Toronto FC (2W-7L-4T, 10 points) dropped a 1-0 decision against MLS Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati (9W-3L-1T, 25 points) at BMO Field on Wednesday evening.
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser named an unchanged starting eleven from the side that defeated D.C. United 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
The Orange and Blue opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Togolese striker Kévin Denkey picked up a pass from DeAndre Yedlin, showcased neat footwork in the box and found the net with a placed left-foot finish.
TFC were forced into a pair of first-half substitutions down their left side. First, Raoul Petretta was forced off through injury in the 19thminute, before his replacement Kobe Franklin had to exit with a knock of his own seventeen minutes later.
Trailing by one, Toronto’s Sean Johnson came up big in the 66th minute, producing an instinctive double save from close range to deny Cincinnati’s Yuya Kubo and keep his side within reach.
The hosts piled on pressure in the closing stages of the midweek affair, pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer. Sigurd Rosted, along with substitutes Maxime Dominguez and Tyrese Spicer, each had efforts of their own, but FC Cincinnati ultimately held firm to secure the 1-0 victory on the night.
As part of MLS Rivalry Week, the Reds hit the road next to take on CF Montréal in the latest edition of the 401 Derby on Saturday, May 17. Kick-off from Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec is set for 2:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Kosi Thompson, Sigurd Rosted, Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta (Kobe Franklin 19’, Lazar Stefanovic 36’); Deybi Flores, Alonso Coello, Lorenzo Insigne (Maxime Dominguez 69’); Federico Bernardeschi (C) (Tyrese Spicer 69’), Theo Corbeanu, Ola Brynhildsen (Derrick Etienne Jr. 69’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Zane Monlouis, Matty Longstaff, Markus Cimermancic
FC CINCINNATI – Roman Celentano; DeAndre Yedlin, Gilberto Flores, Miles Robinson (C), Teenage Hadebe (Alvas Powell 77’), Brad Smith (Lukas Engel 59’); Pavel Bucha, Tah Brian Anunga, Evander (Yuya Kubo 59’); Gerardo Valenzuela (Kei Kamara 84’), Kévin Denkey (Sergio Santos 59’)
Substitutes Not Used: Evan Louro, Nick Hagglund, Obinna Nwobodo, Corey Baird
