TORONTO – With Sebastian Giovinco scoring screamers, hitting milestones, setting records, and passing up the chance for a hat-trick by handing off the penalty kick to Jozy Altidore, it would be easy to overlook the importance of the fourth goal on Sunday against NYCFC. 

Not only did it cap off the match, send the fans home elated, and firmly put any dreams of a New York comeback to bed, but it was Raheem Edwards’ first. In doing so, he became the 14th Toronto FC player to find the back of the net this season: the most in MLS.

“I played the ball to Seba, [he] ran into three guys, did a good job of turning out. I recognized that he didn't have anything on and my guy was ball watching, so I dipped my shoulder and went at the back-post,” recounted Edwards on Wednesday. “Seba slipped me an unreal ball with his left foot. I knew I had all the time in the world, took a touch, and made the decision to put it back-post.”

Edwards has burst onto the scene this season with his energetic play, earning a first-team contract after two years with TFC II in USL, bringing more than a few smiles to BMO Field. 

Bagging his first in MLS was just reward for his contributions to the side.

“Raheem has gotten himself into a lot of good positions over the course of the year; created a lot of goals and opportunities,” said Greg Vanney post-match. “I'm really happy for him that he was able to put one away himself.” 

“He's been in that situation a couple of times throughout the course of the season and hasn't been able to,” continued Vanney. “I hope he builds off of it, in terms of confidence and seeing the right moments to attack the back space and be dangerous.”

Sunday's performance marked the second time in recent weeks that Edwards had come on as a substitute against NYCFC to great effect, doing the same on July 19 in New York City, where he helped spark the comeback.

The impetus?

“The first game I was coming back from the Gold Cup, not playing a minute... I had something to prove; I wanted to show people that I could come in and make an impact,” explained Edwards. “The second game was getting back from a rough game versus Colorado, where I believe I didn't play well. I wanted to make sure I was firing on all cylinders.”

As Vanney mentioned, previously Edwards had demurred from taking such chances, looking to play the extra pass rather than shoot himself. 

Some advice helped him clinch his first goal in style.

“Being aggressive. Knowing what you want to do before you get the ball,” detailed Edwards. “Wanting to make plays.”

Fresh off the training pitch, where he could be seen rattling the crossbar with an audacious bicycle-kick attempt, Edwards is looking forward to the next one, but is focused more on what he calls 'the most important thing': “I want to be more consistent, stay on top of my form.”

Those two years with TFC II have helped make his transition to MLS seamless.

“USL prepares you perfectly for what you face coming to MLS,” said Edwards. “The speed of play is a little different, but the tactical stuff is similar. Not playing in USL would have been a lot of trouble.”

Travel, the daily grind of a professional atmosphere, the confidence to take the field with grizzled veterans: all lessons he learned with TFC II.

Having been one of the joint top-scorers for the club in USL last season – alongside Shaan Hundal, Edwards is no stranger to celebrating goals and enjoys them all the same: “I cherish the goal, my first; very happy for that, but the feeling doesn't change.”

Though he will have a memento of this one. 

“All the guys are signing [a game ball] right now,” chuckled Edwards.

The goal, however, does fit nicely into an evolving pattern.

“Contagious after Ash,” smiled Edwards. “[Morgan] started the little Canadian wave: Jay [Chapman] scored his first, now I did.” 

Spreading the wealth as it were, can be a valuable asset come playoff time when the margins become that much slimmer, the marking a little bit tighter.

“We're not a selfish team,” said Edwards. “If guys get the opportunity to play a ball to someone that has a better [look] they will do so. This team knows how to move the ball well, everyone gets their share of opportunities.”