Toronto FC defeats Atlanta but lose Lorenzo Insigne to injury
Another win for Toronto FC, with a feel-good subplot of debut Major League Soccer objectives for rookie wingback Tyrese Spicer and German ahead Prince Owusu.
But Toronto’s 2-0 victory over Atlanta on Saturday in a cold matchup of depleted groups — with Toronto lacking gamers by damage and Atlanta by worldwide responsibility — got here at a value as TFC ahead Lorenzo Insigne and defender Shane O’Neill failed to complete the primary half.
A groggy-looking O’Neill, who had concussion points final season, needed to be helped off within the twenty seventh minute after taking a knock to the pinnacle. And a distraught Insigne hobbled off in first-half stoppage time, attempting to not put weight on his proper leg, after pulling up within the Atlanta penalty field on what appeared an innocuous play.
Insigne seems to be the newest Toronto participant to injure a hamstring, becoming a member of goalkeeper Sean Johnson and defender Richie Laryea.
“He’ll be MRI’d (Sunday),” Toronto coach John Herdman stated of Insigne.
O’Neill is a “potential concussion.”
At US$15.4 million, Insigne’s wage was second solely to Lionel Messi’s US$20.4 million in MLS final season. And after an injury-interrupted 2023 marketing campaign, the Italian star was off to a high-quality begin this season with each of his objectives game-winners that received MLS purpose of the week honours.
Toronto, with Luka Gavran persevering with to deputize for Johnson, collected its fourth shutout in 5 begins this season. The membership recorded six clear sheets in 34 video games final season.
Toronto (3-1-1) now has 10 factors, having collected simply 22 final yr when it completed final within the league at 4-20-10.
“A collective performance tonight,” stated Herdman, reeling off an inventory of gamers who stepped up on the evening.
It was -1C at kickoff at BMO Field, feeling like -8C with a biting wind. On the plus facet, the snow that fell Friday had largely disappeared.
Attendance was introduced at 25,768.
The two groups fairly effectively cancelled one another out till the thirty fifth minute when Spicer, a 23-year-old wingback from Trinidad who was the primary total choose within the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, opened his account in his first MLS begin.
After a great buildup, Insigne fed Deandre Kerr who teed the ball up for Spicer on the fringe of the penalty field. Spicer accelerated and located an area between defenders earlier than firing a low shot that beat a diving Brad Guzan.
Spicer raced towards the Toronto bench, sliding on his knees a part of the best way earlier than celebrating with Herdman and the TFC substitutes.
“Honestly it feels surreal,” stated the soft-spoken Spicer. “I’ve been working my whole life for this.”
Spicer thanked God and Herdman “for trusting me because I’m a rookie.”
Spicer made his debut final week, enjoying quarter-hour off the bench in a 2-1 loss at New York City FC. And whereas his time on the sphere has been quick — not helped by a toe damage — he has proven indicators of fine issues to return along with his tempo and guile.
In pink boots, he’s troublesome to overlook.
He turns into the sixth high choose within the MLS draft to attain in his first profession begin. Canadian Cyle Larin additionally did it in 2015 with Orlando.
Owusu, a 27-year-old German ahead making his fifth MLS look, knocked in a rebound within the 71st minute after Guzan couldn’t maintain on to an Alonso Coello shot. The purpose got here minutes after substitute Jonathon Osorio hammered a shot off the goalpost.
Guzan made a number of high-quality saves late within the sport to maintain the rating down. Toronto outshot Atlanta 20-8 (9-3 in photographs on course).
Toronto’s damage record additionally contains defenders Nickseon Gomis (wrist) and Raoul Petretta (thigh), and midfielder Brandon Servania (knee).
Deybi Flores was away with Honduras whereas Osorio, compelled to overlook Canada’s Copa America qualifier Saturday towards Trinidad and Tobago, got here on within the 61st minute — proving Herdman proper that his damage had responded effectively to remedy.
Insigne captained Toronto with Osorio beginning on the bench. Matty Longstaff, previously of Newcastle, crammed in for Flores within the holding midfield function.
Atlanta (2-2-0) was lacking six gamers away on worldwide responsibility together with Thiago Almada (Argentina under-23) and Giorgos Giakoumakis (Greece), each designated gamers. The others with their nationwide groups have been Luis Abram (Peru), Ajani Fortune (Trinidad and Tobago), Bartosz Slisz (Poland) and Caleb Wiley (U.S.). Stian Gregersen was injured.
Veteran midfielder Dax McCarty began for Atlanta, making his 498th look in MLS counting the common season and the playoffs. Guzan, in the meantime, made his 250th MLS regular-season look.
Herdman made two adjustments with Spicer and Kerr coming in for Flores and Owusu. It was a primary begin this season for Kerr, who had seen only one minute of motion attributable to a calf damage.
Toronto hosts Sporting Kansas City subsequent Saturday.
