The silver lining in Toronto FC’s opening season loss at BC Place Saturday was the quality debuts of five off-season additions.

Head coach Ryan Nelsen’s decision to throw a number of first-time MLSers into the mix in a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps was an indication of just how much confidence the New Zealander has in the players the club has enlisted to turn TFC’s fortunes — and they didn’t disappoint.

While the Reds are still very much a work in progress, it’s clear a number of legitimate pieces to the puzzle are firmly in place.

While it’s still early days, the Reds finally have a player who’s a constant threat to get in behind opposing defences multiple times a game.

Robert Earnshaw, after embarking on 11 hours of flights after having seen next to no game action the last two months, looked remarkably sharp for the circumstances.

Combined with a few sublime touches, the Welshman was buzzing up front, always presenting himself as an