Deja vu — Severe weather washes away TFC’s CCL match-up

Milos Kocic PHOTO: JASON GEMNICH/CANADA SOCCER

Toronto FC got another assist from the weather gods.

The Reds’ CONCACAF Champions League group stage match with FC Dallas was abandoned on Wednesday after 45 minutes due to lightning and a tornado warning across southern Ontario. The game is scheduled to be replayed in its entirety on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET, so the 1-0 lead that Dallas held at the time of the stoppage has been erased.

The first break was called at the 31-minute mark, with lightning flashing in the distance across the Toronto skyline. Heavy rain began to fall during this break but the teams took to the pitch again after around 35 minutes. Conditions only worsened and once the halftime whistle blew, it was already apparent that this match was a lost cause.

After the break was extended for another delay, fans were asked to evacuate BMO Field at 10 p.m.. CONCACAF officials finally declared the match abandoned 90 minutes later after consulting area weather patterns and the condition of the field.

Fans who had tickets to tonight’s game can use them for tomorrow’s replay, and doors will also be opened to any visitors to the Canadian National Exhibition. It should be noted that replay could be postponed again if the pitch isn’t playable.

As in the Vancouver game, the rain washed away a forgettable performance from the Reds. The home side generated little of anything on attack and a defensive gaffe led to FCD’s (now moot) goal in the 18th minute. Jair Benitez found room to race down the left side and sent a cross in front to Brazilian defender Jackson Goncalves. Toronto’s Danleigh Borman was marking Jackson but couldn’t stay with him, leaving Jackson free to send a tremendous chip shot over goalkeeper Milos Kocic and into the net.

This is the second time this season that TFC has had to abandon a game due to inclement weather at BMO Field. On May 25, the Reds’ Nutrilite Canadian Championship final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC was also aborted due to a waterlogged pitch and similar stormy conditions. Toronto was down 1-0 in that match as well, but when the game was replayed on July 2, the Reds scored a 2-1 victory and claimed the Voyageurs Cup.

Both teams will be held to the same 18-player rosters, though the starting lineups can (and likely will) be altered by the head coaches.