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For Fan Appreciation Night, Toronto FC served up donuts.
Donuts as is zero goals.
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Worse than that, the Reds gave up a goal by Inter Miami star forward Gonzalo Higuain with only four minutes to go to lose their final home game of the season 1-0. TFC closes the MLS regular season on Oct. 9 at the Philadelphia Union. Toronto’s record is 9W 17L 7D and the club has missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
Friday’s match marked the return of former TFC great Alejandro Pozuelo, who played at BMO Field for the first time since being traded to Miami in July. Pozuelo, 31, wasn’t a major factor in the match and received a lukewarm reception when he was substituted out late in the game. Of course, with TFC trailing 1-0 after playing a pretty even game against Miami, the BMO Field faithful weren’t in the mood to be too magnanimous.
After the match ended, the Toronto players lingered on the field for a few minutes and tossed miniature balls into the stands. But all in all, it was pretty uneventful end of the home season for TFC.
TFC coach Bob Bradley substituted attackers Lorenzo Insigne and Jesus Jimenez out of the game with 18 minutes left to go. Insigne walked straight from the field into the locker room, though he didn’t seem to be injured. The other big-money Italian playing for TFC, Federico Bernardeschi, created some good chances in the first half but didn’t do a lot in the second. The former Juventus man had scored in each of his first five home games with TFC, but that streak ended on Friday.
Midfielder Jonathan Osorio (neurological dysfunction) and centre back Doneil Henry (lower body) did not dress for TFC.
The Herons held an edge in possession (59%-41%) and fired five shots on goal to three by TFC.
The two sides battled to a 0-0 draw in the first half. TFC’s best chance early came in the 11th minute when Richie Laryea picked up a pass on the wing and right-footed just wide.
Beranardeschi set up Insigne with a great pass across the front of the goal for a good chance that was saved by Miami keeper Drake Callender in the 19th minute. Insigne reciprocated a few minutes later when he found Bernardeschi with a cross to the right side of the field and Bernardeschi dribbled into the centre and forced Callender to make a decent save. Shortly after, TFC keeper Quentin Westberg made a good save on Gregore Silva.
TFC centre back Chris Mavinga made a great defensive move to prevent star Miami striker Higuain from breaking in alone for a shot. With about 12 minutes left in the half, Callender dove to his left to save another left-footed attempt Bernardeschi. And then it was Westberg’s turn to make a big stop, this time on Pozuelo.
By far the best chance of the half came with two minutes left when TFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye fed Insigne a wonderful pass into the box and the Italian winger right-footed it just above the goal from close in. Insigne, obviously incensed about something, went after Silva after the half-time whistle went and was issued a needless yellow card.
The second half opened with Michael Bradley, who was having a solid game at midfielder, bringing down Pozuelo just outside the box, giving Miami a free kick. Jean Mota left-footed the free kick just wide.
Laryea picked up a yellow card in the second half (for an elbow) and will be suspended for Toronto’s final game of the year, in Philadelphia. That’s bad news on two fronts. With the World Cup coming up in November, Laryea needs all the game action he could get and now that’s been cut by one. His next match will now not be until Nov.17 when Canada plays a friendly against Japan.
TFC had a good chance to jump ahead in the Laryea set up forward Jesus Jimenez in front of the goal and the Spaniard right-footed it over the goal.
Shortly after Insigne and Jimenez were substituted out of the game in the 72nd minute, Westberg had to make a huge save on Ariel Lassiter from inside the box, keeping the score 0-0.
With eight minutes left, Toronto centre back Shane O’Neill made a timely block in the box on Higuain.
Higuain’s goal came in the 86th minute when he picked up a pass just inside the box and stepped around O’Neill and easily left-footed a shot past Westberg. He has scored in each of The Herons’ last four games (five goals overall), a club record.
MOOR ON WAY OUT
Colorado Rapids centre back Drew Moor, who played for TFC between 2016-2019, and was a fan favourite, announced via Twitter on Friday that he is retiring after the current season after 18 years in MLS.
SBuffery@postmedia.com
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