Article content material

The Toronto constabulary would possibly contemplate bringing L.A. Galaxy star Riqui Puig up on prices. In any case, he did plunge a dagger into the hearts of Toronto FC followers in every single place on Wednesday night time.

Article content material

Puig, who joined the L.A. Galaxy earlier this month from Barcelona with nice fanfare, scored a spectacular objective within the 89th minute at BMO Area to tie the sport 2-2 in opposition to TFC, his first MLS objective. The draw stood and the Reds needed to accept a single level, which was a significant disappointment.

Article content material

Down 1-0 after a listless first half after a objective by Galaxy winger Douglas Costa, TFC stormed again within the closing 45 minutes of play on targets by Jesus Jimenez and Federico Bernardeschi, and it appeared as if the house facet would acquire a well-earned and much-needed three factors within the extremely charged match.

Article content material

However then, seemingly out of nowhere, Puig broke into the Toronto finish after a give-and-go with Gastón Brugman because the clock wound down and right-footed a rocket into the top-right nook from nicely exterior the field. A stunner that silenced the group at BMO Area.

Article content material

With 5 video games remaining, TFC has 34 factors and sits two factors out of a playoff spot with three groups to leap over. A win on Wednesday would have positioned the Reds above the post-season line. L.A. managed to remain in a playoff spot with the draw.

“The truth that we’ve had various video games the place we’ve given up late targets makes it sting a little bit bit extra,” stated TFC coach Bob Bradley on the late Galaxy objective. “On this final stretch of video games, you see the soccer getting higher, you see the mentality getting higher. It’s a part of changing into an excellent crew, and it’s not simply that it all the time falls into place so simply. It’s powerful nights. Generally it takes a season, however no one has given up on this one and now now we have to simply see what does it take to get three factors in an enormous match in opposition to Montréal and what would three factors do for us as we go into the final half.”

Article content material

With Bernardeschi’s objective, the three Italians on the Toronto roster (together with Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito) have been concerned in 14 of Toronto’s previous 17 targets.

Once more the Reds have been with out veteran midfielders Jonathan Osorio (sickness) and Mark-Anthony Kaye (decrease physique harm), prompting coach Bob Bradley to begin youngsters Jayden Nelson and Kosi Thompson of their place.

Bradley additionally began ahead Ayo Akinola forward of Jimenez. Each Akinola (now scoreless in 15 straight video games) and Jimenez have been mired in terrible slumps (till Jimenez broke his on Wednesday).

Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was additionally on the bench for the primary time since July 16 (rib harm).

Wednesday’s match marked the return of former TFC coach Greg Vanney to Toronto, the sideline boss for TFC from Aug. 2014 (taking on from Ryan Nelsen) till he departed for “household causes” after the 2020 season. A month later he signed with the Galaxy. He’s the winningest coach in TFC historical past, guiding the Reds to the Home Treble in 2017, profitable the MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Protect and Canadian Championship.

Article content material

The Galaxy opened the scoring within the twenty fourth minute on a wonderful free kick by Costa. The objective started with a sloppy move by TFC centre again Chris Mavinga to Criscito with the ball going out of bounds for an L.A. throw-in.

Within the ensuing play, Mavinga — enjoying in his one hundred and fiftieth sport for TFC — fouled Galaxy striker Chicharito simply exterior the field and Costa made good the free kick to the highest proper nook that TFC ’keeper Alex Bono appeared gradual to react to.

Puig demonstrated his super high quality in his third sport for L.A., however the former Barca man additionally demonstrated that he’s a drama queen, happening far too straightforward, too typically and incomes the wrath of the BMO Area devoted.

Former TFC midfielder Victor Vazquez additionally went down far too simply within the second half when Toronto centre again Lukas MacNaughton, who struggled within the match, kicked the ball into his mid-section. Referee Ted Unkel, who was fairly inept all through the 90-plus minutes, allowed the sport to lavatory proper down with too many conversations and an pointless examine with VAR.

Article content material

Each side launched quite a few assaults within the second half, with TFC right-back Richie Laryea stopping Chicharito from getting a objective with a key block contained in the field.

Akinola was substituted out of the sport for Jimenez within the 61st minute and, although he once more failed to attain, the Brampton native was extra concerned within the TFC assault than he had been in latest video games.

A minute after the substitution, Jimenez scored his first objective since June 29 when he picked up a move from Ifunanyachi Achara within the field and right-footed a shot into the underside left nook, his ninth of the season, tying Osorio for the crew lead.

Because the minutes counted down, tempers began to flare. At one level Michael Bradley and Chicharito screamed at one another contained in the Toronto field after the L.A. striker dropped down like he was shot when Laryea put his hand on his jersey.

Bernardeschi’s objective got here on the penalty kick that beat L.A. ’keeper Jonathan Bond to the fitting facet of the objective. Bond obtained a hand on the ball however there was an excessive amount of energy on the kick. The penalty kick was known as when Bernardeschi picked up a move from Laryea down the fitting facet of the sector and was tripped within the field by former TFC left winger Raheem Edwards.

As for Insigne, TFC’s $15-million man virtually let his frustrations get the higher of him at occasions once more.

TFC subsequent host CF Montreal on Sunday night time at BMO Area.