5 takeaways from Toronto FC's club-record 6-match win streak
It's a celebration of six in "The 6ix" after Toronto FC extended its winning streak on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United, building on its club record and approaching some league milestones, too. Here are a few talking points from this incredible run of form:
In exclusive company
The LA Galaxy hold the longest single-season winning streak in MLS history at 12, but that was in 1996, when matches were decided by (hilarious) penalty shootouts.
In the post-shootout era, only three teams have reached Toronto's latest mark: Sporting KC kicked off 2012 with seven in a row, while D.C. United and New England each notched six wins at some point during 2007 and 2015, respectively.
The figures behind the fun
Toronto has scored 13 goals across the last six matches, conceding five times in the process. Does that make Greg Vanney's side the most ruthless of the bunch? How about the stingiest? Not quite. Sporting KC scored four fewer but allowed two. D.C. United and New England each notched 14 goals, with the latter conceding three, and the former just the one.
Coincidentally, two of the Revs' wins came against TFC. Both tilts ended 3-1.
So, who inspired these winning streaks? No one was as effective as Sebastian Giovinco, scorer of five goals in Toronto's run despite missing two-and-a-half matches due to injury. Luciano Emilio had four with D.C. in 2007
Strength in depth
Having Giovinco and Jozy Altidore up top makes scoring a little easier, but all the while Toronto FC has been without veteran center-back Drew Moor. In fact, that Toronto only conceded five times is an incredible testament to the team's greatest strength - its depth.
Vanney has been forced to utilize a number of players on his roster to maintain health and fitness over this six-match streak, such as Justin Morrow, Jason Hernandez, and Chris Mavinga. It's why 19 different players have taken the pitch in the last six matches - each starting at least one - with Michael Bradley featuring in every single minute of action.
In comparison, Sporting KC deviated its starting lineup just once in 2012, when Teal Bunbury started ahead of C.J. Sapong. Head coach Peter Vermes opted to use six other players, but just sparingly. Similarly, New England was largely unchanged during its 2015 streak, with six players starting every single match. Kelyn Rowe and Charlie Davies each started off the bench once as well.
Counting down the days
Why has Toronto FC been stretched so thin? Injuries afforded a few players opportunities, but the Reds' six-match streak is made even more impressive by the fact that it was accomplished in far more trying circumstances than the aforementioned clubs.
As Matt Doyle of MLSsoccer.com points out, the Reds reached the six-win mark in a far shorter period of time. Toronto's jam-packed schedule saw all six matches played within a 22-day window; Sporting KC had 35 days to reach six wins in a row, while New England did it over 46 days.
While the schedule was much more congested for the Reds, all three teams earned four home victories and two away wins during their six-match streaks.
Still thriving
Despite the travel, short turnarounds, injuries, and constant squad rotations, Toronto FC has thrived. The club has amassed 25 points in 12 matches - already equal to or more than the total number it recorded in the 2007 and 2012 seasons, respectively.
Only the Houston Dynamo have earned more points in the last 22 days.
Vanney's side faces a tough test next weekend at the New York Red Bulls, where the streak could extend to seven. If that's the case, Toronto's potential eighth straight win - against the Columbus Crew on May 26 - wouldn't just award it the Trillium Cup, but also a distinguished league record in the current non-shootout era.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)