Sometimes a draw feels like a loss. Others it feels like a win.

Toronto FC’s 1-1 draw with Atlanta United on Saturday night at Mercedes Benz Stadium felt like the latter.

The home side took the lead in the 15th minute when Quentin Westberg was caught in possession by Luis Araujo who stripped him and finished into an open net. 

Atlanta were on the front foot for much of the night and were denied a second in the 56th minute when Ezequiel Barco’s lovely finish was ruled offside, but with the clock ticking down TFC found a way.

A Jacob Shaffelburg free-kick was half-cleared, falling to Jayden Nelson on the left. He picked out Dom Dwyer surging into the area towards the back-post and Dwyer headed it into the middle for Jordan Perruzza to put home. 

It was Perruzza’s first goal in MLS and first assists for Nelson and Dwyer.

“Everybody is very happy, it's a tie that has the taste of the win for several reasons,” said Javier Perez post-match. “First and foremost we had a lot of younger players in the starting lineup – Jordan, Julian [Dunn], Jayden, Jahkeele [Marshall-Rutty] and Noble [Okello] – and then we had a lot of experience as well on the field.”

“It's a very good mix, so it's a good experience for them,” continued the coach. “And we played against a team that is playing for a spot in the playoffs, so it’s not an easy game. This is one of the most difficult stadiums to come and get a result. And in front of 40 000-plus people. Overall it's a great experience for the younger players and it's a good performance based on the team.”

Atlanta’s goal felt like so many other bad goals TFC has conceded this season.

“If we didn't make these mistakes, these completely avoidable mistakes, like many this season, maybe tonight we would be talking about a win and not a tie, right?” said Perez. “But we are where we are.”

“The important part is to learn the lessons and I hope not to concede any of these goals from now to the end of the season,” he continued. “It's almost like arrogance. We have to be more humble and we have to simplify things for ourselves. It's a lesson for all of us and, hopefully, we don't see that again.”

With an eye on Wednesday’s Voyageurs Cup semifinal against Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship at BMO Field, TFC opted to rest a handful of starters. 

Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Chris Mavinga, and Auro did not dress for the night, while several others – Jozy Altidore, Alejandro Pozuelo, Omar Gonzalez, Mark Delgado, Jacob Shaffelburg, and Kemar Lawrence – were limited.

“The plan was to give 45 minutes to Jozy, Alejandro, and Omar,” said Perez. “That game is extremely important for us, but at the same time, these three didn't play as much lately because of injuries, so it was a good exercise to get some minutes tonight and get them ready.”

That decision opened the door for more young players to show what they can do. 

They did not disappoint.

Nelson played the full 90 in an unfamiliar position against dangerous opposition and showed some of what he is capable. His tenacity going forward was on display and his willingness to battle too – his contest against Brooks Lennon was one of the many duels across the pitch. It was the first complete match of his young career and he was rewarded by getting his name on the scoresheet for the first time.

Perruzza came on at half-time for Jozy Altidore and though chances were limited, he made the most of it.

“He knew that he was coming into the game and he knew this was a big chance,” said Perez. “Same situation for Jayden and Julian. Noble and Jahkeele have been playing more often, but these three knew that it was a special game for them.”

“Jordan is a very resilient player, a very resilient person, and he's very determined,” he continued. “He came on with a clear vision that this was a big opportunity for him and he grabbed it tonight. I'm very, very happy for him.”

Perruzza recounted his goal: “My thought process was just waiting for the ball to get in and knowing my teammates, knowing Dom, I had a feeling he would try and get the ball back across to me.”

“Luckily I was open and ended up being onside,” he added. “That’s pretty much it.”

He was a little unsure whether to celebrate, one could see both joy and hesitancy cross his face near simultaneously.
 
“Funny enough, this was my first goal with VAR, so I really didn't know what the process would be,” he explained. “When the ball went in the net, I didn’t know if I should celebrate because you could celebrate and then two minutes later they could take the goal away. I tried to stay calm at first and then the ref nodded towards me and then I started celebrating.”

