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| AARON LYNETT/TORONTO STAR |
| If you're a fan of Danny Dichio, this one's for you. |
If you're a Danny Dichio fan Saturday's game had to make you a little nervous.
I mean, you had to like how he opened the scoring, pouncing on Stephen Keel's attempted clearing and rocketing a volley into the top corner.
Dichio's funny. Some days after a goal he'll act like he's just a blue-collar grinder who scores goals more with luck and hustle than with skill. But sometimes I think even he doesn't quite buy that line of reasoning. After Saturday's game he matter-of-factly said that the moment Keel's header bounced his way he knew he would bury it.
Anyway, the scene that unfolded just before half time had to concern TFC fans: Dichio pivoting away from a defender, then hitting the ground and clutching at his groin muscle. Yes, the same sore muscle that kept him out of the team's last home game against Los Angeles and limited him to 36 minutes against Houston last week.
He rose and hobbled to the sideline, and eventually trotted back on to the field, and wound up logging 78 minutes.
Still, if you're a Danny Dichio fan you can't like seeing him on the ground, favouring a sore groin that looks like it's trying to make the transition from nagging to chronic.
Scenes like that have got to bring you back to last year, when various injuries (back, ankle, groin) sidelined Dichio for nine games.
But Dichio says last year was just that — last year.
After the game he said his groin felt a little tender late in the first half but felt fine later, and that a little more work with Strength coach Paul Winsper should keep him healthy.
Head coach John Carver says he's keeping an eye on Dichio's situation, and can't figure out how a guy who's not fully healthy is still so productive.
"It defies logic and sports medicine," Carver said. "He has this bad groin and he keeps scoring."
— Morgan Campbell
Dichio played one of his better games this season. He did a smashing job of heading on the ball and winning many battles with defenders.
They should have lifted him and Robert earlier, though. Robert was hobbling it looked. Smith could have injected some much needed speed that Dichio can't provide. All in all, a pretty good game.
Posted by: Matt | June 15, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Fans worry when we see stuff like that, but those are the kinds of gritty performances that fans in this city just can't get enough of.
Dichio will undoubtedly be remembered by footy fans in this city in the same way Leaf players like Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark are by hockey fans.
Posted by: Broadview | June 15, 2008 at 09:50 AM
danny is amazing - he often looks like he shouldn't be on the pitch - but the man has the ability to will things to happen against all odds. yesterday's goal was a cracker.
and his physical play and presence is definitely endearing to the TFC fans - nothing gets a bigger cheer than when danny's in the middle of a ruckus - which seems to be about every game! although i think carl robinson and kevin harmse definitely help instigate / contribute from the middle as well.
speaking of which - i was surprised carver kept harmse in the game after he got the yellow - he nearly earned a second late in the 2nd half - carver could have thrown rosenlund in there for a few minutes.
Posted by: doug | June 15, 2008 at 12:50 PM