Toronto FC earned their third win of the 2024 MLS campaign after beating Atlanta United 2-0 at BMO Field on Saturday evening, courtesy of goals in each half from Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu.
First Half:
Toronto FC dominated the early proceedings after making a strong start in front of the BMO Field faithful. The hosts were drawn into an enforced substitution when Shane O’Neill was replaced by Aimé Mabika due to injury. Atlanta United held their defensive resolve until the Reds broke the deadlock in the 35th minute of play, courtesy of a neat, intricate sequence between Lorenzo Insigne, Deandre Kerr and Tyrese Spicer. Kerr received a short pass from Insigne before laying it into Spicer’s path, who made a clever run and fired home with a right-footed shot past Brad Guzan in Atlanta’s goal.
The combination between Kerr and Spicer, both making their first starts of the 2024 MLS campaign, marked the Canadian forward’s first assist of the season and the Trinidadian wing-back’s first goal for the Reds. The goal proved enough to give the Reds an one-goal lead heading into the interval.
Second Half:
A trio of substitutes entered the action for the hosts within 17 minutes of the second half. Kosi Thompson replaced Insigne to begin the second half before Deandre Kerr and Matty Longstaff made way for Prince Owusu and Jonathan Osorio. The Reds almost doubled their advantage when Osorio made a perfectly timed run onto a ball from Federico Bernardeschi, only for his shot to canon off the post in the 70th minute.
Just over a minute later, the Reds made their dominance count and doubled their advantage. Bernardeschi made a smart run into the box before laying it towards the onrushing Alonso Coello, whose first-time shot was saved by Brad Guzan, only for Prince Owusu to tap home the rebound into Atlanta’s net. The goal, Owusu’s first for Toronto FC, made it 2-0 and helped the Reds seal the three points on the chilly March night.
The Reds return to BMO Field next week to welcome Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 30, with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Shane O’Neill (Aimé Mabika 29’), Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted; Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Alonso Coello, Matty Longstaff (Jonathan Osorio 62’), Tyrese Spicer (Kobe Franklin 81’); Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne (C) (Kosi Thompson 46’), Deandre Kerr (Prince Owusu 55’)
Substitutes Not Used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Cassius Mailula, Ayo Akinola, Jordan Perruzza
ATLANTA UNITED – Brad Guzan (C), Noah Cobb, Derrick Williams, Ronald Hernandez; Brooks Lennon, Dax McCarty, Tristan Muyumba, Tyler Wolff (Xande Silva 58’); Saba Lobjanidze (Derrick Etienne Jr. 88’), Jamal Thiare (Daniel Ríos 75’), Nicolas Firmino (Edwin Mosquera 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: Josh Cohen, Aiden McFadden, Efrain Morales, Matthew Edwards, Luke Brennan
NOTABLES:
- Tyrese Spicer made his first start and scored his first goal for Toronto FC.
- Prince Owusu also scored his first goal for the Reds after entering the match in the 55th minute.
- Deandre Kerr made his first start and registered his first assist of the 2024 MLS campaign.
- Luka Gavran recorded his second clean sheet for Toronto FC.
- Toronto FC kept their fourth clean sheet of the 2024 MLS campaign and recorded back-to-back clean sheets at BMO Field for the first time since shutting out Vancouver Whitecaps on August 18 and 21, 2020.
- With tonight’s victory, the Reds have recorded a pair of wins in their opening two home matches of an MLS campaign for the fifth time in club history (2008, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2024).
- Toronto FC have now earned 10 points from their first five matches of an MLS season for the second time in club history (10 points in 2019).
POSTMATCH SOUND
- Link can be found **HERE**
