Toronto FC wins at Red Bulls to stay in MLS playoff race

Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 in Harrison, N.J., on Saturday, pulling level on points for the final Eastern Conference playoff place in the MLS standings.

An own goal by New York’s Justin Che put Toronto ahead in the third minute, and substitute Dániel Sallói sealed it in the 82nd with a low shot from the right side of the penalty area after a first-touch through ball from Jonathan Osorio, The Associated Press reported. Luka Gavran made three saves for the shutout.

The terms “MLS standings” and “MLS scores” drew more than 200 and more than 100 searches in Canada respectively on Saturday, according to Google Trends, as the regular season enters its final weeks.

The win was Toronto’s first away to the Red Bulls in 10 years, Waking the Red reported. Toronto is now level on points with the Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati for the last Eastern playoff spot but trails both on the first tiebreaker, total wins, the site said. ESPN’s standings put all three clubs on 36 points, with Cincinnati holding two games in hand.

Toronto did it shorthanded. Head coach Robin Fraser served a suspension and watched away from the touchline while assistant Wolde Harris ran the team, and Richie Laryea and Benjamin Kuscevic sat out through yellow-card suspensions, Waking the Red reported. Walker Zimmerman missed the game with an ankle injury, and Kobe Franklin left in the 28th minute with a suspected shoulder injury.

New York had 67 per cent of possession and outshot Toronto 15-6, according to the AP. Toronto improved to 8-10-12 and took seven of a possible nine points this week, after beating CF Montréal and drawing 3-3 with Orlando City, Waking the Red said. Toronto plays at the Columbus Crew next Saturday.

In the West, the Vancouver Whitecaps came from behind to win 2-1 at Austin FC, according to ESPN’s match data. Myrto Uzuni scored for Austin in the 40th minute before Ryan Gauld headed in the equalizer in the 47th and Yadaly Diaby scored the winner in the 71st. Vancouver, which clinched a playoff spot with a draw against LAFC on Oct. 11, The Province reported, moved to 55 points and remained top of the Western Conference in ESPN’s table.

Elsewhere, Inter Miami won 3-1 at Atlanta United, Orlando City beat D.C. United 4-1 and New England edged the Chicago Fire 1-0, ESPN’s results showed. CF Montréal, last in the East with 24 points, was scheduled to play late Saturday in Seattle.

Our recent MLS coverage includes Montreal’s Canadian Championship semifinal win over the Whitecaps and Gauld’s historic night against the LA Galaxy.

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Sources: The Associated Press via iNFOnews; Waking the Red; ESPN match data and standings; The Province; Google Trends Canada.