October 30, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Toronto FC News Release
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Luiz Araújo 15′
TOR – Jordan Perruzza 88′ (Dom Dwyer, Jayden Nelson)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TOR – Nick DeLeon 17′ (caution)
ATL – Ezequiel Barco 56′ (caution)
TOR – Kemar Lawrence 69′ (caution)
RECORDS (W-L-D)
Toronto FC 6-17-10 28 points
Atlanta United 12-9-11 47 points
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Quentin Westberg; Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Julian Dunn, Omar Gonzalez (Kemar Lawrence HT), Justin Morrow; Nick DeLeon (Jacob Shaffelburg 77′), Noble Okello, Jayden Nelson, Alejandro Pozuelo (C) (Mark Delgado HT); Patrick Mullins (Dom Dwyer 77′), Jozy Altidore (Jordan Perruzza HT).
Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Silva, Luke Singh
ATLANTA UNITED FC – Brad Guzan (C); Anton Walkes, Alan Franco, Brooks Lennon, George Bello; Ezequiel Barco, Matheus Rossetto; Josef Martinez, Marcelino Moreno (Jake Mulraney 77′), Luiz Araújo.
Substitutes Not Used: Ronald Hernandez, Amar Sejdic, Franco Ibarra, Jurgen Damm, Alec Kann, Tyler Wolff, Erick Torres, George Campbell
MEDIA NOTES
Jordan Perruzza recorded his first MLS goal for Toronto FC.
Dom Dwyer registered his first assist for Toronto FC.
Jayden Nelson registered his first assist for Toronto FC.
JAVIER PÉREZ – HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC
This seems to be another one of those ties that seems like a win. Given the lineup you fielded with the youth, I’m guessing there were quite a few positives for you tonight.
Yes, everybody is very happy. As you mentioned, it’s a tie that has a taste of the win for several reasons.
I think first and foremost we had a lot of younger players in the starting lineup come in as well to play with Jordan, Julian, Jayden, Jahkeele and Noble.
And then we have a lot of experience as well on the field. It’s a very good mix. It’s a good plan. It’s an experience for them, and it’s as well very important because we play against a team that is playing — such a spot in the playoffs, so this is not an easy game. This is one of the most difficult stadiums to come and get a result and in front of 40,000-plus people in the stadium.
Overall I think it’s a great experience for the younger players, and it’s a good performance based on the team.
How happy are you for Jordan Perruzza there, and did you say anything to him before you put him out on the field for the second half?
Yes, he knew the whole time that he was coming into the game to play 45 minutes, and he knew this was a big chance, same situation for probably Jayden and Julian.
Noble and Jahkeele have been playing more often, but these three knew that it was a special game for them, and they knew the time they were going to play.
So Jordan is a very resilient player. He’s a very resilient person, and he’s very determined. So, I think he came on with a clear vision that this was a big opportunity for him, and like most if not all the players on the team, he played well tonight. And I’m very, very happy for him.
The decision to withdraw Jozy and Pozuelo at halftime, was that always the plan for them to play 45 minutes or was their exits injury-related?
The plan was to give 45 minutes to Jozy, Alejandro and Omar, and then give the rest that needs to go into the game on Wednesday. We have that game that is extremely important for us, but at the same time, these three (players) didn’t play as much lately because of the injuries.
So it was a good exercise to get some minutes tonight and get them ready for the game on Wednesday. But the idea was from the beginning to give them just 25 minutes.
I wanted to get your thoughts on Julian Dunn. You talked about him there earlier, but three years between his last start and today, that’s quite a long time to be waiting for your next opportunity to show what you can do. What did you think of his performance and how he acquited himself in a pretty difficult environment?
I think it was excellent. I mean, everybody saw tonight how difficult it was. We knew that, and on the right side, it was going to be Barco; it was going to be Bello. They were trying over and over again to take advantage, and he was a warrior.
So I agree with you, I think it’s a long time. I think tonight he (Dunn) proved that he belongs to this level.
And there were some question marks because, for every younger player, it’s a difficult situation to come in this kind of game, and now I think we can feel far more comfortable to give him the next opportunity.
Great performance for him. I already congratulate him. I think he did a terrific job against top-class players that he had in front, and that’s a big milestone for him.
Sort of bigger picture for a lot of these young guys that are getting minutes, what do you want them to be taking away from these games specifically, and what do they get from these experiences?
