Toronto FC earns well-played draw against visiting Nashville but clock is ticking on playoff push
Author of the article:
Steve Buffery
Toronto FC's Omar Gonzalez (centre left) celebrates with Yeferson Soteldo after scoring the game's opening goal during first half MLS action against Nashville SC, in Toronto on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Photo by Chris Young /The Canadian Press Article content It was Home ‘Bittersweet’ Home for Toronto FC on Sunday night.
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Article contentThe Reds played a solid all-around match against visiting Nashville SC and came away with a point in a 1-1 draw at BMO Field.
However, TFC still sits eight points out of a playoff spot (tied with Cincinnati and Atlanta United with 14 points) and would have to leap-frog three teams to make it into the post-season as it stands now.
Though Sunday night’s match was a good effort, the Reds need to gather as many wins as possible at this point of the season, particularly now that they’re back playing home games in Toronto.
On the upside, TFC is now unbeaten in five straight matches (W2 D3) since Javier Perez replaced Chris Armas as head coach.
Nashville, playing for the first time in Canada, came into the match as one of the better club’s in the MLS East, having lost only once this season in 16 matches.
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Article contentSunday’s game was tied 1-1 after the first half, though TFC was slightly the better side.
The Reds jumped on the board in the 20th minute when Yeferson Soteldo made a quick free kick straight into the centre of the box and Omar Gonzalez tucked it into the right corner via a header. It was the big centre-back’s second career goal for Toronto, his first coming in September of 2019. For Soteldo, it was his fourth assist on the season. With Gonzalez’s strike, 15 different TFC players have now scored a goal this MLS season â€" by far the most of any team in the league.
Nashville leveled in the 41st minute when Robert Castellanos â€" in his first MLS appearance â€" headed a ball into the short side after a long throw-in by Dave Romney, a goal that no doubt had Perez furious, a highly preventable goal reminiscent of the bad old days earlier this season.
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Article contentTFC goalkeeper Alex Bono prevented the visitors from going ahead 2-1 in the 45th minute when he made a sprawling leg save on a header by Canadian international Alistair Johnston.
The Music City side should have gone ahead in the 58th minute when Hany Mukhtar was given a perfect cross into the box from Johnston, who played a very good two-way game for Nashville. But Mukhtar’s header from close range was off.
Soteldo, who joined TFC in May, continued his brilliant play for his new club. One of his best plays of the game ccame in the 67th minute when he stole the ball at midfield and drew a free kick just a few feet outside of the box, though he launched his kick meekly over the goal.
Bono had to make a leaping save in the 75th minute on a dangerous Nashville header by forward C.J. Sapong from close range. Shortly after, Bono made another good play on Mukhtar when he slid to knock the ball away from the German forward in the box.
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Article contentThe BMO Field crowd directed a chorus of boos towards referee Fotis Bazakos after he did not give Nashville a penalty when Toronto’s Richie Laryea was brought down in the box in the dying seconds of the match.
Perez said star attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo was kept out of the lineup for precautionary reasons after feeling some discomfort in his leg, adding that it’s nothing serious. He did have midfielder Jonathan Osorio, fullback Laryea and Eriq Zavaleta back from the Concacaf Gold Cup. Perez started three centre-backs against Nashville in Zavaleta, Chris Mavinga and Gonzalez. Veteran forward Jozy Altidore also started after coming off the bench in the previous three games. All three played well.
The Reds have entered a busy part of the MLS schedule with seven matches in August, the next being on Wednesday night at Subaru Park in Philadelphia.
SBuffery@postmedia.com
Twitter @Beezersun
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