Reds punch their ticket to playoffs

CINCINNATI— A game lacking in drama for 90 minutes came alive in stoppage time Sunday with league-leading Toronto FC clinching a playoff spot after hanging on for a 1-0 win over slumping FC Cincinnati.

In recording its fifth straight victory, Toronto (11-2-4) had to survive a 94th-minute penalty call by referee Robert Sibiga who judged Omar Gonzalez had pushed substitute Allan Cruz to the ground as a cross dropped into the Toronto penalty box.

Sibiga pointed to the penalty spot but changed the call in the 96th minute after video review.

Toronto coach Greg Vanney thought justice was done, saying Gonzalez had position and Cruz backed into him.

“That shouldn’t be a foul on us,” he said. “But it was a little fuzzy there for a few minutes, for sure.”

Cincinnati coach Jaap Stam was not happy with the penalty reversal, noting Sibiga was 10 yards from the play and had a good view.

“If it was for like one of the big teams in the league, they would have had a penalty,” he said. “But for some reason we don’t get it. And I think it was (a penalty). So It’s a strange decision.”

Toronto is undefeated in seven games (6-0-1), a run that also includes victories over Montreal, New York City FC, Columbus Crew SC, the Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution.

Vanney’s club is the first to book its post-season ticket this season.

“The guys are proud of it but they have their eyes on something a little bit bigger over this stretch,” he said referencing the Supporters’ Shield that goes to the team that finishes atop the regular-season standings.

Cincinnati (3-10-4) is at the other end of the table. It has lost four straight while being outscored10-0 and has just one win in its last 11 outings (1-7-4).