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Bradley: Everyone at TFC 'has come up short' in preparing for title defense

Luis Licona / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The reigning Major League Soccer champions are now quickly running out of time in 2018 to defend their title.

Toronto FC dropped another result at home on Saturday as they fell 4-2 to expansion side Los Angeles FC. The latest loss, combined with the Montreal Impact's earlier 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, means the Reds, with only seven games left in their season, trail their Canadian rivals by nine points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with the New England Revolution and D.C. United also wedged firmly between them.

With TFC's postseason hopes rapidly fading, captain Michael Bradley delivered a scathing post-match take about how his club failed to prepare for the 2018 season after a year in which they won an impressive domestic treble consisting of the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Canadian Championship.

"The most disappointing part for me is just in terms of understanding how difficult it was going to be this year, in terms of being ready in every way to embrace the challenge again (after winning three titles in 2017). To double down on our commitment, on our motivation, on our drive, on our determination. We've not even come close," Bradley told the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat postgame.

"Every single person in this club has come up short in understanding what those challenges were going to be."

After falling behind 3-0 in the second half on Saturday, TFC finally showed a sense of urgency when Jozy Altidore struck in the 74th and 93rd minutes to give the Reds late hope.

It didn't take long for that optimism to fade, however, when Mexican international Carlos Vela responded to Altidore's second goal by beating goalkeeper Clint Irwin from a tight angle, all but sealing the victory for Los Angeles.

To make matters worse, the Reds' latest setback was compounded by the loss of Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez, who was forced to bow out in the first half after aggravating a pre-existing back injury.

Toronto's hopes of saving their season will now wait two weeks due to an international break. The club returns to BMO Field on Sept. 15, when they will host Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy.

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