Toronto FC (6W-4L-1T, 19 points) recorded a third consecutive Major League Soccer victory after defeating FC Dallas (2W-6L-2T, 8 points) by a 3-1 scoreline, courtesy of a Federico Bernardeschi brace and Matty Longstaff goal, at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
First Half:
Toronto FC made a pair of changes from last weekend’s MLS road victory in Orlando with Sigurd Rosted and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty making way for Tyrese Spicer and Derrick Etienne Jr.
The hosts were forced into an early substitution, as Sigurd Rosted replaced Raoul Petretta in the 17th minute after the Italian defender picked up a knock. With both sides looking for the opener, the Reds struck through Federico Bernardeschi in the 39th minute, only for the Italian wing-back to have been adjuged offside following an in-stadium VAR check.
TFC, however, opened the deadlock nine minutes later when the Reds were awarded a penalty kick for Patrickson Delgado’s foul on Jonathan Osorio in the box. Bernardeschi stepped up from the spot and saw his effort saved by Maarten Paes standing in goal for FC Dallas, before the Italian tapped home the rebound to give his side an one-goal advantage heading into the half-time break.
Second Half:
The Reds doubled their advantage early into the second half, when Bernardeschi picked up a pass from Jonathan Osorio and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot from outside the box in the 52nd minute. The goal marked the Italian’s first brace of the 2024 MLS season and the second of his TFC career.
TFC added a third goal on the night when a swift attack culminated in Matty Longstaff latching onto Bernardeschi’s reverse pass in the box before slotting past Maarten Paes to make it 3-0 for the hosts.
FC Dallas found a late consolation goal when Sam Junqua found the back of the net following build-up play from Jesús Ferreira and Dante Sealy in the 87th minute.
Toronto FC hit the road to face CS Saint-Laurent of Ligue1 Québec next in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship on Wednesday evening. The first-leg of the semi-final match-up kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Complexe sportif Claude Robillard in Montréal, Québec and will be broadcast on OneSoccer across Canada.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Kevin Long, Nicksoen Gomis, Raoul Petretta (Sigurd Rosted 17’); Federico Bernardeschi, Alonso Coello (Matty Longstaff 64’), Deybi Flores, Tyrese Spicer; Jonathan Osorio (C), Derrick Etienne Jr. (Kobe Franklin 65’), Prince Owusu (Deandre Kerr 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Aimé Mabika, Kosi Thompson, Cassius Mailula, Jesús Batiz
FC DALLAS – Maarten Paes; Sebastien Ibeagha, Nkosi Tafari, Sam Junqua; Ema Twumasi, Patrickson Delgado (Asier Illarramendi 55’), Liam Fraser, Marco Farfan (Eugene Ansah 68’); Bernard Kamungo (Tsiki Ntsabeleng 55’; Dante Sealy 72’), Paul Arriola (C) (Jesús Ferreira 46’), Petar Musa
Substitutes Not Used: Jimmy Maurer, Omar Gonzalez, Carl Sainté, Logan Farrington
NOTABLES:
- Federico Bernardeschi scored his first goal of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.
- With two goals and an assist, Federico Bernardeschi registered three goal contributions in a single match for the first time in his Toronto FC career.
- Matty Longstaff scored his first goal for TFC.
- Tyrese Spicer registered his first assist for the Reds.
- Jonathan Osorio registered his first assist of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.
- Derrick Etienne Jr. started his first match for Toronto FC.
