Toronto FC's trip to Colorado reminded me of a scene in an old Monty Python skit.  Two luckless characters are facing a firing squad.  The screen goes blank, and the words “scene missing” appear.  A moment later, they're safe, saying “What an amazing escape.”

Or, as Yosemite Sam once said to Bugs Bunny: “Ah don't know how ya done it, but Ah knows ya done it!”

With two-thirds of the starting lineup injured, suspended, playing at the Olympics or dumped to Dallas for a draft pick, Toronto's reeling Reds limped onto a gigantic field in the thin air of the Rockies … and won.  For the first blessed time since the middle of June, they won.

It wasn't pretty – or even particularly efficient – but TFC's ultimate patchwork lineup got through 90 minutes without conceding any goals.  And they would have happily settled for 0-0 on the road, but newly acquired striker Chad Barrett scotched that idea when he ripped home a superb 30-yard free kick just before halftime.

How ‘bout that?  Both Toronto free-kick aces were out – Amado Guevara on a selfish red card and Laurent Robert hobbled by a hamstring – and the new kid lights one off that would have made either of his “expert” teammates proud.

Oh, and darn right the playoff hunt is still alive.  Monday morning finds the Reds in a four-way tie for fourth in the MLS East.  With the West Division faltering, two of those teams would be in the playoffs if the season ended now.  The tie-breakers are a mess, but suffice to say, TFC is no worse than tied for the final spot, one game shy of the two-thirds mark of the regular season.  I would call that contention.

These are the current extremes of TFC's loopy second season.  On July 1, they started their A-team 11 at home to the USL-1's Vancouver Whitecaps in the Voyaguers Cup – and lost 1-0.  This past Saturday, they started any warm body with a pulse against Colorado, and escaped with a hugely needed W.

If there's meaning to be found in that, I think it's this: It never really was that bad.  Frustrating?  Undoubtedly.  But the twin goals of making the playoffs this season and building youth and depth for the future are still pretty much on schedule.

Here's who was on the field in Denver when the final whistle finally blew:

- G. Greg Sutton (legit starter)

- D. Julius James (rookie)

- D. Jim Brennan (captain and legit starter)

- D. Carl Robinson (legit midfield starter, forced back to central D by Tyrone Marshall injury)

- D. Kevin Harmse (midfield, playing out of position)

- M. Nana Attokora (19 years old, getting his first MLS start)

- M. Gabe Gala (19 years old, subbing in late for banged up Rohan Ricketts)

- M. Tyler Rosenlund (21 years old, played an hour after Marshall went out)

- F. Danny Dichio (concussed, a late sub for Barrett)

- F. Jarrod Smith (young prospect getting a chance)

- F. Abdus Ibrahim (16 years old, playing 90 minutes in thin air)

That's a huge amount of stepping up.  I humbly suggest that the two suspended players (Guevara and Puerto Rican defender Marco Velez) owe everybody lunch.

Interesting, also, to see TFC coach John Carver opt for a 4-3-3 formation, abandoning – through utter necessity – the franchise's beloved 4-5-1.  The three strikers didn't actually create much from open play, but the three-man midfield did not get smoked – even after anchor man Carl Robinson was forced into retreat to bolster the back four.

A huge match awaits in New York on Sunday.  Velez will be back from suspension, but we're still awaiting clarification on injuries to Robert, Marshall, Attakora and possibly Ricketts.  It's another huge and uphill challenge, but at least Toronto will come out of this brutal two-game road stretch no worse than even.

What happens after that – is anybody's guess.

Onward!