Toronto FC (3W-9L-4T, 13 points) were edged 2-1 by Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union (10W-3L-3T, 33 points) on Wednesday evening at BMO
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser made seven changes to the lineup that started against Nashville SC on Saturday. Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis, Raoul Petretta, Derrick Etienne Jr., Jonathan Osorio, Alonso Coello and Tyrese Spicer came in for Sigurd Rosted, Kevin Long, Lazar Stefanovic, Maxime Dominguez, Lorenzo Insigne, Kosi Thompson and Federico Bernardeschi, with the latter two serving one-game suspensions due to yellow card accumulation.
The opening half of the wet Wednesday evening affair remained goalless, thanks largely to standout saves from the two veteran MLS goalkeepers. Toronto’s Sean Johnson produced an incredible outstretched stop to deny Bruno Damiani’s acrobatic 12th minute volley and also kept out efforts from Indiana Vassilev and Jesús Bueno.
At the other end, Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake made an instinctive close-range save to deny Jonathan Osorio just minutes before the half-time whistle to keep the scores level.
After a back-and-forth 30 minutes to start the second half, the Reds broke the deadlock when Ola Brynhildsen latched onto Deybi Flores long-range pass, raced through on goal and blasted a shot in off the crossbar.
The 75th minute strike marked the Norwegian forward’s first goal at BMO Field and his second for TFC, after he opened his account on the road against CF Montréal on May 17.
Philadelphia Union, however, responded ten minutes later with Nathan Harriel heading home Kai Wagner’s corner level the match at 1-1.
The Eastern Conference leaders then took their first lead of the night, when Kai Wagner’s long-range strike took a deflection and found the net. The two-time MLS All-Star’s stoppage time strike proved to be the game-winner on the night, as the Union secured the 2-1 victory and all three points from BMO Field.
Next up, Toronto FC wrap up their three-game home stretch when they host Charlotte FC on Saturday, May 31. 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.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Henry Wingo (Sigurd Rosted 46’), Zane Monlouis (Kevin Long 78’), Raoul Petretta; Derrick Etienne Jr., Alonso Coello (Matty Longstaff 86’), Deybi Flores, Jonathan Osorio (C), Tyrese Spicer; Theo Corbeanu, Ola Brynhildsen (Charlie Sharp 86’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Lazar Stefanovic, Maxime Dominguez, Markus Cimermancic, Lorenzo Insigne
PHILADELPHIA UNION – Andre Blake (C); Frankie Westfield, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel, Kai Wagner; Quinn Sullivan (Ben Bender 83’), Jesus Bueno (Danley Jean Jacques 67’), Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev (Alejandro Bedoya 76’); Tai Baribo, Bruno Damiani (Mikael Uhre 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Olwethu Makhanya, Cavan Sullivan, Jeremy Rafanello
MEDIA NOTES
- Matty Longstaff made his 50th appearance for Toronto FC across all competitions, becoming the 13th active TFC player to reach the milestone.
