Toronto FC drops pre-season opener vs. Columbus Ryan Nelsen lost his first outing as a manager but saw plenty of positives Saturday at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando. Text size: Increase Decrease Reset Share via Email Print Report an Error Save to Mystar . Despite a 1-0 pre-season loss to Columbus, new TFC manager Ryan Nelsen saw plenty of positives. DAVID COOPER / TORONTO STAR Despite a 1-0 pre-season loss to Columbus, new TFC manager Ryan Nelsen saw plenty of positives. By: Neil Davidson The Canadian Press, Published on Sat Feb 09 2013 Explore This Story 1 Photos Save to Mystar ORLANDO, FLA.âRyan Nelsen lost his first outing as a manager but saw plenty of positives Saturday as Toronto FC dropped a 1-0 pre-season Major League Soccer decision to the Columbus Crew at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. âReally happy, really happy with the guys for their first game,â the former New Zealand international defender said. âWe only conceded, I think, two shots, the whole game. One was miles away and one was a comfortable save for the âkeeper.â Asked about his first game as manager, the 35-year-old Nelsen replied: âIt felt great.â Columbus fielded a strong starting 11, missing only a few regulars. It was a more experimental lineup for Toronto with Nelsen, who emptied his bench in the second half to make the afternoon more of a scrimmage. Toronto looked far more the work in progress, with players often not having many passing options or choosing the wrong one. But the sunny, breezy afternoon contest seemed more about getting everyone minutes than obtaining a result. And Toronto came close to tying it in the 81st, only to see Terry Dunfieldâs header hit the post off an Ashton Bennett cross. There was a painful moment for Toronto late in the first half when goalkeeper Stefan Frei, diving for a ball, got clipped by the boot of burly Crew rookie striker Ryan Finley, who was booked on the play. Frei, who had been out since last March with a leg and ankle injury, was down for a while before exiting with a towel pressed to his face. Frei, who was taken to hospital for further evaluation, gave way to Joe Bendik. âBesides a very bent nose at the moment, we donât know,â Nelson said of the diagnosis. Toronto defender Darren OâDea had no problems with the Finley challenge on Frei. âHeâs been out for 11 months and he was brave enough to stick his head in,â said the Irish international. âIf I was a centre forward, I would have stuck my foot in the same way (Finley) did. In a strange way, I think that will be a god thing for Stefan. Heâll be fine, there was no fault on either part.â Former German international Torsten Frings made his return from hip surgery as a Toronto substitute in the second half. Toronto opened with rookies Emery Welshman and Jonathan Osorio in midfield. The Crew had most of the possession in the first half, but did little with it until the 30th minute. The breakthrough goal came from Brazilian debutante defender Glauber, who shed his marker on a Frederico Higuain corner in the 30th minute. Glauber angled his header from distance, with the ball deflecting in off the crossbar past the outstretched hands of Frei âWe conceded off a set piece,â said Nelsen. âWe havenât spent much time on set pieces so Iâm not too bothered about that.â Toronto had two good chances via free kicks on the edge of the box in the half, but OâDeaâs shot hit the wall and Luis Silvaâs effort as topped by Andy Gruenebaum. Frei wore the captainâs armband, with the 36-year-old Frings starting on the bench. Frings got the armband back as he entered, from OâDea. The tournament resumes Feb. 13 when Montreal plays the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL and Toronto faces Orlando City Soccer Club of the USL.
Ryan Nelsen better get used to this - based on TFC's performance since entering the league, it could be long season for him
I know the bloke who's his number two at Toronto. A decent guy. But seriously, who gives a sh*t what Nelsen does now? He's gone.
I only posted it because I was amazed at how quick he was to pick up the manager speak hughes must have been a great teacher
