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BUFFERY: Bono reclaims No. 1 spot in net for Toronto FC

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Lost in the wilderness the past two seasons, Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono has found his way back into the spotlight.

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In 2017, Bono established himself as one of the top keepers in Major League Soccer — setting team records for clean sheets and wins, helping guide TFC to the domestic treble, and was the main man in goal for the Reds in 2018.

However, with the arrival of Quentin Westberg from France in 2019, Bono was relegated to the backup role, used primarily in Canadian Championship games and when Westberg needed a break.

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However, under new coach Chris Armas, Bono has again assumed the No. 1 role, having started all eight games for TFC this year — four league games and four Concacaf Champions League matches. And though the Reds have gotten off to a rough start in MLS play, Bono has been steady and picked up his first clean sheet of the season in TFC’s 2-0 victory over defending MLS Cup champions Columbus on Wednesday night.

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Armas was asked about Bono reclaiming the No.1 spot from Westberg, who was solid for the Reds the past two seasons. The coach has insisted that there is no single No. 1 on the roster and that the last thing he needs is “internal drama” about the two keepers.

“We have two No.1’s,” Armas said. “We see it every day in training.

“The questions keep coming (about the goalkeepers) and I get it because Q (Westberg) didn’t lose the spot necessarily. Just to be clear, early on when we started our Champions League run and we had certain challenges, we had COVID cases, we had family situations, I’m not going to get into it exactly, but Alex was available when we went to Mexico (to play Leon in the Champions League round-of-16). And we moved on in that first series against Leon, we think that Alex was a big difference-maker in the series and one of the last saves he makes in Game 2 (against Leon), if it goes in, we lose. So he makes some big saves. And then it’s kind of, do you mess with that?”

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Clearly the answer for Armas was no.

“We could go back to Q at any moment and I don’t think anyone blinks,” the coach said. “It’s a difficult one when you have a guy like Quentin who, for me, he’s a top goalkeeper. His feet are the best I’ve seen. His quickness in goal is tops. But this is a tricky position (to be in) and we don’t take it lightly.”

A sixth-overall pick by TFC in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Bono, who is still only 27, handled his demotion the past two seasons with class and when TFC hired Armas in the off-season, he felt that he had a chance to grab the starting job again.

“Anytime you have a change of power, a new coach, a new staff, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘This is kind of my fresh start opportunity,’” the native Baldwinsville, N.Y., said. “It’s been nice. I definitely appreciated it. I feel like it’s been a long-time coming so I’m grateful that I’ve gotten this opportunity early in the season. And I’m just trying to make the most of it, trying to go out there every day, every game, and just play my game, try to do what I’m being asked of and pull my weight and obviously help the team win.”

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CHANGES ARE COMING

The Reds travel to Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face New York City FC, an offensively gifted club that has scored nine goals in four games. Armas said he will make some changes to the lineup from Wednesday’s match, given that there are only three days between games and some of his players are new or recovering from injury.

Expect new left back Kemar Lawrence to get his first start and possibly midfielder Jonathan Osorio back in the lineup, but not star attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo, who has yet to play this season because of a “tricky” quad injury.

“We will rotate some guys. You can derail your season if you’re irresponsible pushing guys that aren’t ready to be pushed in certain ways,” Armas said. “It’s a balance.”

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Armas has said that Pozuelo is “getting close” so often that it’s sounding like a broken record.

“I just got finished with him on the field watching the work that he’s doing with the ball, some little actions around the goal, some higher speed running, some cutting, the passing, he’s getting really close,” the coach said, adding that The Maestro will not return until it’s absolutely certain he can stay on the field for the long run.

“When I was player, coming back from injury, you start to feel better, they put through a little (training) and then you play. These days it’s a much more strategic approach and there’s little steps to get you out there,” Armas said.

The coach called it “functional training” and said now a team’s medical department will only deliver a player who is back for the long run. Apparently Pozuelo is not there yet.

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BIG SPENDERS

LAFC attacker Carlos Vela is the highest-paid player in MLS this season, with $6.3 million in total compensation.

Javier (Chicharito) Hernández of the L.A. Galaxy is second at $6 million, according to figures released Thursday by the MLS Players Association.

The Reds have two players in the top six. Pozuelo is fourth ($4.7 million) with Jozy Altidore sixth ($3.6 million).

The club’s third DP, newcomer Yeferson Soteldo, was not listed as figures are as of April 15.

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