Toronto FC coaches hold bragging rights when it comes to record win streak

The Galaxy streak began Sept. 7, 1997, with a 6-1 thrashing of the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Los Angeles went on to beat Colorado, Dallas (twice), San Jose and Kansas City to wrap up the ’97 regular season.

The Galaxy kept winning to open the ’98 campaign, dispatching San Jose, the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls, twice), Kansas City (twice), Colorado (twice), Tampa Bay and Columbus. The streak finally ended May 20 in a 3-1 loss at Chicago.

In between, Los Angeles went 0-2 at the hands of Dallas in the ’97 playoffs.

L.A. outscored its opposition 49-20 during the regular-season run of wins. That included a then-record seven-goal performance in a 7-4 win over Colorado on May 6, 1998. The previous mark of six goals in a game was held by five teams.

The Galaxy broke their own record in 1998 with an 8-1 win over Dallas.

The 11 total goals — a mark that stands today — broke the league record of 10 set on May 2, 1996, when Kansas City beat Columbus 6-4.

The goal spree came at a painful cost with Galaxy captain Calichman breaking a leg early in the second half when he was tackled by Colorado’s Marcelo Balboa.

One win later the streak was over

The three defenders were also a big part of the ’96 Galaxy team that opened the season at 12-0-0. It remains the league’s second-longest win streak — and longest run of victories in a single season.

Those record runs came during the league’s shootout era (1996-’99) when games couldn’t end in a tie. Post-shootout, Kansas City won nine straight in 2011-12, a stretch that included seven wins to open the 2012 season

League-leading Toronto (7-1-4) goes after win No. 7 Friday at the New York Red Bulls (5-6-1).

“It will be one of our goals, to keep the streak alive,” Vanney said after training Tuesday.

“While we’re not trying to get ahead of ourselves, the goal is to keep this thing rolling and keep building on the last game but understanding that you’ve got to make plays and you’ve got to deal with the situation in the moment and focus right in on that,” he added.

NOTES: Defender Nick Hagglund was moving gingerly Monday with a jumbo brace on his left leg. He is expected to be out two to three months with a torn medial collateral ligament, an injury Vanney says could have been far worse given the severity of the collision that caused it in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Minnesota … Vanney is unfazed by Sebastian Giovinco’s latest minor injury (quad strain) saying it may have been caused by the fact his body wasn’t quite ready to go at 100 per cent after missing two games with a heel contusion. The Italian striker is expected to be out three weeks … Defender Jason Hernandez, subbed at halftime against Minnesota because of a bout of food poisoning (believed to be bad salmon), says he is much better … Still no word on what caused midfielder Jonathan Osorio’s irregular heartbeat. The club is monitoring his health, hoping it was perhaps a blip caused by illness … Columbus forward Justin Meram, who had a hat trick in a 3-2 win over Montreal, won MLS player of the week honours. Toronto’s Tosaint Ricketts, with three goals including two game-winners, was a close contender.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Toronto FC coaches hold bragging rights when it comes to record win streak

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