TORONTO

He could only give one answer after falling 4-1 to the defending champs.

“I think so,” TFC’s Ryan Nelsen responded when I asked him if Saturday night’s match proves Sporting Kansas City is the class of the conference.

Not that he needed reminding, but TFC fans looked at the weekend as a test to gauge the likelihood of future playoff success.

“We’re under no illusions where we are,” Nelsen added. “We still have a lot of young guys playing at the back.

“You’re right. We need to harden as a team. You have to do that through playing in the playoffs.”

Those playoffs — assuming the Reds make them — will almost certainly come back through the Paris of the Plains, although Nelsen doesn’t seem to mind.

Nobody can touch Kansas City in the Eastern Conference at the moment. Saturday’s win put the current MLS Cup holders up 10 points on third-place Toronto with a little over two months to go.

Nelsen, though, seemed more than confident post-game that a return trip to KC come November will end in a Toronto victory.

The evidence, though, is contradictory.

Toronto has never won at Sporting Park. It has won in Kansas City just once in the team’s eight-year history.

Over three meetings this season, the Reds mustered only a point, allowing eight goals along the way.

Yes, Nelsen didn’t have a full roster to pick from Saturday, but neither did the hosts.

Saturday’s lopsided loss showed this more than anything: The Reds remain a year or two away from challenging for an MLS Cup berth — something that’s not surprising.

Heck, it’s a mini miracle the word championship is even mentioned in the same sentence as this club considering where it was just 18 months ago.

“It took Kansas City three or four years to get to where they are now,” Nelsen said. “We’re trying to do it in a real short amount of time with some young players.

“We’re close, but I think you’re right. We’ve got a wee bit to go. The positive is that on our day we can beat anyone in this league. I think everyone knows that.”

As of now, the Reds just can’t touch KC in KC.

Not many teams can.

THE BIG NUMBER

Some love him, some hate him, some see him for what he is.

No matter what you think of young Doneil Henry, TFC’s 21-year-old centre back is making immature plays.

Because, well, he’s still relatively inexperienced.

Still, conceding five penalties in all competition — the most by any MLSer — is a concern as it indicates a top prospect isn’t learning from his mistakes.

The PK he conceded to KC’s Dom Dwyer Saturday night was a simple call for referee Drew Fischer.

Henry is giving the opposition a chance from the spot once every three games.

That has many wondering if Nick Hagglund might be the best option to partner with Steven Caldwell when the big man returns.

Toronto’s rookie is less mistake-prone and has a much-safer game — the definition of no-nonsense.

LIGHT-HEARTED HUMOUR

The sense from Nelsen post-game was one of relief.

After all, his Reds picked up six points from four consecutive midseason road games.

In other words, things could have been worse.

So that had Nelsen laughing a bit post-game when I asked him about Gilberto nearly being brought down by Kansas City’s Igor Juliao early in the second half.

“(Gilberto) could have gone down and the guy would have got sent off,” Nelsen said.

I reminded Nelsen of his long list of recent quibbles with MLS officials.

“We wouldn’t have got the call,” Nelsen said with a sarcastic laugh. “You’re dead right. Gilberto would have got a yellow card for diving probably.”

It’s clear Nelsen remains in good spirits considering lopsided scoreline Saturday night.

COLD SHOULDER

Bad blood boiled over when Sporting KC’s Jacob Peterson left Toronto back in 2011.

He left Sporting Park Saturday night by offering TFC staffers a cold shoulder.

Peterson, whose anti-Canadian tweet a few years back drew the ire of TFC fans, walked past TFC’s dressing room following his club’s 4-1 win.

Toronto FC staffers he once worked with looked the other way. He didn’t say a word knowing full well he’s not well-liked inside Toronto’s dressing room.

Compare that to Issey Nakajima-Farran a few weeks back in Montreal. The Canadian international, traded from TFC earlier this season, mingled with the Reds inside the away dressing room post-game.

KC’S THE PLACE TO BE

Soccer fans here in Kansas City are a bit different.

They’re more polite than the passionate fan base back home at BMO Field.

Sporting KC fans offer a bit more southern comfort.

And speaking of hard liquor, the people in this midwest town — where I grew up — live a bit different.

Like the guy at the airport bar Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

“I’m going to make it easy on you,” he said to a waitress. “I’d like a stiff screwdriver (orange juice and vodka) and plain toast.”

That’s the kind of gusto that has Kansas City fans, who produced a 48th straight sellout Saturday night, defining this league.