But, for 60 minutes of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss in Columbus, TFC looked like a team that was going through the motions, even though coach Paul Mariner handed keeper Freddy Hall his MLS debut and centre back Dicoy Williams his first MLS start of the season.

“This is another positive step for our football club, signing another promising young defender for the long term,” said Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations Paul Mariner in a release issued by the club.

"It was a bit of a nothing match, to be perfectly frank," said TFC head coach Paul Mariner.  "It was a bit of a stalemate and then suddenly they got the goal."

"How many teams in MLS can have five starters out and put on a performance like that?" Mariner asked. "When you ask players to come in after months of layoffs… if you factor those things in, with Portland having most of their guns firing and us coming out with 2-2, I'm reasonably happy with what's going on."

But, mistakes from keeper Milos Kocic, who took a knee to the head in the first half and was bleeding from both nostrils, and defender Logan Emory helped undo Toronto FC’s efforts for the evening.

With just 5,324 fans in attendance at BMO Field and no TV broadcaster airing the game, Toronto FC's performance in its CONCACAF Champions League opener against CD Aguila could well become an urban legend.

“Freddy brings depth to our goalkeeping position and has many qualities that we like to see at this position,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations Paul Mariner.

Toronto FC's three-game winning streak ended with a thud on Saturday as the Reds turned in arguably their worst effort of the Paul Mariner era in a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo at BMO Field.

"It lets all the players, especially the Academy players, realize they're not that far away from competing with some very very good players," Mariner said.

Martin Rennie’s continuing renovations of the Vancouver Whitecaps saw him make another blockbuster move on Friday.