Orlando, Florida –
Late goals from Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu lifted toronto FC to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Orlando City SC in a Major League Soccer match on Saturday night.
Orlando seemed headed for victory thanks to Duncan McGuire’s goal in the 37th minute. But a long ball from Federico Bernardeschi found Kobe Franklin on the right side of the box and his cross was headed in by Spicer in the 87th minute.
Three minutes later, Owusu headed in a Bernardeschi cross for his fifth goal in his last four games in all competitions.
The late toronto The goals were a taste of Orlando’s own medicine.
Orlando had shown a never-say-die attitude in its previous three games, scoring in the 92nd minute to tie CF Montreal 2-2 last time out, in the 91st minute of a 3-2 win at DC United, and ensuring a 1-1 draw with the visiting New York Red Bulls thanks to an own goal in the 89th minute.
This time, the last heroic acts were in the opposite direction.
toronto (5-4-1) had a lot of ball control early, with Orlando (2-4-3) looking to threaten on the counterattack. And although both teams only managed one shot on goal in the first half, Orlando scored on their shot.
McGuire put the home team ahead in the 37th minute, finishing off a cross from Facundo Torres after a long pass from centre-back Robin Jansson found the Uruguayan designated player on the left flank.
It was the second-year striker’s fourth goal of the season and 20th of his career in all competitions.
McGuire has had success against toronto, with four goals in three games. Two of them came in Orlando’s 2-0 win in the 2023 regular season finale in toronto in John Herdman’s first game on the sidelines for TFC.
McGuire scored again, with a howitzer-like shot from inside the penalty area, in first-half stoppage time, only to see the offside flag raised.
While there were plenty of attacks that night at the Inter & Co Stadium, the lack of clinical finishing meant opportunities were few and far between.
toronto pressed in the final 20 minutes with Orlando’s defense bending but not breaking until the final minutes.
TFC snapped an eight-game winless streak against Orlando (0-6-2) dating back to 2019. Orlando had won the previous four games by an aggregate score of 11-0.
The Florida team, which had to split its time between the league and the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier to open the campaign, had a rocky 0-3-1 start to the MLS season before steadying the ship with a 2-2-0 run going into Saturday’s game.
toronto They are unbeaten in three games (2-0-1) in all competitions after a three-game league drop.
Herdman made three changes to his starting lineup since last weekend’s 1-0 win over visiting New England. Kevin Long, Alonso Coello and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty replaced Franklin, Matty Longstaff and Spicer.
toronto They were without the injured Lorenzo Insigne, Richie Laryea, Brandon Servania and Shane O’Neill.
Owusu shot high for toronto in the ninth minute. Four minutes later, Martín Ojeda missed wide with a free kick just outside the area. toronto penalty area.
Orlando had to substitute David Brekalo in the 16th minute after the Slovenian defender suffered a knock.
Owusu fell behind in the 28th minute, but his first touch missed. torontoFederico Bernardeschi’s shot went wide from distance in the 42nd minute.
Newly acquired winger Derrick Etienne Jr. replaced toronto in the 58th minute.
Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese stopped Coello after a clever pass from Bernardeschi from a tight angle in the 68th minute. At the other end, a diving Sean Johnson got a hand on Torres’ shot. minutes later.
Etienne’s header went wide in the 80th minute.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
TFC hosts FC Dallas next Saturday while Orlando hosts FC Cincinnati.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2024.