sea
7:30 p.m.
AND
/
4:30 p.m.
PT
sure
TSN1, TSN3 and TSN4
sea
7:30 p.m.
AND
/
4:30 p.m.
PT
sure
TSN5
sea
9:30 p.m.
AND
/
6:30 p.m.
PT
sure
TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5
sat
7 p.m.
AND
/
4 p.m.
PT
sure
TSN1 and TSN4
Sun
7 p.m.
AND
/
4 p.m.
PT
sure
TSN1 and TSN4
Canada’s path to the 2022 World Cup is shaping up
Piatti ready for TFC debut in Orlando
1h ago
CINCINNATI – A 90-minute lack of drama came to life in Sunday’s stoppage with league-leading Toronto FC clinching a playoff berth after hanging on to a 1-0 win against FC Cincinnati
By recording their fifth consecutive victory, Toronto (11-2-4) had to survive a 94th-minute penalty kick by referee Robert Sibiga who judged that Omar Gonzalez had pushed substitute Allan Cruz to the ground while ‘a center fell in the Toronto penalty Sibiga pointed out the penalty spot but changed the appeal in the 96th minute after the video criticism
Toronto coach Greg Vanney believed justice was done, claiming Gonzalez had a position and Cruz supported him
« It shouldn’t be a fault for us, » he said, « But it was a bit of a blur there for a few minutes, that’s for sure »
Cincinnati coach Jaap Stam was unhappy with the penalty reversal, noting that Sibiga was 10 yards from the game and had good eyesight
« If it was like one of the big teams in the league, they would have had a penalty, » he said « But for some reason we don’t understand And I think it was (a penalty) So it’s a weird decision »
Seconds after the penalty was reversed, Toronto substitute Laurent Ciman almost sent a long pass back into his own goal, a play Vanney dismissed as « absurd »
Ciman’s errant pass triggered a corner kick in the 98th minute that saw ex-Toronto FC defender Nick Hagglund, still good in the air, get up to send his header out of the frame
« We should have had more of this game unfortunately » said Stam « But that’s where we are now We have to make our own luck We have to work hard for this Nobody is going to give it to us »
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Those were rare moments of excitement in a game that lacked scoring chances but still produced three more points for TFC Toronto only managed two shots on target for Cincinnati
Patrick Mullins broke the deadlock in the 29th minute after Richie Laryea squared the ball from the line through a Mullins body mace, with the game’s first shot on target, defeated goalkeeper Przemysław Tyton of ‘a right-footed shot for his first league goal since a 5-1 win at Cincinnati on September 7, 2019
At only his second start to the season, Mullins showed his predatory skills to find the space in the crowded box needed to get the shot
Toronto is unbeaten in seven games (6-0-1), a race that also includes victories against Montreal, New York City FC, Columbus Crew SC, Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution
TFC have lost just two of 27 regular season games (15-2-10) since losing 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls on August 3, 2019
« The guys are proud of it, but their eyes are on something a little bigger during this time, » he said referring to the fan shield that goes to the finishing team at the top of the regular season standings
Cincinnati (3-10-4) is at the other end of the table He has lost four consecutive goals while being edged 10-0 and has won only one win in his last 11 outings (1 -7-4) Orange and Blue failed to score in 455 minutes
Toronto forward Ayo Akinola, who was featured in the second half on Sunday, scored eight goals, which is Cincinnati’s entire production this season
Neither team generated much attacking in the first half, although Toronto dominated with around 60% possession Cincinnati’s best chance in the first half came from a corner in the downtime when Maikel van der Werff’s head flashed right next to it
Cincinnati enjoyed a much stronger second half after Stam brought Kamohelo Mokotjo and Siem de Jong to the gap Possession was practically equal at the final whistle
Ciman’s strange night included a yellow card for dissent while on the bench Cincinnati lost defender Mathieu Deplagne in the 41st minute and Tyton in the 81st due to injury
As his club played the third of five games in 16 days, Vanney made seven changes to his starting XI Quentin Westberg, Eriq Zavaleta, Brazilian Auro, Liam Fraser, Jayden Nelson, Gonzalez and Mullins were among the training
It was the first official league start for Nelson The 18-year-old midfielder started in Toronto’s round of 16 loss to New York City FC at the MLS is Back tournament on July 26, but this game did not count towards the regular season standings
The contest at an empty Nippert stadium was Toronto’s second in a row on artificial turf, following a 1-0 midweek victory at Gillette Stadium in New England
Ahead of the game, Toronto announced that substitute goalie Alex Bono will be sidelined two to three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated finger suffered in training on Saturday Kevin Silva dressed as Westberg’s replacement
Toronto will face the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday and Atlanta United on Sunday with both games at its pandemic home-away-from-home in East Hartford
Toronto FC, FC Cincinnati, MLS, Playoffs
World News – CA – TFC clinches playoff berth with win over FC Cincinnati – TSNCalifornia
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
