TFC rolls over Philadelphia
Giovinco, Hasler, Altidore all find back of net in victory
Toronto FC’s quest for the best record in Major League Soccer history remains firmly intact after a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
Sebastian Giovinco, newcomer Nicolas Hasler and Jozy Altidore scored as league-leading Toronto stretched its unbeaten run to eight games and remained undefeated this season at BMO Field.
With eight games to go in the regular season, the Reds — who haven’t lost since a 3-1 setback in Dallas on July 1 — remain on pace for the best record in MLS history. The 1998 L.A. Galaxy boast the top record in history — 68 points; Toronto has 53 points.
Coming off a sizzling 3-1 road win over Eastern Conference rival Chicago last weekend, coach Greg Vanney’s message to his Reds was clear: Do not let a letdown against the struggling Union get in the way of their chase for the team’s first Supporters’ Shield, which is presented to the MLS team with the best regularseason record.
Vanney’s players heeded his message.
Giovinco recorded goal No.13 of the season on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box in the 10th minute, curling a beautiful ball over the defensive wall and into the top right corner that Union goalkeeper Andre Blake had almost no hope of stopping.
Hasler doubled Toronto’s lead in the 30th minute off a corner kick from Victor Vasquez. The 26-yearold from Liechtenstein, who now has two goals in four appearances since signing with TFC last month, sprinted into the box unchallenged, heading the ball past Blake.
Altidore, who’d had a goal waved off as offside earlier in the night, made good in the 57th minute. Fighting off a pair of Union defenders, Altidore passed to Vasquez, then scored on the give-and-go, chipping a left-footed shot past Blake from inside the six-yard box.
Toronto, which began the night four points ahead of New York City FC, improved to 15-3-8 and 10-0-3 at home.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd of 28,645 fans and set against a backdrop of neon lights from the surrounding annual CNE, Toronto FC had several other scoring chances. Giovinco missed an excellent chance for his second goal of the night when Marky Delgado sent a beautiful cross that breezed just by the Italian strik- er’s feet in the 51st minute.
In the 65th minute, Giovinco fired a hard shot that sailed just over the top of the Union’s net.
The Union’s best chance came in the 62nd minute, when Brazilian striker Ilsinho launched a long bomb that clanged off the post.
Philadelphia (8-12-6) arrived in Toronto six points behind sixth-place Montreal for the final playoff spot in the East with one more game played than the Impact.
Toronto plays Canadian rival Montreal Impact on Sunday at Saputo Stadium.