Toronto FC (7W-8L-3T, 24 points) dropped a 1-4 result against Chicago Fire FC (4W-8L-6T, 18 points), at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
FIRST HALF:
Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman made five changes from his starting eleven in Washington, D.C. from a fortnight ago with Luka Gavran, Sigurd Rosted, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Matty Longstaff and Lorenzo Insigne coming in for Sean Johnson, Nicksoen Gomis, Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio and Tyrese Spicer.
Toronto’s Luka Gavran was called into action early in his sixth start of the MLS campaign, with a pair of important saves from Hugo Cuypers and Maren Haile-Selassie within the opening 20 minutes at BMO Field.
The visitors, however, made their breakthrough when Fabian Herbers’ cross into the box was headed home by Maren Haile-Selassie in the 41st minute.
Moments later, TFC skipper Lorenzo Insigne equalized for the Reds when he cut in from the left wing before unleashing a right-footed effort that goalkeeper Chris Brady was unable to stop in the 44th minute. Initially ruled out for a potential offside in the build-up, the goal was then awarded in first-half stoppage time, much to the delight of the home faithful, following an on-field VAR check, leaving the two sides level at one at the break.
SECOND HALF:
The Fire began the second half on the front foot and pulled ahead with a pair of quickfire goals from Hugo Cuypers and Mauricio Pineda within three second-half minutes in the 57th and 60th minute.
With the hosts unable to spark a second-half comeback, Chicago Fire added a fourth when Allan Arigoni found the back of the net in the 89th minute to finalize the 1-4 result on the night.
Toronto FC resume MLS action to host Nashville SC on Wednesday evening. Kickoff from BMO Field is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Sigurd Rosted (Kosi Thompson 63’), Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta (Cassius Mailula 84’); Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Aimé Mabika 69’), Alonso Coello (Kobe Franklin 63’), Deybi Flores, Derrick Etienne Jr.; Matty Longstaff, Lorenzo Insigne (C), Deandre Kerr (Prince Owusu 63’)
Substitutes Not Used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Markus Cimermancic, Hassan Ayari
CHICAGO FIRE FC – Chris Brady; Arnaud Souquet, Carlos Terán (Wyatt Omsberg 72’), Mauricio Pineda; Allan Arigoni, Fabian Herbers (C) (Javier Casas 90+3’), Kellyn Acosta (Gastón Giménez 73’), Jonathan Dean; Brian Gutiérrez, Maren Haile-Selassie (Tom Barlow 73’), Hugo Cuypers (Georgios Koutsias 84’)
Substitutes Not Used: Spencer Richey, Diego Konincks, Chris Mueller
NOTABLES:
- Lorenzo Insigne entered Toronto FC’s top 10 all-time goalscorers list after scoring his 15th goal for the Reds.
POSTMATCH SOUND
- You can find the Postmatch Sound here
