From Toronto to Medellin

Day -561. #WorldCup2018

Toronto FC win! Toronto FC are in the MLS Cup final. I didn't know where to start this. I wanted to build up the suspense for the Europeans who would have been sleeping while all the excitement was going on. But I just had to get it out because it wasn't any normal match. It was one of those "I was there" or "I wish I was there" kind of nights.

It had all the elements of a classic cup tie: goals (seven of them), rain (lots of it), a record crowd (37,000), best atmosphere ever for an MLS match, a bit of pushing and shoving, home team having to come from behind to win, game ending injury for the home team's star player, and extra time.

If it finished 3-2 for Toronto it would go to extra time, we were told over and over again. And what were the odds that it would? And it did. 0-1, 1-1, 2-1 (Toronto are through), 2-2 (Montreal are in), 3-2. Extra time. Seba Giovinco tries a shot, it looks like his calf gives in and off he goes. From the wonderful, game changing skill of the little Italian to the workmanlike, industrious, experienced Benoit Cheyrou. A bit of wind out of the TFC attacking sails. But what's playoff/cup football without an instant, unexpected hero? 90 seconds after he comes on, Cheyrou makes it 4-2. A few minutes later, super sub Tosaint Ricketts scores. Incredible scenes. The crowd really were going wild. The rain kept lashing down. 20 minutes to go, Toronto leading 7-5 on aggregate. It still seemed reasonable that Montreal could score twice to send it to penalties. Didier Drogba was throwing his weight around; Jozy Altidore was chasing him down in a fascinating battle between the two powerhouse centre forwards. In the end everything but the kitchen sink was not enough for Montreal. They threw it, Toronto flung it back at them.

It was enthralling, exciting and nerve-wracking. England-Germany, Italia '90 semifinal was the last time I felt this nervous watching a football match. Maybe there hasn't been a football match I have cared about so much since then. Teams I support never win., I said last week.They did tonight. On what could be a very, very cold night, (maybe MLS's coldest night ever), on December 10th, TFC will host Seattle in the MLS Cup final. What a night for the supporters who have seen the team go though an incredible amount of managers, terrible seasons and one rebuild after another in 10 years. Finally the owners got it right, the manager got it right and the fans have a night to remember.

I could share a video of the amazing TFC support tonight. But it's other fans I am thinking of. Just before kickoff the stadium announcer asked everybody to observe a moment's silence in memory of the victims of the tragic air crash in Colombia. Sadly the moment was over as quickly as it took the announcer to ask for silence. Barely 10 seconds of respect for the football team that was wiped out, it was the only negative of the night. But it did make us remember that there was supposed to be a match in Medellin tonight that was not going to happen. But the Atletico Nacional faithful still packed their stadium and, in a way that football fans know how to express grief, they sang their hearts out in honour of Chapecoense.