Toronto FC and New England Revolution play to scoreless tie

Aron Winter- Head Coach & Technical Director, Toronto FC

Overall. A point away but it’s otherwise good. We wanted more … but also we had a lot of chances and we’re better for it. A couple times they had some good opportunities but still one point is good."

The result is good but I’m waiting for a victory because every time to play a tie, it’s good but it’s not changing anything in the standings.

Well Alan (Gordon) has been very good and he’s important for the team. You saw it today and it’s really good because he gets good opportunities and was at sometimes not sharp at that moment but still it was his first game after a while he was away. At the end he was a little bit tired but it’s important because we have to take care and prepare him for the next game.

Stefan Frei- Goalkeeper, Toronto FC

Well a point. It’s not three points, but I think today with three points is doable. You got to stay positive. I think the good thing is it’s the second game in a row on the road where we come out to fight for 90 minutes. We kept it pretty clean in the back, played fairly decent I think defensively as a team – just looking for that little luck and spark up top.

I think as a keeper you always have to be sharp no matter what. As you see on the top teams, that’s very difficult because you get maybe one or two opportunities all game for you where you have to be ready. So, today I had a couple crosses where I had to come out, a couple shots I had to save so it was pretty decent to stay engaged and even if I don’t get those shots across I have to make sure I’m switched on.

I think, as a whole team, we have to stay positive and look at the fact that we worked fairly decent. Of those seven shots I think there were maybe one or two that were threatening. Other than that it was pretty routine, so that’s a very positive thing for the team to look at as a team defensively.

Steve Nicol- Head Coach, New England Revolution

We had what, 19 shots, 11 corners? Free kicks. We’ve had plenty of the ball in the final third and we haven’t produced that bit of quality that’s needed. And that pretty much says it all. The tried to break on us, we knew they’d try that. Couple of wee bits and bobs that might have done better with, but overall, we were the team that was pressing. But it really is down to the final third and we didn’t have the quality when it was needed.

We need to score goals. We put pressure on them, which we wanted to do, make it hard for them. We did that. But again, we come back to the crux that we’re just lacking that killer pass or that killer finish or killer run … we were just half a yard short.

Again, there were two the final pass was too much on it. That’s how close and how far away we are from scoring goals. We’re almost, but almost doesn’t get you goals. But we have to keep banging away, and all it’ll take is a break, or a good ball or a finish or something and you hope that it’ll kind of open the flood gates and we’re start putting the ball in the net more often.

We just need to be encouraged that we have plenty of the ball in the final third. We have to be positive, and we were as positive as much as we’ve been to get into the final third. But we just didn’t have that quality when it was needed.

Sainey Nyassi- Midfielder, New England Revolution

I think what I was doing was all I need to do. The game was a bit sloppy, we didn’t move the ball well, but we’ll get there – hopefully. All we need to do is finish our chances and move the ball well and play as a team. Hopefully we’ll get there. 

That’s what I was trying to do, get forward, make some crosses. I think it was a little bit sloppy when I came in, but moving forward was the only thing we need to do positive about it.

It’s kind of frustrating for me. Even if I’m on the bench, I have to be mentally ready whenever I get in and do what I have to do. But as a professional player, you have to be mentally strong even if you’re not starting. I’ll be fine. What I want is to get back in that starting spot, but coming from the bench, I’m fine with that for the time being. Hopefully I’ll get back in the starting 11.

Scoring Summary:

None

Toronto FC — Stefan Frei, Richard Eckersley, Doneil Henry, Ty Harden, Danleigh Borman, Maicon Santos (Oscar Cordon 56), Nathan Sturgis, Alan Gordon, Mikael Yourassowsky, Joao Plata (Javier Martina 72), Nick Soolsma (Gianluca Zavarise 67).

Substitutes Not Used: Dan Gargan, Matt Gold, Ashtone Morgan, Milos Kocic.

New England Revolution — Matt Reis, Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Ryan Cochrane (Franco Coria 69), A.J. Soares, Zak Boggs (Sainey Nyassi 46), Chris Tierney (Zack Schilawski 68), Shalrie Joseph, Pat Phelan, Kenny Mansally, Rajko Lekic.

Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Guy, Stephen McCarthy, Andrew Sousa, Bobby Shuttleworth.

Misconduct Summary:
NE — Pat Phelan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 63
TOR — Mikael Yourassowsky (caution; Simulation) 74
TOR — Gianluca Zavarise (caution; Fails to Respect Distance) 86
TOR — Gianluca Zavarise (ejection; Second Caution) 91+

Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: -Claudio Badea; Peter Manikowski
4th Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 6,680