Toronto FC regains swagger in 3-0 win over Fire

TORONTO — The real Toronto FC stood up Saturday, blanking the Chicago Fire, 3-0, in a game that brought back memories of its

2017 Major League Soccer championship season.

After a poor first half, Toronto hit high gear and began to play with some of the trademark swagger that has gone missing in an injury-ravaged stretch since the CONCACAF Champions League run early in the season.

“It was a joy for me to watch,” said Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono. “I definitely enjoyed being on the field today. That’s not something a lot of us can say for most of the year thus far.”

Second-half goals by Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Osorio and Sebastian Giovinco gave Toronto (6-11-4) the much-needed win to the delight of the sellout crowd of 29,190 at BMO Field.

“I thought how we performed today was good. Still a bit rusty, but I think the chemistry’s there,” said Altidore. “You saw some beautiful soccer, which is what we’ve become known for.”

Back-to-back league victories over slumping Chicago and a pair of wins over second-tier Ottawa in the Canadian Championship are hardly conquering Everest. But it’s something to build on.

It’s a measure of Toronto’s bumpy league road that it had to wait 21 games to register back-toback wins — and post its first home win in league play since May 18. TFC remains in 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, but it is now just six points back of sixth-place New England and the last playoff berth.