I think first and foremost to get the confidence because if they didn’t have the quality, they wouldn’t be here, right. They work extremely hard in the training sessions, and to earn a spot on the field, you have to take off somebody else.
I think it’s no secret for us that we are maybe at the end of a cycle, and it’s good to see all these young players and see that the future of this club doesn’t need to rely necessarily on bringing a lot of players. I think we have enough quality, and we have the youth ready to step up, and I think we have a good balance between very experienced players and younger players.
So it’s just a night like tonight is a night to enjoy and see them playing together.
While there’s lots to be happy about tonight, there was another early, cheap goal given away, which has kind of been symbolic of this season. How frustrating is it to watch a team that’s better than this keep digging itself a hole?
I think you describe exactly what it is, right. I think if we didn’t make these mistakes, these completely avoidable mistakes, like many, many of them that we did this season, maybe tonight we would be talking about a win and not a tie, right.
But we are where we are. I think the important part is to learn the lessons, and I hope not to concede any of these goals from now to the end of the season. For me, it’s almost like arrogance. Sometimes we have to be more humble, and we have to simplify things for ourselves. So I think it’s a lesson for all of us, and hopefully, we don’t see that again for the remainder of the season.
Could we get an update on Alex Bono? You mentioned he picked up something in training the other day. Is it just for tonight or is it something longer term?
I don’t know. All I know is that the day we were travelling here to Atlanta, he tried to train. We know that he always wants to be with the team. The medical team was more optimistic about it, but he wanted to give it a try, and he tried, and he couldn’t go.
So now he is right now, I don’t know. I know that some of the players were training this morning back home, and I just made a phone call before coming here, everything went well. But I don’t know Alex, the extent of the injury, and how severe it is. So we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if he can be with us or he needs some time to recover.
JULIAN DUNN – DEFENDER, TORONTO FC
Julian, it had been a while since you’ve had an opportunity to start for TFC, two or three seasons. How did it feel to be back in the lineup and how do you feel did you in such a tough place to play in Atlanta?
It felt great to be back in the lineup, and yeah, it was a challenge. I’ve been working hard. (I’ve) been working for a long time to get back with the team, and it felt good to be back out there. The guys helped me, and teammates around me did well and helped me also.
Just in terms of the wait for your next start, obviously, three years is a long time to be waiting. Did this performance from yourself validate that self-belief you had while waiting in the wings for your next opportunity?
For sure. It meant a lot. It meant a lot to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back on the field with the guys, so to be out there, you know, just really proud of myself. I’ve always known that I had the capability – just a matter of getting the opportunity. I’m just extremely proud of myself, and I just want to keep doing it.
Nice to see you back out there tonight. I know you’ve had several injuries that held you on the sidelines. Can you walk us through the challenges you’ve had in the past couple of years?
Obviously, for any soccer player, being out with injury, it’s like one of the toughest things, mentally and physically. You don’t know how it’s going to be when you return. But I had a great staff to help me come back and be sharp. It’s just a matter of — when you’re injured, it’s just a matter of having the right people around you, just spending time with your family and allowing them to keep you sharp mentally, and you just stay in it and focus.
Can you just talk about the challenge tonight of coming into this game and playing against some of the top attacking talents at MLS, going up against the likes of Joseph Martinez and Barco, and you were able to put them in your pocket for most of the night. Tell us how you dealt with that challenge tonight?
You know what, I was up for the challenge. I watched the film with both the guys. I know Marco favoured his right foot. He liked — (indiscernible) — gap player, so I tried to keep my ground, just wait for him to kind of make an errant touch and take my moment to get him.
With Joseph, the same thing. I know he likes to stay off the back shoulder, and just find the right moment to pop him. So I was just communicating with my guys, and my guys helped me through it. Credit to them, and you know, just really made it easy for me.
What do you take away from an experience like this? What do you want to keep bidding?
Regardless of the obstacles you face, as long as you stay dedicated and committed, anything is possible. You can make it back and make a name for yourself. I know carried a lot of — here with Toronto FC, just stay grounded and work, work, work, and I’m just happy to get the opportunity.
You know, just staying true to yourself and what you’re capable of, that’s the most important thing I can take away from all of this.
Javi said after the match that you proved that you belong at this level. So do you believe that you belong at this level, and do you think you deserve more minutes moving forward?
Yeah, I think I can play at this level for sure. I think I held my own, and as I said, I’ve been training long and hard for this opportunity. So just to get it and just do well, and to hear Javi speak good things about me, it’s big for myself and my family and my friends. It just really means a lot.
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