Zero wins, one cup.
Absurd, eh?
It seems unlikely there has ever been a team on worse form to qualify for a champions league.
Ever.
Anywhere.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The instinct will be to focus on the insanity of the situation. American MLS fans will likely be shaking their fist at the fact that TFC can be so bad but get to play in the CCL. They will be missing the point – it's a competition between countries, not leagues – but you can understand why they might be confused.
But, here we are. For the fourth straight year Toronto is going to play for the championship of North America. More importantly the win gave the Reds something they haven't had since early March – hope.
It's not a lot of hope – the celebration was tempered in both the stands and field – but a little.
Whereas the possibility of meaningful games later this summer was bleak yesterday at this time, now they know they will happen. Four, in fact. It's something and it's important to the team's biggest fans. As to whether the win will galvanize the club's less tuned in fans only time will tell. The empty seats in the upper deck were telling. Remember this was a game in the season ticket package. Those red seats were mostly no shows. Winning Saturday against Philadelphia will do far more to fill those seats than yesterday, even without a cup presentation at the end. Those are worries for another day, however. Now, it's a rare chance for TFC fans to enjoy some positive news.