That assumes, however, that Nelsen was strictly speaking about the Reds primary objective in 2014 of qualifying for the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time. But what if, as has been asked for so many times by supporters in the past, Nelsen and TFC are finally aiming higher? After their win in Columbus, and Sporting’s loss in Vancouver, Toronto are only seven points back of the conference leaders. A win would narrow that to four, a gap the Reds could close completely simply by taking points from their games in hand.
Considered from that perspective, Nelsen was absolutely correct. If Toronto still harbours ambitions of winning the conference then a win over Sporting KC is essential. Instead of looking at the game as potential bonus points in the quest to stay above the red line, Nelsen may be trying to reframe it for his side as a top of the table six-pointer.
Not that winning in Kansas City has been an easy task, or even possible for the Reds, over the last few years. TFC managed a gutsy draw against an undermanned Sporting during their last visit, scoring a remarkable two goals, including a stoppage time equalizer, while a man down after Steven Caldwell’s red card.
This time, however, Toronto won’t have the luxury of playing against a nearly completely makeshift defence. Matt Besler has long since returned from World Cup duty and resumed his partnership with Frenchman Aurelien Collin. Both were absent during TFC’s draw in KC but had returned to by the time Sporting beat the Reds at BMO Field on July 26th. In that match it was SKC who managed to score the decisive goal while a man down after Besler saw red for a second yellow card.
For their part, TFC should be helped by the expected return of Jermain Defoe. The Englishman, Toronto’s leading scorer by some distance, has suffered a number of small injuries through the course of the season, and the most recent saw him held out of the Reds’ line-up for their last two matches. In his absence, Gilberto and Luke Moore have stepped and replaced his goals with both strikers scoring in both of Toronto’s last two matches. With forwards in that sort of form, if there is any doubt about Defoe’s readiness, Nelsen shouldn’t feel forced to name him to the starting line-up.
While the significance of Defoe’s goal scoring contributions are widely appreciated in Toronto, Dom Dwyer’s remarkable year has received far less attention. Dwyer scored two of his, to date, 14 goals this season in the last game in KC between the sides. That’s not only a higher goal scoring tally than Defoe, he also leads his team’s second leading scorers, Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber, by a gargantuan 11 goals. That’s nearly double the gap between Defoe and TFC’s second leading scorer, Luke Moore, and makes Toronto’s attack look positively balanced in comparison.
Though SKC don’t rely on him exclusively, if TFC can stop Dwyer it will greatly increase their chances of finding a win. If they do that, then they’ll actually be in a title race, not just a playoff race. Nelsen was right: if Toronto FC want be contenders, this is a must win game.