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jenni_blogThe tickets were very expensive ($81 each) but oh, so worth it. We were seated 3 rows back from the pitch, or rather from where the pitch-side tables are, where you can sit, be waited on, your food and drinks brought to you by waiters & waitresses, but which cost over $100 each. However, only that could have been better than the seats we had. It's more exciting to be very close to the action. The photos I took were without using my zoom lens. It had rained all day and I was so afraid it would be at game time, but fortunately the weather cleared and it stayed dry for the match. After it got dark, though, it was bloody cold! The thermometer measured 10 degrees Celsius. I was wishing I had worn my scarf and brought gloves by the time the game was over.
But never mind. Toronto won, and I got to see Torsten Frings up close. He's a very impressive player, even now.
Here are some professional photos, and then some of mine. :)
Torsten waves to supporters before the match.
A view of the stadium before the fans arrived, with the CN Tower in the background:
Adrian Cann for Toronto vs Bernardo Corradi for Montreal. (Bernardo used to play for Valencia, Manchester City and Udinese before moving to Montreal. I knew I had seen him before.)
Bernardo again.
Reggie Lambe scored for Toronto only 2 minutes in.
Torsten in action.
Our goalkeeper, Milos Kocic, was awesome.
Adrian Cann again, vs Davy Arnaud. I totally LOVE Adrian Cann. He's a fantastic defender and so funny to listen to in interviews. In fact, ALL of our defenders had an awesome match.
Ryan Johnson scored our second goal.
Davy Arnaud, Montreal's best player.
Now for my photos. This was when the teams took the pitch with the CL banners and they played the same CL theme music as they do in Europe. It was quite stirring. :)
You can see the tables down in front which cost more than $100 apiece.
The big board. That was just after Toronto scored.
I tried to catch the boys who came close to where we were.
This was the controversy where one of our boys got sent off.
The fans weren't too happy with the player who oversold his injury from the foul. He was able to go right back on and play like nothing happened. Typical.
A throw-in.
This was just after half-time. It got too cold for me, and I put my camera away shortly after.
The CONCACAF CL has only ONE place for a Canadian team, so we have qualifying matches. The same night as this, Vancouver Whitecaps beat FC Edmonton in order to advance to the final playoff which will be held next week and the week after, over two legs, between Toronto and Vancouver. The winner will then advance to the CONCACAF CL group stages.
I don't think this is fair, now that Canada has 3 good teams in the MLS. Maybe things will change next time. I know they are going to revamp the format anyway.
Currently, Mexico and the USA get 4 spots each. This is understandable because Mexico has the strongest league, while the USA teams have been around longer than the Canadians, and have more imported players from Europe and South America.
Twelve clubs from Central America qualify. But none ever make it to the semi-finals. Perhaps one of their spots could be given to Canada so we could have two teams in the group stages.
The Caribbean nations get 3 spots, which I think is okay.
Here is a link to the Wiki CONCACAF CL site if anyone is interested to see what teams have qualified so far. The Seattle Sounders will play (YAYYY!) and Alajualense from Costa Rica (YAYYY!) but we have to wait to know what some of the other teams from the various regions will be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_CONCACAF_Champions_League
But never mind. Toronto won, and I got to see Torsten Frings up close. He's a very impressive player, even now.
Here are some professional photos, and then some of mine. :)
Torsten waves to supporters before the match.
A view of the stadium before the fans arrived, with the CN Tower in the background:
Adrian Cann for Toronto vs Bernardo Corradi for Montreal. (Bernardo used to play for Valencia, Manchester City and Udinese before moving to Montreal. I knew I had seen him before.)
Bernardo again.
Reggie Lambe scored for Toronto only 2 minutes in.
Torsten in action.
Our goalkeeper, Milos Kocic, was awesome.
Adrian Cann again, vs Davy Arnaud. I totally LOVE Adrian Cann. He's a fantastic defender and so funny to listen to in interviews. In fact, ALL of our defenders had an awesome match.
Ryan Johnson scored our second goal.
Davy Arnaud, Montreal's best player.
Now for my photos. This was when the teams took the pitch with the CL banners and they played the same CL theme music as they do in Europe. It was quite stirring. :)
You can see the tables down in front which cost more than $100 apiece.
The big board. That was just after Toronto scored.
I tried to catch the boys who came close to where we were.
This was the controversy where one of our boys got sent off.
The fans weren't too happy with the player who oversold his injury from the foul. He was able to go right back on and play like nothing happened. Typical.
A throw-in.
This was just after half-time. It got too cold for me, and I put my camera away shortly after.
The CONCACAF CL has only ONE place for a Canadian team, so we have qualifying matches. The same night as this, Vancouver Whitecaps beat FC Edmonton in order to advance to the final playoff which will be held next week and the week after, over two legs, between Toronto and Vancouver. The winner will then advance to the CONCACAF CL group stages.
I don't think this is fair, now that Canada has 3 good teams in the MLS. Maybe things will change next time. I know they are going to revamp the format anyway.
Currently, Mexico and the USA get 4 spots each. This is understandable because Mexico has the strongest league, while the USA teams have been around longer than the Canadians, and have more imported players from Europe and South America.
Twelve clubs from Central America qualify. But none ever make it to the semi-finals. Perhaps one of their spots could be given to Canada so we could have two teams in the group stages.
The Caribbean nations get 3 spots, which I think is okay.
Here is a link to the Wiki CONCACAF CL site if anyone is interested to see what teams have qualified so far. The Seattle Sounders will play (YAYYY!) and Alajualense from Costa Rica (YAYYY!) but we have to wait to know what some of the other teams from the various regions will be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_CONCACAF_Champions_League
