TORONTO - It took Toronto FC's Richie Laryea under seven minutes to get under CF Montreal's skin.

Laryea, a fullback/wingback deployed at centre back Saturday due to a spate of injuries, started upfield with the ball — only to be bodied and then pulled back by Montreal midfielder Hennadii Synchuk. As referee Drew Fischer blew the whistle, Laryea pushed the 19-year-old Ukrainian away, then delivered another shove for good measure.

That drew a crowd.

Four minutes later, Synchuk was in the book after grabbing Laryea again as he surged past him.

Soon after, Laryea bodied Olger Escobar to the ground after the Montreal attacker lost the ball on the edge of the Toronto penalty box. And then he leaned over Escobar, telling him to get up.

There is more to Laryea's game than mere sandpaper, how

See Full Page