Toronto FC (3W-7L-4T, 13 points) fell short in a late comback bid, dropping a 2-1 result to Nashville SC (7W-4L-3T, 24 points) on Saturday evening at BMO Field.
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser made one change to the side that started in last weekend’s emphatic 401 Derby 6-1 win over CF Montréal, bringing in Theo Corbeanu for Tyrese Spicer on the left wing.
Both sides exchanged opportunities in an entertaining opening half by the lake shore. Toronto came close through Deybi Flores and Lorenzo Insigne, while Nashville threatened through Alex Muyl, Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg, with both unable to find a first-half breakthrough.
Toronto came within inches of breaking the deadlock eight minutes after the restart, but Ola Brynhildsen’s acrobatic bicycle-kick from a Lorenzo Insigne pass was denied by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.
The Boys in Gold, however, responded at the other end just four minutes later, opening the scoring through a well-worked sequence between Andy Najar and Hany Mukhtar which was tapped home by Englishman Sam Surridge.
TFC piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer, creating a flurry of chances as the second half wore on. Theo Corbeanu, Ola Brynhildsen, Lorenzo Insigne, Tyrese Spicer and Federico Bernardeschi all had efforts of their own, with none being converted.
Nashville doubled their advantage late on, as Jonathan Pérez teed up Sam Surridge for his second goal of the night, completing his brace in the 89th minute.
The Reds responded and pulled one back two minutes later, as Jonathan Osorio, returning from injury off the bench, ran onto fellow substitute Charlie Sharp’s lay-off and unleashed a ferocious strike from distance into the top corner, reducing the deficit to one.
The stoppage time goal marked club captain Jonathan Osorio’s 50th MLS goal for Toronto FC, becoming only the third player in club history following Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore to reach the milestone. Osorio also became the fourth active player, and only the second Homegrown player, in MLS history to reach the 50 goal-50 assist milestone, joining Diego Fagúndez (LA Galaxy), Luciano Acosta (FC Dallas) and Albert Rusnák (Seattle Sounders).
TFC’s push came up just short, as their late comeback was ultimately denied by a resilient Nashville rearguard. Despite Osorio’s historic stoppage-time strike, the Boys in Gold held on for the 2-1 victory on the night.
Toronto FC take on the Philadelphia Union next in midweek MLS action on Wednesday, May 28. Kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN4 in Canada.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Kosi Thompson, Sigurd Rosted (Zane Monlouis 73’), Kevin Long, Lazar Stefanovic; Maxime Dominguez (Alonso Coello 63’), Deybi Flores (Jonathan Osorio 63’), Lorenzo Insigne; Federico Bernardeschi (C), Theo Corbeanu (Charlie Sharp 90’), Ola Brynhildsen (Tyrese Spicer 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Henry Wingo, Matty Longstaff, Derrick Etienne Jr.
NASHVILLE SC – Joe Willis; Andy Najar, Jack Maher, Jeisson Palacios (Walker Zimmerman 73’); Edvard Tagseth, Patrick Yazbek (Bryan Acosta 86’), Alex Muyl (Jonathan Perez 85’); Hany Mukhtar (C), Jacob Shaffelburg (Ahmed Qasem 58’), Sam Surridge
Substitutes Not Used: Brian Schwake, Josh Bauer, Wyatt Meyer, Matthew Corcoran, Teal Bunbury
MEDIA NOTES
- Tonight’s match against Nashville SC marked Toronto FC’s 600th MLS regular season game in club history.
- Sean Johnson moves into fifth on Major League Soccer’s all-time list for regular season minutes played (37,326), surpassing Kevin Hartman (37,260).
- Jonathan Osorio scored his 50th MLS regular season goal for TFC, becoming only the third player in club history following Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore to reach the milestone.
- With his 50th MLS regular season goal, Jonathan Osorio is the second Homegrown player in MLS history to reach the 50 goal-50 assist milestone joining current LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagúndez (76 goals, 76 assists).
- Charlie Sharp registered his first assist for the Reds.
