O'Toole's first MLS goal lifts NYCFC over Toronto

Updated: Mar 16, 2024, 10:07 pm

Kevin O'Toole scored the first goal of his MLS career in the 65th minute and New York City FC rallied to a 2-1 victory over visiting Toronto FC on Saturday night.

Santiago Rodriguez added his second goal of the campaign on an exceptional free-kick leveler in the first half.

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Matt Freese made two stops to preserve the first points of the season for NYCFC (1-3-0, 3 points), who were reduced to 10 men shortly after O'Toole's winner when referee Muhammad Hassan dismissed Keaton Parks for his violent challenge on Toronto's Kobe Franklin.

Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty opened the scoring early for Toronto FC (2-1-1, 7 points), which had kept clean sheets in each of its first three matches under first-year manager John Herdman.

Luka Gavran made seven saves for the visitors as former NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson remained sidelined with a thigh injury for the Reds.

NYCFC drew level 17 minutes after going behind on an opportunity that came when Mounsef Bakrar drew a foul on Toronto's Kevin Long about 27 yards from goal. Rodriguez stepped up and curled a right-footed shot over Toronto's defensive wall and into the top left corner beyond Gavran's dive.

The hosts continued to apply most of the pressure after drawing level and went in front 20 minutes after halftime.

Julian Fernandez provided the service with an audacious cross struck from the right with the outside of his left foot. It bent directly onto the run of O'Toole, whose firm header deflected off Gavran's fingertips and the underside of the crossbar on its way over the line.

Toronto was provided a lifeline when Hassan dismissed Parks following a video review, but rarely turned their numerical advantage into dangerous chances.

The exception came in the 90th minute when Ayo Akinola couldn't keep his one-time effort on target after reaching a cross from the left.

Toronto opened the scoring on a 7th-minute attack that began when defender Alonso Coello hammered a long hopeful ball in the general direction of Federico Bernardeschi down the right.

Bernardeschi couldn't reach it, but Marshall-Rutty chased the errant ball and found himself with it in the 18 alone on goal, before calmly rounding Freese and finishing into an open goal.