Sports

Toronto FC snaps 13-game winless streak with victory over Union

Published

1 year ago

August 31, 2023

Terry Dunfield walked into the press conference room at BMO Field beaming and full of energy.

The Toronto FC interim head coach just picked up his first win in nine games since taking over at the helm in late June and it came in convincing fashion.

Lorenzo Insigne got things rolling and Jonathan Osorio put the bow on a 3-1 TFC win over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.

“It was incredible,” Dunfield said. “How much fun was it watching our boys play?

“With all due respect to Philly, I just thought it was amazing for our guys to show their quality … really proud of the team.”

Deandre Kerr scored the second of the three goals for Toronto (4-13-10), which snapped a 13-game winless streak (0-10-3) and sits last in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.

TFC’s last win came on May 27, a 2-1 victory over D.C. United.

Kerr said there was nothing buy joy in the locker room post-game.

“Just happiness, smiles everywhere,” he said. “Feelings we haven’t had in a long time.”

TFC entered Wednesday having scored just two goals in its last eight games across all competitions — all losses — with both coming in a 3-2 defeat against CF Montreal on Aug. 20.

It was also the first time Toronto has scored more than two goals in a game all season.

“It was nothing from me, it was the guys,” Dunfield said when asked what turned things in their favour. “Just before we went out, we just spoke about bringing some intensity.

“We knew at any moment (that) we weren’t safe, that they could hurt us in the second (half) … at halftime we showed a bit of resilience and just added a little bit of intensity to our play.

“I think it was the last 10 weeks of work that the guys have put in … it was just really, really amazing to see it come together.”

Julian Carranza scored for Philadelphia (13-6-7), which sits fourth in the East.

The victory came in TFC’s first game since announcing the hiring of head coach John Herdman on Monday.

The 48-year-old, who had coached the Canadian senior men’s national team since 2018, will take over for Dunfield on Oct. 1.

Dunfield, who Herdman said would be on his staff, has led the team since the firing of former head coach/sporting director Bob Bradley on June 26.

Insigne opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with his fourth of the season to the delight of the Toronto faithful.

He took a pass from Kerr from inside the box and sent in a low shot rolling left and out of reach from Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.

Carranza tied the game in the 45th minute. Mikael Uhre received a throw-in ball and sent in a cross that was headed by Alejandro Bedoya.

Toronto goalkeeper Tomas Romero couldn’t get enough on the ball for a diving save and it went straight to Carranza who slotted it into the empty net.

Kerr restored Toronto’s lead in the 58th minute. Kobe Franklin sent a long through ball to Federico Bernardeschi down the right side of the field.

Bernardeschi’s pass inside was then tipped, forcing Kerr to turn the other way to corral the ball before firing it past Blake for his fourth of the year.

Osorio made it 3-1 just five minutes later on a beautiful sequence. Franklin displayed a great touch with a short cross into the box and Osorio followed through with a diving header that beat Blake for his second of the season.

Kerr almost scored his second of the game to make it 4-1 in the 67th minute but hit the left post from the right side after Bernardeschi found him open in the box.

“After a couple of tough initial plays, I thought his performance was excellent,” Dunfield said of Kerr. “It’s just too bad that one off the post just doesn’t go in.”

CALLED UP

TFC signed defender Adam Pearlman to a short-term agreement from Toronto FC II for Wednesday’s match. The 18-year-old was recently called up to TFC and made his first team debut against St. Louis City SC on July 8.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

17 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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AP sports:

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

17 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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