Giovinco gives TFC 2-1 Leg 1 win over Red Bulls
Sebastian Giovinco worked his free kick magic again Monday night, giving Toronto FC a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference semifinal.
League-leading Toronto defended well and asked questions on the counterattack in a first half that finished 1-1. But it needed its ace to steady the ship midway through a rocky second half, as sixth-seeded New York came out with far more purpose.
Toronto, surviving a close call from Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 62nd minute and a Gonzalo Veron blast minutes later, weathered the storm.
And the game turned in the 72nd minute when Brazilian midfielder Felipe took Giovinco down outside the box. The Italian made the Red Bulls pay, curling the ball over the wall and out of the reach of goalkeeper Luis Robles. TFC had been on its heels in the half until Giovinco restored its lead.
It was Giovinco’s seventh goal from a direct free kick this season. His six during the regular-season are a league record, as are his 13 over his three MLS seasons (the most of any player in the league’s history since 2003 when the stat was first kept).
Victor Vazquez scored in the eighth minute for Toronto, piling the pressure on the home team.
Daniel Royer scored from the penalty spot for the Red Bulls in first-half stoppage time.
The two teams meet again Sunday in the return leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal at BMO Field, where Toronto led the league with an .853 home winning percentage (13-1-3) this season. The Red Bulls tied for sixth in road success (. 353, 5-10-2).
It could be a chippy affair given the bad blood that was bubbling Monday night. It should also be entertaining with the Red Bulls needing to answer Toronto’s two away goals.
The winner will face either second-seeded New York City FC or fifth-seeded Columbus Crew SC in the conference final.
There were danger signs early Monday for Toronto as the Red Bulls pressed on a cool New Jersey evening at Red Bull Arena. But it was Toronto that went ahead in the eighth minute.
And despite all the talk about New York’s high press, it was the visitors who forced a turnover, winning the ball back from a New York throw-in to set up the goal. After taking a pass from Vazquez and leaving Damien Perrinelle in his wake with a nifty move, Jozy Altidore raked in a cross from the right that a diving Robles pushed away — but only as far as Vazquez who controlled the ball and then hammered it home.
While the hardcore home supporters behind Robles’ goal in the so-called South Ward made their presence felt from the get-go with a constant din, there were plenty of empty seats in the stadium’s upper tier.
A phalanx of Toronto fans was squeezed high up at the other end, doing their best to serenade the visitors.
Red Bull had had little to cheer about. Especially with Bradley breaking up attacks and a dancing Altidore tormenting defenders.
But that changed in first-half stoppage time when referee Drew Fischer pointed to the penalty spot after Drew Moor knocked down Wright-Phillips from behind after the English striker pickpocketed Delgado. There was little contact, but it was a clumsy challenge.
Royer made no mistake with the spot kick, chipping the ball down the middle as Alex Bono dove to one side.
Moor, who rolled his right ankle on the penalty play, was replaced by Nick Hagglund to start the second half.