Toronto FC vs. San Diego FC: 3 takeaways

After a late collapse that cost it a win last weekend, Toronto FC rebounded by putting in one of its best performances of the season and showed it had some backbone. 

TFC earned an impressive 1-0 victory over San Diego FC on Wednesday, a result that allowed them to climb two spots up to 12th in the Eastern Conference. Theo Corbeanu's 20th-minute goal was the difference on the night for the Reds, who earned their second win in eight games to breathe a bit of life into their playoff hopes. 

"We felt like we had a point to prove today, especially after an unlucky result against Atlanta," Corbeanu told reporters after the win. 

Here are my three major takeaways from Wednesday's match. 

Toronto FC shuts out San Diego FC for rare road win

TFC put in one of their best performances of the season in defeating the Western Conference leaders on Wednesday.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

A near-perfect road performance from Toronto 

Toronto was moments away from collecting three points at home last Saturday after Deybi Flores' goal early in the second half put Robin Fraser's men out in front. But substitute Charlie Sharp was called for a foul deep into injury time, which led to Atlanta scoring from the penalty spot to steal a point. 

There would be no late collapse this time around. TFC stormed out of the gate, using a systematic pressing game to unsettle San Diego right from the get-go and taking a deserved lead after 20 minutes via Theo Corbeanu. 

The Western Conference leaders boast the best offensive record in MLS with 46 goals this season, led by MVP candidate Anders Dreyer and Mexican DP Chucky Lozano. But San Diego found very little attacking joy against Toronto's well-organized defence, who didn't even allow the hosts to register a single shot in the first half and limited them to just one shot on target in the entire game.  

Sean Johnson was barely troubled in earning his sixth clean sheet of the season, while TFC's defenders did an excellent job of swarming San Diego's attackers whenever they were near the penalty area. Toronto's back line wasn't beaten for pace and kept Dreyer and his cohorts from getting in behind them. 

Even as San Diego poured on the pressure as the game wore on, the bend-but-don't-break defence held firm, allowing TFC to see things out and record its third road win of the campaign. 

Coach Robin Fraser has repeatedly talked about the need for his team to display a high level of engagement at all times. He couldn't have asked for more on that front. 

"[It was] as high as it gets, to be quite honest. Just the discipline to continuously get into the spots to make things difficult for them was incredible, and the only way that you get that sort of discipline is with a very, very high level of engagement," Fraser said. 

"And I thought tonight was a really good performance, a really disciplined performance and for us that is kind of how we have to be. We have to work, we have to work together, we have to work as a team, and when we do, we can get some results." 

Richie Laryea takes on new role with aplomb 

With Toronto missing several centre backs, wingback Richie Laryea was deployed as a central defender in a back four against Atlanta last weekend. Kevin Long was back from injury on Wednesday night, but Laryea was once again used in a role that wasn't his natural position. 

San Diego's Anders Dreyer is having an MVP-type season with 11 goals and 15 assists this season. Robin Fraser countered by having Laryea play as a central midfielder in order to contain the Danish star. 

It proved to be an astute tactical move. Laryea put in a solid defensive shift, shadowing Dreyer and marking him out of the contest. The Dane was held to one shot (which wasn't on target) and didn't influence the game in any significant way. 

Laryea finished the game with a pair of tackles and three interceptions, lending invaluable support to the back line and playing a pivotal role in helping the Reds record the clean sheet win. 

Fraser was full of praise for Laryea over the way he was able to adapt to playing as a central midfielder. 

"I thought he was fantastic because the reason to play him in there was to get the amount of numbers we needed defensively. And for me, Dreyer is one of the best players in the league, and I have Richie close to him. And this is something I've loved about Richie since he came in 2019, is that he's unselfish and he'll just do what's asked of him and he'll do what is supposed to help the team win," Fraser said.  

"We have played him in a couple of different positions recently, but he's so versatile and he's so athletic and so talented and so experienced that having him in there I thought was a really, really good thing for us." 

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Theo Corbeanu continues to drive the attack 

Ola Brynhildsen was once again kept off the scoresheet on Wednesday, which means he has now gone six games and 470 consecutive minutes without a goal. The Norwegian forward is finding MLS to be a tough go with just two goals and an assist in 17 league appearances (14 starts). 

While Brynhildsen has faltered, Theo Corbeanu has stepped up in a big way for the Reds, including scoring his team-leading fifth goal of the campaign in Wednesday's win. 

TFC opened the scoring when Corbeanu latched onto a cross-field ball played over the top by Maxime Dominguez and snuck in behind San Diego’s back line before being fouled by Franco Negri inside the box. Referee Alyssa Pennington pointed to the spot following a pitch side review after a VAR consultation and Corbeanu thumped home his penalty attempt past a helpless Pablo Sisniega.  

Corbeanu was at the heart of Toronto's best attacking moments, stretching San Diego's defence with his probing runs down the right wing, and finishing the game with three shots (two on target) before being subbed out in the 70th minute. 

"Over the last five games, we're seeing a lot of maturity in Theo – in his decision making, in his confidence, in taking people on, and his belief that he's going to be dangerous. … For attacking players, confidence is such a huge thing. And I think Theo feels really confident right now," Robin Fraser offered. 

Corbeanu has been in a consistent attacking groove for Toronto in recent weeks, which he attributes to increased playing time. 

"For the first time in a really long time, I've gotten this continuity, this rhythm to my game where I've been getting a lot of minutes and I feel comfortable within this group. It's a great group and the boys helped me out. And yeah, I think there's aspects of my game that needed work prior, and I'm starting to put these aspects into place," Corbeanu said. 

"And yeah, I'm happy with the way I'm doing, but there's always more. There's another level that needs to be reached and yeah, I'm really excited to continue like this and to hopefully get better and better each game." 

(Top photo by Julia Kapros/Imagn Images)

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