Altidore goal gives TFC a 2-1 win over expansion FC Cincinnati

TORONTO — After shuffling his roster, and seeing it stumble to a 3-1 loss to visiting Houston last time out, Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney went back to his regulars and collected three points with a 2-1 win over slumping FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Toronto dominated the first half and saw the expansion visitors try just one shot on goal — and that 37th-minute attempt was off-target. But 60 per cent possession and an 8-1 edge in shots (2-0 in shots on target) only translated into a 1-0 lead at the half before an announced crowd of 25,765 at BMO Field.

A terrific strike by Jozy Altidore — his fourth goal in four games — in the 50th minute made it 2-0. The U.S. international capped off a counterattack, taking a pass from Nick DeLeon and curling a terrific right-footed shot from outside the penalty box past a diving Przemyslaw Tyton.

It was Altidore’s ninth goal in 13 games this season. And it seemed to spark Cincinnati, which quickly answered the bell before an announced crowd of 25,765 at BMO Field.

Emmanuel Ledesma cut the lead to 2-1 in the 58th minute with a low, hard shot that beat Quentin Westberg. But Toronto held out for the victory. With Eastern conference rivals New England and Montreal both winning, the three points were needed — even if Toronto remains one point out of the final playoff spot in the East.

“Things are getting real tight and every point is vital,” said captain Michael Bradley.

Vanney was happy with the result, but thought his team, which finished with just three shots on target in total, could have made it easier on itself.

“We should have taken more out of the first half,” he said.

Cincinnati made changes in the second half, man-marking holding Bradley and pushing players high. It worked, with the visitors outshooting Toronto 10-2 in the second half (4-1 in shots on target).

Toronto eventually switched to a back three, with Chris Mavinga joining Omar Gonzalez and Drew Moor in the backline. Gonzalez continues to be force at centre back.

DeLeon opened the scoring for Toronto in the 16th minute, using his head to flick home Gonzelez’s header off an Alejandro Pozuelo corner past the six-foot-five Tyton. It was the fifth of the season for DeLeon.

Toronto (9-9-5) has now won three of its last four after picking up just seven of a possible 33 points in its previous 11 outings (1-6-4).

Saturday’s game was the first of eight straight against Eastern opposition for Toronto.