When a defender makes a big last-ditch tackle there are some clichés that tend to creep into the narrative. The word “athletic” is almost always used to describe the tackle. Then analysts delve into what went wrong elsewhere to warrant such desperate defending.
Both of those statements are probably true about Chris Mavinga’s multiple challenges during Toronto FC’s quarterfinal CONCACAF Champions League aggregate victory over Tigres. It is also not giving Mavinga nearly enough credit for what was an incredible defensive display.
Mavinga’s big tackles are almost always greeted with an exhale and something like “if he gets that wrong he’s off”.