Toronto FC (11W-15L-3T, 36 points) returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory against Austin FC (9W-12L-7T, 34 points), courtesy of first-half goals from Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr, at BMO Field on Saturday evening.

First Half:

Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman made four changes from his starting eleven against D.C. United a fortnight ago with Kevin Long, Deybi Flores, Tyrese Spicer and Derrick Etienne Jr. making way for Jonathan Osorio, Alonso Coello, Federico Bernardeschi and Deandre Kerr.

The Reds got off to a red-hot start in front of the home faithful and opened the scoring early when club captain Jonathan Osorio unleashed an unstoppable half-volley past Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the opening stages. The 7^th minute goal marked Osorio’s 65th goal for TFC across all competitions, becoming only the third player in club history behind Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore to reach the 65-goal mark for the club.

TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson was called into action and the American shot-stopper made no mistake in making a crucial save from Osman Bukari’s 25^th minute effort.

The hosts then doubled their advantage when a swift passing sequence from back-to-front between Raoul Petretta, Lorenzo Insigne, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea and Deandre Kerr culminated with the Canadian forward firing home with a right-footed finish. With the 30^th minute strike, the Ajax, Ontario native has scored in successive MLS matches and entered TFC’s all-time top 10 goalscorers chart with 16 goals.

Eleven minutes later, Los Verdes had the ball in the back of the net when Gyasi Zardes tapped home from close-range. The 41^st minute effort, however, was ruled out for an offside call on the American forward on the play.

Both sides came close to adding to the score moments before the half-time whistle. First, TFC nearly added a third goal following neat work between Richie Laryea and Deandre Kerr down Toronto’s left side before Kerr dragged his stoppage-time effort wide of the target. A minute later, Toronto’s Sean Johnson was on hand once again to make another important save to deny Osman Bukari from Sebastián Driussi’s through ball and preserve his side’s two-goal lead going into the interval.

Second Half:

After both sides exchanged goalscoring attempts in search of the evening’s third goal, Austin FC pulled one back when Brendan Hines-Ike’s long ball over the top was coolly controlled, redirected and finished by substitute Owen Wolff in the 75^th minute.

With the visitors looking to draw level in the closing stages, Sean Johnson completed his Man of the Match performance with his joint season-high sixth save to deny Osman Bukari and Austin FC a late equalizer and to secure the 2-1 victory and all three points for the Reds at BMO Field.

Next up, Toronto FC host defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew in midweek MLS action on Wednesday, September 18. Kickoff from BMO Field is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN 1/4 in Canada.

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Henry Wingo (Shane O’Neill 45+4), Nicksoen Gomis (Aimé Mabika 66’), Raoul Petretta; Jonathan Osorio (C), Matty Longstaff, Alonso Coello (Kosi Thompson 59’), Lorenzo Insigne (Deybi Flores 59’); Federico Bernardeschi, Richie Laryea, Deandre Kerr (Prince Owusu 65’)

Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Kobe Franklin, Tyrese Spicer, Derrick Etienne Jr.

AUSTIN FC – Brad Stuver; Mikkel Desler, Brendan Hines-Ike, Matt Hedges (Julio Cascante 46’), Guilherme Biro; Alexander Ring (C) (Owen Wolff 71’), Daniel Pereira (Jhojan Valencia 46’), Sebastián Driussi; Osman Bukari (Jon Gallagher 62’), Jáder Obrian, Gyasi Zardes (Diego Rubio 71’)

Substitutes Not Used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Finlay, J, Hector Jiménez, Oleksandr Svatok

MEDIA NOTES

• Jonathan Osorio scored his 65^th goal for Toronto FC across all competitions, becoming the third player in club history behind Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore to reach the 65-goal mark for the Reds.
• With a goal and an assist tonight, Jonathan Osorio (48 goals, 52 assists) becomes the second player in club history to record 100 MLS regular season goal contributions and the first since Sebastian Giovinco (120).
• With his game-winning goal tonight, Deandre Kerr enters TFC’s all-time top 10 goalscorers chart with 16 goals.
• Toronto FC recorded a victory against Austin FC for the first time in club history.

POSTMATCH SOUND

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