Perruzza made his first team debut in the Concacaf Champions League in April, coming on in the second leg against Club Leon. Since then he has had to wait patiently for his chance: he went on loan to San Antonio in the USL Championship for a spell and featured for TFC II a handful of times.

So to seize this one and nab his first goal and to do it in such a moment on such a stage.

“Just surreal,” Perruzza said. “I've been dreaming of playing for the first team my entire life. Since I came back from Italy, it was always a dream of mine to break through into the first team and one day become a regular. Hopefully this is the first step.”

“After that Leon game, I broke into tears after the final whistle,” he recalled. “I didn't cry today, but it was an even bigger day for me and my family.”

The road for Dunn has been even longer.

Having signed with the first team back in 2018, he made two appearances in a depleted side focused on a Champions League run, but since then he had not seen a minute of MLS action.

A loan spell with Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League went very well, but injuries have held him back with TFC.

“It felt great to be back in the lineup,” said the 20-year-old defender. “I've been working hard, working for a long time to get back with the team, and it felt good to be back out there.”

“It meant a lot; it meant a lot for me. It's been a long time since, so being out there I’m just really proud of myself,” he added. “I always knew that I had the capability, it was just a matter of getting the opportunity. I just want to keep going.”

Though it took him a moment to find the pace and measure the trickery of Atlanta’s fearsome four-piece attacking unit of Araujo, Barco, Marcelino Moreno, and Josef Martinez, a few thumping challenges later Dunn quickly adapted.

“He was excellent,” said Perez. “Everybody saw how difficult it was. We knew that on the right side it was going to be Barco, it was going to be [Geroge] Bello, they were trying over and over again to take advantage, and he was a warrior.”

“It's a long time. He proved that he belongs to this level,” levelled the coach. “For every younger player, it's a difficult situation to come in this kind of game and now I think we can feel far more comfortable to give him the next opportunity”

“Great performance for him. I already congratulated him,” Perez added. “He did a terrific job against top-class players and that's a big milestone for him.”

Said Dunn: “I was up for the challenge.”

“I watched the film. I know Barco favoured his right foot, I tried to keep my ground, just wait for him to make an errant touch and take my moment to get in,” he detailed. “With Josef, the same thing: I know he likes to stay off your back shoulder and find the right moment, so I was just communicating with my guys (Westberg and Gonzalez), and [they] helped me through it. Credit to them, [they] really made it easy for me.”

More than three years between MLS appearances is a long wait.

“For any soccer player being out with injury is one of the toughest things, mentally and physically,” said Dunn. “You don't know how it's going to be when you return, but we have a great staff here to help me come back and be sharp.”

“It's just a matter of having the right people around you, spending time with your family and allowing them to keep you sharp mentally,” he continued. “You just stay in it and focus.”

“Regardless of what obstacles you face, as long as you stay dedicated and committed, anything is possible. You can make it back and make a name for yourself,” Dunn reminded. “I heard a lot of, ‘Oh, it’s done for this guy here at TFC.’”

“I stayed grounded and focused and just work, work, work,” he added. “Just staying true to yourself and what you're capable of, that's the most important thing I can take away from all of this.”

That and something else.

“First and foremost it’s to get confidence,” said Perez, asked what he wanted the young players to take from these experiences. “If they didn't have the quality, they wouldn't be here. In order to earn a spot on the field, you have to take off somebody else.”

“It's no secret that we are maybe at the end of a cycle and it's good to see all these young players and see that the future of this club doesn't need to rely necessarily on bringing a lot of players. We have enough quality and we have the youth ready to step up,” he continued. “We have a good balance between very experienced players and younger players. A night like tonight is a night to enjoy and see them playing together.”

And that so many are doing it together is a special part as well. From the TFC Academy, to TFC II, on to the first team, these guys have been together through it all. Every journey is both an individual one and as part of a team.

“That was probably, I wouldn't say the best part, but it just felt so natural for me to be playing with them,” said Perruzza of sharing the field with the other young guns. “We all played in the second team together. We have just such a good bond, in the dressing room, we're best friends all of us, and it just makes things easier when you're on the pitch when you know you can trust the guy off the field.”