Toronto FC (1W-0L-1T, 5 points) defeated the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup holders C.F. Pachuca (0W-1L-1T, 2 points) by a 2-1 scoreline in Leagues Cup action at BMO Field on Sunday evening, courtesy of goals in either half from Derrick Etienne Jr. and Kobe Franklin.

First Half:

TFC Head Coach John Herdman opted for limited rotation from his side that started against New York Red Bulls in midweek action with Kosi Thompson and Matty Longstaff replacing Deybi Flores and Prince Owusu.

Following an electric start from the hosts which involved several half-chances, the Reds found the back of the net from a corner routine which culminated in Derrick Etienne Jr. applying the finishing touch in the 10^th minute. The goal, however, did not stand due to the linesman’s instant offside flag, much to the dismay and apparent confusion of the home faithful at BMO Field.

TFC ultimately capitalized on their first-half dominance and opened the scoring minutes from half-time when Derrick Etienne Jr. complemented his perfectly timed run behind the C.F. Pachuca back-line with a left-footed lob from Lorenzo Insigne’s defence-splitting pass.

The 44^th minute strike, which marked Toronto FC’s first goal in Leagues Cup history and Lorenzo Insigne’s 15^th assist for the Reds, was enough to separate the two sides going into the half-time interval.

Second Half:

The Reds nearly doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half when Federico Bernardeschi’s trivela pass met Lorenzo Insigne’s volleyed effort which went wide of Carlos Moreno’s net.

Los Tuzos found an equalizer against the run of play when a swift counter-attack move resulted in Moroccan international Oussama Idrissi slotting home a close-range rebound after TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson pulled off an incredible save to deny José Salomón Rondón in the 59^th minute.

With the scores level at one apiece, TFC Academy graduates and Homegrown duo Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and Kobe Franklin, both on as second-half substitutes, then combined spectacularly to give the hosts the deserved 2-1 lead in front of the South End. On the play, Marshall-Rutty picked up a pass from Matty Longstaff and burst past his defensive counterpart before floating a high, left-footed cross into the penalty area, which was expertly finished by Kobe Franklin’s left-footed volley.

The 78^th minute effort marked Franklin’s first professional goal for Toronto FC and ultimately proved to be the game-winning goal on the night as the Reds expertly closed out the affair to secure the 2-1 result and top spot in Group East 6.

After successfully recording five points across their two group stage matches, Toronto FC advance from Group East 6 in first place and will face Inter Miami CF next in the tournament’s Round of 32. The Leagues Cup knockout match from Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

LINEUPS

C.F. PACHUCA – Carlos Moreno; Carlos Sánchez, Norman Micolta, Sergio Barreto, Daniel Aceves (Borja Gonzalez 57’); José Saldívar (Gael Álvarez 82’), Arturo González (Nelson Deossa 46’), Ángel Mena (Alán Bautista 57’), Sergio De Los Ríos (Owen González 57’), Oussama Idrissi; José Salomón Rondón (C)

Substitutes Not Used: Rodas Carlos, José Eulogio, Cabral Gustavo, Luis Rodríguez, Jorge Berlanga, Bryan González, Luis Puent

TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Raoul Petretta (Henry Wingo 67’), Kevin Long, Nicksoen Gomis, Richie Laryea (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 67’); Federico Bernardeschi (Kobe Franklin 71’), Kosi Thompson, Matty Longstaff, Lorenzo Insigne (Deybi Flores 71’); Jonathan Osorio (C), Derrick Etienne Jr. (Prince Owusu 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Luka Gavran, Aimé Mabika, Sigurd Rosted, Shane O’Neill, Cassius Mailula, Julian Altobelli

MEDIA NOTES

• Derrick Etienne Jr. scored Toronto FC’s first goal in the Leagues Cup competition.
• Henry Wingo made his Toronto FC debut as a substitute in the 67^th minute, becoming the tenth player to make his club debut during the 2024 season.
• Kobe Franklin scored his first goal for TFC, becoming the 11^th different player to open his account for the Reds during the 2024 campaign.
• Toronto FC recorded their first Leagues Cup victory in club history.
• With five points from two matches, Toronto FC advance from Group East 6 in first place and will face Inter Miami CF next in the competition’s Round of 32.

POSTMATCH SOUND

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