Toronto FC (1W-6L-4T, 7 points) came up short in a 2-0 loss against the Eastern Conference’s New England Revolution (4W-5L-1T, 16 points) at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser made seven changes from his midweek side that faced CF Montréal in the Canadian Championship with Luka Gavran, Lazar Stefanovic, Kevin Long, Jonathan Osorio, Lorenzo Insigne, Tyrese Spicer and Dékwon Barrow making way for Sean Johnson, Sigurd Rosted, Raoul Petretta, Alonso Coello, Matty Longstaff, Federico Bernardeschi and Ola Brynhildsen.
New England Revolution opened the scoring with their first shot on target, a side-foot volley by Spanish playmaker and club captain Carles Gil in the 11th minute.
The Revs then doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Alhassan Yusuf played Leo Campana through on goal, with the Ecuadorian striker finding the side-netting with a right-footed finish.
In the final minute of the first half, TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson completed an instinctive save to deny New England’s Ignatius Ganago to maintain the two-goal deficit heading into the interval.
Seeking a second-half response, the Reds introduced Tyrese Spicer and Lazar Stefanovic off the bench upon the restart, while Lorenzo Insigne entered the fray twelve minutes later. TFC made their fourth substitution of the afternoon in the 66th minute, when defender Nicksoen Gomis was forced off through injury and replaced by Kobe Franklin.
Toronto carried out spells of sustained pressure in the final 25 minutes and threatened the visitors’ goal on multiple occasions. The final product and goals, however, proved elusive, with the Matchday 11 encounter ultimately ending in a 2-0 defeat.
Toronto FC continue their MLS campaign against the visiting D.C. United next Saturday afternoon. Kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is set for 4:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Kosi Thompson, Sigurd Rosted (Lazar Stefanovic 46’), Nicksoen Gomis (Kobe Franklin 66’), Raoul Petretta; Deybi Flores, Alonso Coello, Matty Longstaff (Lorenzo Insigne 57’); Federico Bernardeschi (C), Theo Corbeanu, Ola Brynhildsen (Tyrese Spicer 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: Adisa De Rosario, Kevin Long, Maxime Dominguez, Michael Sullivan, Charlie Sharp
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION – Aljaz Ivacic; Tanner Beason, Brayan Ceballos, Mamadou Fofana; Alhassan Yusuf, Matthew Polster, Ilay Feingold (Brandon Bye 81’), Carles Gil (C) (Maxi Urruti 88’), Peyton Miller (Will Sands 74’); Ignatius Ganago (Tomas Chancalay 74’), Leo Campana (Luca Langoni 81’)
Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Keegan Hughes, Luis Díaz, Jackson Yueill
