D.C. United midfielder Patrick Nyarko
On what must be done to help your team get back from the deficit...
"It's tough, the team is chasing the game and you leave yourself with holes. But it is a risk you have to take going down 3-1 and you have to take some chances. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and unfortunately today it didn’t work. It was important to try and get them on their heels a little bit later in the game. For me personally, I was trying to get some of my fitness back, but it was a tough game for everyone today. We shouldn’t hold our heads too low, as we are going home for four games where we can’t drop any points."
On giving up two free kicks that resulted in goals...
"It was unlucky, but our game plan was not to give up fouls in those dangerous areas where he can convert and is quite unstoppable. [Giovinco] is very creative and he will seek and win those free kicks with his ability and it is very unfortunate, nothing you can do about it and that is what won them the game - two special free kicks. Besides that, I felt we were still in the game without those free kicks."
D.C. United defender Sean Franklin
On his overall thoughts about the match...
"It is frustrating when you have been on a run where you haven’t won in a while, and I thought today was a chance for us to get some points. In the first half I thought we played some pretty good soccer. But we gave up two dangerous set pieces that we cannot give up, Giovinco scores two free kicks and we are going into the half down 3-1 and chasing the game. It is one of those things where if you get a goal early in the second half we can put pressure on them, but at the end of the day it was a frustrating half, it wasn’t good enough."
On going up against Giovinco...
"It’s not a lot of fun defending against him, he is a tough player, he's very good and proven it in his time here in the league. As you can see he is very good at set pieces around the goal, he’s very tough to handle and we had to do a better job of not fouling him at the top of the box."
On the upcoming homestand...
"Yeah, we have to get points now! Four of our next five are at home and we have to get wins, these losses and draws have been a tough road stretch but we have to go home and get points for sure."
Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney
On Giovinco's return to goalscoring form...
"Yes, obviously, 3 goals, great performance by him, it’s nice for his sake. It’s good for the team, which is an understatement. Pleasant night!
On Altidore’s and Ricketts performances...
"I mean in the end we shifted our shape a little bit in order to do it and part of the reason was that we were in the diamond with guys that are not in their characteristic positions and the fact that we weren’t connecting that pass to the defensive shape and getting ourselves into the attack. I felt like were a little exposed on the flanks so with that we made a shift. It also was going to become a game of transition, we shifted out of the diamond to get more lateral defensive presence on the outside to better deal with their fullbacks. We brought Jozy in to give us that guy we could play out to, to make solid decisions, I asked him to sit back and drop on the six when we defended. It created balance across the field, it was great to see him out their sprinting around, connecting lines, unloading on a shot, it was great to have him back out there and have his presence on the field."
On if there are any more transfers upon the horizon for Toronto...
"Yeah it’s possible! We are obviously looking around, we have a little room to work with. Like all things in this, a lot of things have to come together and work out. We are looking for a player that is a little different than the rest of the group, someone who can impact our team down the stretch."
Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono
On the defensive execution...
"Great, we gave up the one goal which was a team letdown for us and something that we will work on this week but to go out there and win four-one and to be so solid defensively, in what was a little bit of a back-and-forth game and messy at times, was huge for us and huge for our confidence going forward."
On the coach's faith in him...
"It’s great to have your back from the manager and to have him put his confidence in me week-after-week even after making a mistake last week. It’s my job as a goalkeeper to bounce back and show him that he is making the right decision. I don’t think he’ll have any complaints about the game today so hopefully we’ll just keep moving on up."
On Giovinco and the type of player he is...
"What goalless drought? He’s back and we knew that he never left. He’s been the same in training throughout. He’s the greatest player I’ve ever seen in person. He’s unbelievable. The stuff he does with the ball, the stuff he does in front of the goal, the way he makes his team around him better and the way he finishes the ball is a different class. There is not much you can say to how good he really is."
Toronto FC forward Tosaint Ricketts
On the emotions of coming into the game…
"It was amazing. I was saying during the national anthem, it was something I’ve never felt before and I knew I was in the right place. It was a great feeling."
On almost scoring a minute after entering the match...
"I know when Seba (Sebastian Giovinco) has the ball I just have to make runs and he will find me and you’ve seen it tonight, I made a few good runs through the channel and he saw me straight away. I opened it up and I thought it was in but I unluckily hit the post. It’s alright; as long as the chances are there I know it will come."
On what’s it like playing with Sebastian Giovinco...
"He’s very special. Throughout my career there were many players that I’ve played with that match his abilities, his vision, and his goal scoring ability. He is a great asset to the team."
