Jesus Medina scored the game's only goal early in the second half, sending New York City FC to a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Wednesday.

In a matchup between two Eastern Conference playoff teams, it was the Cityzens who emerged victorious over Toronto for the first time in league play this season, having lost each other their previous two MLS matchups in 2020 with the Reds by a score of 1-0.

NYCFC was on the front foot for much of the first half, with perhaps their best chance of the opening frame coming in the 23rd minute when Valentin Castellanos slipped behind the Toronto back line to receive a through ball from Keaton Parks that set him up with a shot on goal. Toronto goalkeeper Quentin Westberg had to make a quick reaction save to deny Castellanos and keep the match scoreless.

Toronto had a great look of its own in first-half stoppage time off a laser shot from distance from Nick DeLeon that beat NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson, only to ring off the post.

The Cityzens found the opener six minutes after second-half kickoff after Castellanos teed up a distance shot that was initially saved by Westberg, but cashed home on the rebound by a charging Medina for his fourth goal of the season.

It would stand as the match-winner, as NYCFC managed to withstand a late surge in pressure to claim all three points.