By Canadian Press

New York City FC’s difficult start to the MLS season continues in 2-1 loss at Toronto

Apr 2, 2022 | 3:19 PM

TORONTO — Jesus Jimenez scored and New York City FC conceded an own goal as Toronto FC downed the defending MLS champions 2-1 on Saturday.

New York (1-3-1) had more of the ball but failed to take advantage until Brazilian substitute Heber scored on a stylish header in the 92nd minute. For Toronto (2-2-1), it was its second win in a row.

It was the first game at BMO Field since Canada clinched World Cup qualification a week earlier in a 4-0 win over Jamaica. It was warmer — five degrees Celsius — at kickoff and quieter than the sellout crowd of 29,122 for the Canada contest.

“Let them hear you in Qatar,” the PA announcer said in urging the announced crowd of 21,802 to sing “O Canada” prior to kickoff.

Toronto grew into the game and went ahead in the 31st minute when Jonathan Osorio’s through ball split the visitors’ defence en route to an unmarked Jimenez, who beat Sean Johnson to the corner for his third goal of the season.

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Osorio, making his 297th appearance in all competitions in Toronto colours, was flying in the first half. And he was rewarded with an ovation when he exited in the 60th minute.

Toronto doubled its lead in the 43rd when Thiago Martins headed the ball into his own goal off a dangerous Alejandro Pozuelo free kick. The Brazilian designated player was under pressure from Toronto’s Lukas MacNaughton who had risen high to meet the ball.

TFC bent but didn’t break in the second half as the visitors pressed. Alex Bono made an acrobatic save off Keaton Parks in the 68th minute to maintain the Toronto advantage. 

NYCFC’s checkered league start has been, in part, due to a hectic early-season schedule because of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. After Toronto, the New Yorkers head to Seattle for Wednesday’s first leg of their Champions League semifinal with the Sounders.

NYCFC started brightly but it was Toronto that had the first good scoring chance when Jimenez shot high in the seventh minute after a free kick.

Toronto dodged a bullet when referee Drew Fischer reversed his eighth-minute penalty decision after Talles Magno went down in the penalty box. Fischer initially thought wingback Kosi Thompson, making his first TFC start, had clipped the Brazilian’s leg but video review showed Magno had got his own feet tangled.

Thompson’s yellow card was also withdrawn. Opinions were split on whether the chasing Thompson had accidentally clipped the NYCFC player with his knee, causing him to lose balance.

The 19-year-old from Toronto, who had previously made two brief substitute appearances this season, was replacing Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, who underwent a procedure on his knee Friday. Coach Bob Bradley said nothing serious was found and he did not expect the teenage wingback to be out a long time.

NYCFC striker Valentin Castellanos shot just wide in the 18th minute after a rush that TFC thought should have been flagged offside.

Bono spilled Parks’ long-distance shot in the 58th minute but managed to corral the rebound. At the other end, substitute Jordan Perruzza came close with a shot in stoppage time.

NYCFC has likely deserved better in league play.

New York lost its season opener 1-0 at the Los Angeles Galaxy, beaten by a 90th-minute goal. It then drew 0-0 at Vancouver in a game in which it had 70 per cent possession and outshot the Whitecaps 19-10 (4-1 in shots on target). It split its first two home games, beating CF Montreal 4-1 before falling 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union despite having 73.2 per cent possession — the highest by any team this season going into weekend play.

The New Yorkers have fared better in CONCACAF’s elite club competition, dispatching Costa Rica’s Santos de Guapiles and Guatemala’s Comunicaciones FC.

While NYCFC has outscored its opposition 11-5 in four Champions League games, goals have been hard to come by in league play. Compare that to 2021 when New York failed to score in just two of its first 25 matches.

Wingback Jacob Shaffelburg returned to the Toronto starting 11 after missing the last two games with a hamstring problem.

Toronto was without striker Ayo Akinola, who is close to returning from reconstructive knee surgery. Kadin Chung, who started in place of Marshall-Rutty last time out, did not dress due to a hamstring problem.

Kobe Franklin, who signed a short-term loan agreement from TFC II on Friday, started on the bench.

NYCFC was missing defenders Anton Tinnerholm (Achilles tendon) and Maxime Chanot (upper body).

Former Brazilian star Ronaldinho was in attendance at the game.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2022

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press