders on the team, well one Latvian and one Russian who has played in Latvia for a while.

Maxim Usanov, formerly of Skonto Riga & FK Riga

Raivis Hscanovics, formerly of Skonto Riga

ICT better get the decent Latvians signed up now ... looks like MLS have discovered there is some talent there !

What are the scots up to in the MLS? Anything of note?

Edited for typo

Edited April 16, 2010 by Kirishima

[Glebeict]

I haven't been following Toronto during the off season so am a little surprized by all the new players.

It may take a while for them to become a team .

[Scotty]

What are the scots up to in the MLS? Anything of note?

mmmmm . no, nothing really. Fans at TFC want Mo out, and one rumour is we are also going sign 37 yr old Paul Dickov at the end of the English season ..... no stories about other Scots in the league I have heard so far this season.

[latviaman]

Said all along good players in Latvia, know both you mentioned, I've given up on mentioning players to ICT even had an under 21 international free agent willing to trial nothing heard