Toronto FC (7W-12L-3T, 24 points) recorded a 1-2 loss against Orlando City SC (6W-9L-6T, 24 points) at BMO Field on Wednesday evening.
Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman made three changes from his weekend’s starting eleven against Atlanta United with Sean Johnson, Kosi Thompson and Aimé Mabika coming in for Luka Gavran, Kevin Long and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.
The Reds got off to a perfect start in front of the home faithful opening the scoring within the first five minutes at BMO Field. Federico Bernardeschi, recently named an MLS All-Star, sprayed a cross into the box from which Raoul Petretta’s downward header set up Derrick Etienne Jr. perfectly for a side-foot finish and the Haitian winger’s first MLS goal at BMO Field as a Red.
Orlando City found a first-half equalizer through Martín Ojeda minute when the Argentinian midfielder headed home Iván Angulo’s cross in the 27th minute.
Minutes from the half-time whistle, the Lions scored the evening’s game-winning goal when Facundo Torres’ low shot across the penalty area was inadvertently turned into the net by TFC defender Nicksoen Gomis.
The Reds fought valiantly to earn a home result in the second half but ultimately fell short by one, dropping the midweek affair by a 1-2 scoreline to the visiting Orlando City SC.
Toronto FC hit the road next to take on the Columbus Crew on Saturday, July 6 in MLS regular season action. Kickoff from Lower.com Field is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN5 in Canada.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Kosi Thompson, Aimé Mabika, Nicksoen Gomis; Federico Bernardeschi, Deybi Flores (Shane O'Neill 72’), Matty Longstaff, Raoul Petretta (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 68’); Derrick Etienne Jr. (Kobe Franklin 67’), Lorenzo Insigne (C), Prince Owusu (Deandre Kerr 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Sigurd Rosted, Cassius Mailula, Markus Cimermancic, Nathaniel Edwards
ORLANDO CITY SC – Pedro Gallese; Dagur Thorhallsson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Robin Jansson (C), Kyle Smith (Rafael Santos 69’); César Araújo, Wilder Cartagena, Facundo Torres (Ramiro Enrique 83’), Martín Ojeda (Nicolás Lodeiro 69’), Iván Angulo (Luis Muriel 83’); Duncan McGuire (Jeorgio Kocevski 79’)
Substitutes Not Used: Jose Carlos Mercado, Alexander Freeman, Felipe Martins, Jack Lynn
MEDIA NOTES
- Derrick Etienne Jr. scored his first MLS goal at BMO Field for Toronto FC.
- Federico Bernardeschi has now registered 14 goal contributions (eight goals, six assists) in the last ten MLS matches he has featured in since April 27, 2024.
POSTMATCH SOUND
- Link can be found here
