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TORONTO — Needing three factors to maintain their playoff push alive, Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr stepped up with first-half objectives in opposition to Austin FC on Saturday with goalkeeper Sean Johnson doing his bit on the different finish.
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A 76th-minute purpose by Austin’s Owen Wolff made for a nervy ending however TFC held on for a 2-1 win.
Whereas Toronto (11-15-3) stays on the Main League Soccer playoff bubble in eighth place within the Jap Convention (the eighth- and ninth-place groups in every convention sq. off in a wild-card playoff with the winner dealing with the highest seed within the convention), different outcomes went their means.
Seventh-place Charlotte, Tenth-place Atlanta and Eleventh-place Philadelphia all misplaced whereas ninth-place D.C. United tied.
Toronto midfielder Alonso Coello referred to as it “a sport we needed to win.”
“It’s a giant win … To see that struggle tonight was essential,” added coach John Herdman.
Austin (9-12-7) got here into the sport in Eleventh place within the West, two factors beneath ninth-place Minnesota. The Texas aspect has gained simply considered one of its final six league video games (1-4-1).
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Austin outshot Toronto 7-6 (6-2 edge in photographs heading in the right direction) within the first half however discovered itself trailing 2-0 on the break as Toronto took benefit of its probabilities and the guests didn’t of their first-ever go to to BMO Subject, earlier than an introduced crowd of 25,538.
Toronto had a dream begin, catching Austin on the counterattack within the seventh minute. A sliding Austin participant dispossessed an onrushing Kerr, who had been let out by an extended ball from Coello, however the ball bounced to Osorio, who beat goalkeeper Brad Stuver with a rising shot.
It was the Toronto captain’s second purpose of the season in league play and his sixty fifth for TFC in all competitions. Solely Sebastian Giovinco (83) and Jozy Altidore (79) scored extra in Toronto colors.
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TFC went forward on one other counterattack within the thirtieth minute after an Austin giveaway. Osorio discovered Richie Laryea outpacing his marker and the wingback unselfishly despatched an ideal low cross throughout purpose for Kerr to knock residence for his third of the season.
Wolff, the son of Austin head coach Josh Wolff, made it fascinating along with his late strike. The 19-year-old U.S. youth worldwide, controlling an extended ball, beat defender Raoul Petretta after which waited out Johnson earlier than slotting it residence for his first of the season.
Toronto survived a nervy six minutes of stoppage time as Austin pressed for the equalizer. Austin outshot Toronto 14-9 (8-3 in photographs heading in the right direction) and had 52.5 per cent possession.
The win evened Toronto’s residence document at 7-7-0, whereas Austin slipped to 3-8-3 on the highway.
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It was a expensive night for Austin with defender Brendan Hines-Ike, midfielder Jhojan Valencia and star attacker Sebastian Driussi allpicking up cautions to overlook Wednesday’s sport with Los Angeles FC as a result of yellow-card accumulation.
Toronto defender Shane O’Neill will miss Wednesday’s sport in opposition to visiting Columbus for a similar purpose. Toronto might be quick mid-week, too. The hope is veteran centre again Kevin Lengthy, who missed Saturday’s sport after tweaking his hamstring in coaching, shall be good to go.
Toronto has 5 video games remaining, together with three extra at residence because it appears to return to the post-season for the primary time since 2020 when it misplaced to Nashville after additional time on the first hurdle.
It’s a difficult highway.
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TFC hosts Columbus, the New York Pink Bulls and Inter Miami whereas taking part in away on the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Hearth. All however Chicago are in playoff positions.
The one earlier assembly between Toronto and Austin was in Could 2023, when Zardes scored a 91st-minute winner to offer Austin a 1-0 win over visiting Toronto, which was then mired on the backside of the Jap Convention. That loss prompted a post-game outburst from Italian star Federico Bernardeschi about TFC’s drab play.
Then-coach Bob Bradley benched Bernardeschi for the following sport.
Present coach John Herdman made 4 adjustments to his beginning 11 with Bernardeschi and Osorio getting back from suspension and Coello and Kerr additionally slotting in. Coello, who had missed the final eight league video games with a hamstring damage, was spectacular in his 59-minute return.
Each Toronto and Austin suffered residence losses final trip going into the worldwide break. Toronto was crushed 3-1 by D.C. United whereas Austin misplaced 1-0 to Vancouver.
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