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Courtesy: Toronto FC<\/p>\nSaturday stood to be one of the toughest tests of the season for Toronto FC\u2019s back line. And yet, they passed.<\/p>\n
While it was Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr.\u2019s goals either side of the hour mark that in the end, lifted Toronto FC to their first-ever road win against Inter Miami, the Reds\u2019 defence more than earned their keep against the league\u2019s joint-highest scoring team this season.<\/p>\n
Less than a month ago \u2014 and perhaps even now, still \u2014 a matchup against an attack that featured Lionel Messi, Luis Su\u00e1rez and Germ\u00e1n Berterame would\u2019ve had everyone betting against TFC, even with Miami having not won in their last three games.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Toronto FC<\/p>\n
\u201c(Messi) is absolutely fantastic, there\u2019s no two ways about it, but through diligence of the whole group \u2014 getting in front of him, behind him, to the side of him \u2014 I thought we did a really good job of limiting what he could do,\u201d Robin Fraser told reporters, including Waking The Red, after full time on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes me think about the old Michael Jordan expression that you can\u2019t stop him, you can only hope to contain him, and I thought we contained him for a good stretch of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messi did \u2014 after what felt like an eternity of hope that he would be kept off the scoresheet for only the fifth time this season in MLS \u2014 find the back of the net in the 82nd minute.<\/p>\n
It was, however, his only shot on target, with another effort from outside the box blocked before half time, with six touches in Toronto\u2019s penalty area and seven passes into the final third not yielding any more offence. <\/p>\n
\u201cGreat players find moments, and he obviously scored the goal, but I thought our guys did a tremendous job of getting around him and just not making it easy for him,\u201d Fraser added.<\/p>\n
Kobe Franklin, at full time, highlighted TFC\u2019s ability to communicate effectively, and simply put, limit Messi\u2019s space to operate, as keys in the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaying compact, everybody doing their jobs, splitting defensive roles and communication was massive today, and making sure there\u2019s not many gaps and not giving him the outlets that he typically likes,\u201d Franklin told reporters.<\/p>\n
De Paul managed to slip a through-ball in between the lines late-on, but crucially, TFC were also able to curb Messi\u2019s danger from set pieces, committing just eight fouls \u2014 two on Messi himself \u2014 compared to Miami\u2019s 15.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously [he\u2019s] the greatest player of all time, so respecting him, but also getting into him and making sure he he has a tough night,\u201d Franklin continued.<\/p>\n