Nashville SC rallies to tie Toronto FC, extending unbeaten run to nine games
Toronto FC settled for one more draw Saturday, leaving extra factors on the desk in a season that’s proving exhausting to show round.
Still there have been positives within the 1-1 tie with Nashville SC, which got here into the sport as one of many hottest groups in Major League Soccer.
Toronto (3-5-10) went forward within the first half on a highlight-reel aim by Lorenzo Insigne. But Nashville (9-3-5) rallied within the second half, pulling even within the 69th minute on an error by usually dependable goalkeeper Sean Johnson to increase its unbeaten run in league play to 9 video games (6-0-3).
The aim got here seconds after Toronto centre again Aime Mabika cleared Hany Mukhtar’s header off the aim line. The ball got here out and Federico Bernardeschi couldn’t clear it, permitting substitute Randall Leal to launch a long-range shot that Johnson fumbled.
The Toronto ‘keeper’s seek for shutout No. 100 in league and playoff play continues.
The Nashville rally was triggered by substitutes Fafa Picault and Leal, who injected life into the guests’ offence. Teal Bunbury hit the Toronto woodwork twice earlier than Leal struck, quietening the introduced crowd of 27,228 on a heat night at BMO Field.
Toronto is unbeaten in 4 video games (1-0-3) and stays exhausting to beat at dwelling, the place it’s 3-1-6 in league play this season. But it has gained simply two of its final 15 outings (2-5-8) in all competitions.
“We’re in a rut,” Toronto coach Bob Bradley mentioned after his group’s third straight draw. “We’re in a rut where when you need a play, when you need maybe luck, something that helps a group feel three points (is there). I thought that (three points) was going to be the case tonight.”
Toronto received stronger as the primary half wore on, exhibiting indicators of the free-flowing offence supporters have hoped to see.
“All in all we take the positives from this,” mentioned midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who captained the group in his return from a nine-game absence as a result of a knee harm. “(Nashville) is the second-place team in the whole league and I thought for most of the game we were the better team.”
Nashville got here into the sport driving a four-game win streak — matching the franchise report set in August-September 2022. It has not misplaced in league play since April 15, when it was crushed 2-1 at New York City FC.
Toronto outshot Nashville 15-9 however managed to place solely two photographs on course, in comparison with three for the guests.
Insigne and Bernardeschi created probabilities however couldn’t discover a teammate to complete them. So Insigne took issues into his personal arms within the thirty eighth minute, drifting off the left wing and outpacing Shaq Moore to make room for a curling shot from simply exterior the penalty field {that a} diving Joe Willis received a hand on however couldn’t preserve out.
Insigne’s third aim of the season got here on the one shot on course for both group within the first half. It marked the fourth straight Toronto aim that Insigne had been concerned in, with two objectives and two assists.
Insigne celebrated the aim, pointing to the TFC badge on his jersey.
Toronto was with out injured defender Matt Hedges, midfielders Michael Bradley, Alonso Coello and Victor Vázquez and ahead Adama Diomande. With centre backs Sigurd Rosted and Shane O’Neill on the bench to start out, Bob Bradley had fullback Richie Laryea slot into centre again alongside Mabika.
Former Toronto gamers Daniel Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton and Jacob Shaffelburg all began for Nashville which was with out star defender Walker Zimmerman who’s in camp with the U.S.
MacNaughton’s night time ended early when he needed to depart within the twenty sixth minute as a result of an harm. Shaffelburg was substituted within the 58th minute.
Nashville arrived with the league’s prime defence having conceded simply 11 objectives in its first 16 matches. Willis had a league-best 0.69 goals-against common with six shutouts.
Nashville had outscored opponents 17-7 throughout its unbeaten run with Mukhtar, the league’s participant of the month for May, contributing eight objectives and 4 assists. It has not allowed greater than a aim per match within the streak.
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Toronto is off till June 21 when it visits league-leading FC Cincinnati after the worldwide break.
