Toronto FC is making headway in the Eastern Conference standings after their 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Currently the Reds stand in fourth place and, with next week’s game against D.C. United, TFC could continue to make ground. Sebastian Giovinco is making a case for best player in the league after a two assist performance against the Quakes.

Here’s what the scribes are saying following the win.

Kurt Larson
At one point on Saturday, Sebastian Giovinco, the best player in MLS, appeared to be playing 1-2s with the other team. That’s how commanding the Atomic Ant was in a 3-1 win over San Jose.
Toronto FC’s No. 10 has reached a level rarely seen in this league: He’s expected to, and usually does, electrify whenever he’s on the ball.
John Molinaro
The diminutive Giovinco, nicknamed the “Atomic Ant,” collected two assists and had a hand in creating a third goal as Toronto FC rolled to a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes before 17, 711 fans on a wet Saturday evening at BMO Field. Toronto improved to 5-5-1 on the season, and is unbeaten in three league games, with two wins.
Justin Morrow, Warren Creavalle and Luke Moore scored for TFC, all of them benefiting from the brilliance of their Italian teammate. Giovinco was buzzing all game, and could have easily had five assists, as he put a number of scoring chances on a plate for teammates, only to see those opportunities squandered. He also twice hit the woodwork—the frame of San Jose’s goal did a better job than the Earthquakes of keeping him off the score-sheet.
Gareth Wheeler
Better San Jose possession as in the second half didn’t amount to much. The Earthquakes were left exposed on multiple occasions, only really playing with two deep lying players. The clincher came in the 71st minute. The tireless running of Michael Bradley ended in a picture perfect ball over the top finding Giovinco on the run. Down the right-side, Giovinco played a low, teasing ball into the six-yard box, met by the foot of Luke Moore putting it past goalkeeper David Bingham. Three points in the bag. The assist, Giovinco’s sixth on the season, remarkably tied him for the club single season record for assists, joining Dwayne De Rosario (’09), Amado Guevara (’09), and Nick LaBrocca (’10) atop the list. Giovinco has only played 11 games, or one-third of the season.
A third assist for Giovinco should have come in the 81st. Giovinco, back operating down the left found Osorio with a delicate through-ball but the Canadian agonizingly shot past the far post. Incredible movement, ideal in design, but the finish left wasting. Jay Chapman (Brampton, ON) made his MLS debut in the 84th minute. Three Canadians seeing action in the win bodes well for the fabric of the club.