Lorenzo Insigne was removed at halftime against the Revolution after scoring a wonder goal, and it's now been revealed why.
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TFC defeat Revolution 1-0Insigne scores wondergoalItalian pulled at halftime – but not due to injuryWHAT HAPPENED?
Insigne scored what is likely the cheekiest effort across matchweek two across MLS on Sunday, lobbing a delightful chip from a tough angle over Revs goalkeeper Henrich Ravas in the 27th minute of the match. The strike, which ended up being the lone effort of the game, won the match for TFC 1-0. Insigne, however, was pulled from the match at halftime.
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"You see his magic. He really does bring a different tempo to our game and quality,” Herdman said post-game, revealing that he wanted the Italian to play as little as possible on the Gillette Stadium turf.
“It was planned from the start: start strong and get that goal before halftime as well. That was his mission, to put us in a strong situation. And he did that.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
On May 16, 2016, Chelsea FC midfielder and star of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for England – Ruben Loftus-Cheek – tore his Achilles tendon during a preseason friendly against the Revolution on the same turf at Gillette Stadium. The injury forever altered the trajectory of one of the brightest talents in the game at the time, and he never found himself again at the London club. In 2023, however, he moved to Serie A side AC Milan alongside Christian Pulisic and now, both are flourishing with the Rossoneri.
Since Loftus-Cheek's injury in 2019, big-name players have skipped out on matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts as a result of the pitch at the ground.
The Revolution host Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Inter Miami on April 27, and now, more questions will surface about the superstars usage' in the match – especially after Herdman's comments.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR TORONTO FC ?
TFC are back in action on Saturday, March 9 against Eastern Conference competitors Charlotte FC. Each club is unbeaten through two matches, so both sides will be looking to keep their respective streaks alive.