Dominant win puts Reds into semifinal
Goals by Jonathan Osorio, Ifunanyachi Achara, Yeferson Soteldo and Noble Okello gave Toronto FC a convincing 4-0 win over York United FC in Canadian Championship quarterfinal play Wednesday night.
Fielding arguably its strongest available team, Toronto put the Canadian Premier League side under pressure early before a sparse crowd of 3,651 on a wet, windy evening at BMO Field. York spent much of the game on the back foot and trailed 2-0 after a first half that saw it outshot 10-2 (6-1 in shots on target).
The MLS side went ahead in the 34th minute thanks to the three Canadians in its starting 11. Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg combined down the left flank before Shaffelburg’s cross found a wide-open Osorio between the York centre backs. His header beat York’ exposed York keeper Nathan Ingham.
Osorio, playing in his franchise-record 282nd game, has scored against 24 different teams in all competitions for Toronto.
Seven minutes later, Laryea and Shaffelburg played providers again after a York turnover. This time Shaffelburg’s low curling cross found Achara as he broke through the centre backs and the Nigerian-born forward poked the ball past Ingham.
Soteldo scored from the penalty spot in the 84th minute after York captain Roger Thompson took down 17-year-old substitute Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in front of the south stand. Okello, put in alone by Michael Bradley, made it 4-0 in the 89th minute.
Toronto advances to host either Pacific FC or Cavalry FC.