By Canadian Press

Nashville SC rallies to tie Toronto FC 1-1, extending unbeaten run to nine games

Jun 10, 2023 | 6:54 PM

TORONTO — A goalkeeping error by the normally reliable Sean Johnson allowed Nashville SC to extend its unbeaten streak to nine matches in MLS play with a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.

The 69th-minute goal came seconds after Toronto centre back Aime Mabika cleared Hany Mukhtar’s header off the goal-line. The ball came out and Federico Bernardeschi could not clear it, allowing substitute Randall Leal to launch a long-range shot that Johnson fumbled.

Trailing 1-0 after a stylish Lorenzo Insigne goal in the 38th minute, Nashville rallied in the second half with substitutes Fafa Picault and Leal injecting life into the visitors’ offence. Teal Bunbury hit the Toronto woodwork twice before Leal struck.

Nashville (9-3-5) is unbeaten in nine league outings (7-0-2). It had won four straight — matching the franchise record set in August-September 2022. Nashville had not lost in league play since April 15, when it was beaten 2-1 at New York City FC.

Toronto (3-5-10) is unbeaten in three games (1-0-3). But it has won just two of its last 15 outings (2-5-8) in all competitions.

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TFC remains hard to beat at home (3-1-6) in league play, however.

Toronto got stronger as the first half wore on, showing signs of the free-flowing offence supporters have hoped to see.

Insigne and Bernardeschi created chances but could not find a teammate to finish them. So Insigne took matters into his own hands in the 38th minute, drifting off the left wing and outpacing Shaq Moore to make room for a curling shot from just outside the penalty box that a diving Joe Willis got a hand on but could not keep out.

Insigne’s third goal of the season came on the only shot on target for either team in the first half. It marked the fourth straight Toronto goal that Insigne had been involved in, with two goals and two assists.

Insigne celebrated the goal, pointing to the TFC badge on his jersey.

Midfielder Jonathan Osorio captained Toronto, returning from a nine-game absence due to a strained knee ligament.

Toronto was without injured defender Matt Hedges, midfielders Michael Bradley, Alonso Coello and Victor Vázquez and forward Adama Diomande. With centre backs Sigurd Rosted and Shane O’Neill on the bench to start, coach Bob Bradley had fullback Richie Laryea slot into centre back alongside Mabika.

Former Toronto players Daniel Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton and Jacob Shaffelburg all started for Nashville which was without star defender Walker Zimmerman who is in camp with the U.S.

MacNaughton’s night ended early when he had to leave in the 26th minute due to an injury. Shaffelburg was substituted in the 58th minute.

Shaffelburg hit a shot into the side netting in the sixth minute on a Nashville counterattack. Four minutes later, Insigne hammered a shot just wide off a Toronto corner.

Toronto appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty in the 13th minute after Raoul Petretta’s shot, off a Bernardeschi feed, hit MacNaughton. Replays showed the ball come off the defender’s chest rather than his arm.

Bernardeschi’s free kick went wide in the 50th minute. 

Nashville arrived with the league’s top defence having conceded just 11 goals in its first 16 matches. Willis had a league-best 0.69 goals-against average with six shutouts.

Nashville had outscored opponents 17-7 during its unbeaten run with Mukhtar, the league’s player of the month for May, contributing eight goals and four assists. It has not allowed more than a goal per match in the streak.

UP NEXT

Toronto is off until June 21 when it visits league-leading FC Cincinnati after the international break.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2023.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press