Toronto FC 3 vs 1 Chicago Fire

Ok let me begin by saying the 2nd Toronto FC home game was (sorry Mum) fucking brilliant.

There are so many things that Maple Leafs sports have got right with this team and another example of this was the shuttle bus running express from Bathurst Station down to the ground. The one thing they maybe didn't think through was handing out frisbee like seat cushion before the game today. Oh yes, these "souvenirs" were pelted onto the pitch after every major incident causing a delay each time and a plea from the announcer to stop. Yet another lesson in football culture for MLSE - Don't arm the fans with something they can throw.

Alright on to the game. It was a beautiful sunny day down by the water (I off course forgot my hat and now have a forehead similar in shade and colour to the TFC strip). The fans were again in full voice and raring to go after a 2 week break. We met the season ticket holders next to us and you could really feel a sense of community forming around the stand.

Off course everybody was baying for a goal and after a fairly bright start, the amazing moment came about half-way through the 1st half. The ball ended up with Edson Buddle on the right-hand side of the area and he squared it to big Danny Dichio who slid the ball home. Pandemonium! Cue a shower of seat cushions, beer, flares (not such a good idea as they set the artificial turf alight) and genuine jubilation among the fans. It really was a great moment and one I was very happy to be part of. {You can see the goal here}

As we all set ourselves after that, Chicago promptly went up the field about 10 minutes later and fired themselves level with a lovely shot from the edge of the box into the top corner. That only slightly deflated the crowd but not to worry, there was a lot more to come.

Next up big Dichio (6ft+ Englishman with a skinhead) gets involved with the Chicago keeper leading to a wrestling match with a bunch of players actually in the Chicago net. The ref pulls it apart and sends-off Dichio and a Chicago defender. I didn't get a great view of all the goings on, but I get the feeling Dichio was sent-off purely because he looks like a bit of a thug.

So half-time and at 1-1 we are all fairly happy. Losing Dichio might mean less of an attacking edge in the 2nd half but we all enjoy the pipe band they put on at half-time. Again, a nice touch by MLSE.

So 2nd half gets going and right away it's all Toronto. It doesn't take long for Kevin Goldthwaite to find space about 12 yards out and fire us ahead again {here}. More pandamonium. Chicago at this point (and actually for most of the game) look rattled. I think I'm going to enjoy the "What the fuck is this?" look on the faces of visting players as they find themselves subject to the abuse of the TFC fans. You really get the feeling these players have never experienced anything like it before.

So with Chicago on the ropes, Maurice Edu fires in a half-volley {here}and we all begin the party as Toronto goes on to win it's first-ever game.

The post match reports referenced the "increasingly intimidating BMO Field crowd" as one of the main factors for the win. When asked for his man of the match after the game Mo Johnston responded with "Every single one of our players, plus the fans". What's really great about the TFC experience so far is feeling in complete connection with the game and really seeing everybody around us getting so deeply into it.

What's great this week is that there is another game on Wednesday (against defending champions Houston) and then again next Saturday (against Washington).

T-O-R-O-N-T-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-TFC