The News-Times (Sunday)

Pozuelo’s late goal lifts Toronto FC

- By Jim Fuller james.fuller @hearstmedi­act.com; @NHRJimFull­er

EAST HARTFORD — Toronto FC’s brightest stars rose to the occasion with some more second-half magic at Rentschler Field on Saturday night.

The 2017 Major League Soccer champions continued to soar up the standings with more offensive fireworks after halftime to register a 2-1 victory over the Philadelph­ia Union. Alejandro Pozuelo, who scored in his fourth consecutiv­e match and for the fifth time in the last six games, was left alone at the back post and made no mistake to give Toronto the lead in the 76th minute.

It all started when Richie Laryea drew a free kick just outside the box. Pablo Piatti’s kick was deflected away for a corner kick setting up the go-ahead goal. Chris Mavinga elevated and flicked a header directly to Pozuelo, a player drawing plenty of chatter in the Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player race.

Goalie Quentin Westberg had to make a late save on Alejandro Bedoya as Toronto moved past Philadelph­ia in the Eastern Conference standings.

It could be a costly win however, as starters Justin Morrow and Jozy Altidore left the game.

Morrow went down in the 37th minute and was replaced by Tony Gallacher. Altidore pulled up and grabbed his hamstring as he attempted to run onto a ball in the 51st minute. Nick

DeLeon came on to replace the longtime U.S. national team star.

After so many squandered opportunit­ies and crosses that went directly to Philadelph­ia players, Gallacher connected with Ayo Akinola whose header at the far post had just enough on it to get by Andre Blake in the 58th minute. It was Akinola’s team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Piatti sent a shot just past the post in the 71st minute before delivering the strike that led to Pozuelo’s goal.

Philadelph­ia took the lead when Sergio Santos pushed the ball forward into the box after a Toronto turnover. Mark Delgado and Laryea were unable to disrupt the ball. Omar Gonzalez came over and briefly got a foot on the ball but couldn’t control it. Santos then calmly chipped the ball over Quentin Westberg in the fifth minute.

Toronto had a chance for a quick equalizer as Mavinga was one-on-one with Blake after a corner kick,

but the former UConn keeper stood strong to keep Toronto off the board.

Toronto mounted a surge after the goal and had multiple chances to put pressure on Blake but a series of errant passes kept scoring opportunit­ies from materializ­ing.

Philadelph­ia had two glorious chances to add to the lead in the 30th minute, but Westberg was able to get enough of a long shot from Jamiro Montiero to deflect it off the crossbar. The rebound went to Kacper Przybylko but Westberg denied him as well.

The first half ended with Toronto registerin­g seven shots but Mavinga’s was the only one on goal. Altidore had some room just inside the box in the 15th minute but sent a shot well wide and six minutes later Laryea went down trying to draw a penalty kick but referee Victor Rivas did not oblige.

 ?? Jessica Hill / Associated Press ?? Philadelph­ia Union’s Sergio Santos, center, cuts between Toronto FC’s Omar Gonzalez, left, and Richie Laryea to score during the first half Saturday in East Hartford.
Jessica Hill / Associated Press Philadelph­ia Union’s Sergio Santos, center, cuts between Toronto FC’s Omar Gonzalez, left, and Richie Laryea to score during the first half Saturday in East Hartford.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States