- Fate turns for NYCFC, who had not achieved a single point this season
- Toronto FC’s impressive start to the season leads to the first real roadblock
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Toronto FC entered Saturday night’s match against New York City FC as the only Major League Soccer team not to allow a goal this season and keep three clean sheets.
That bubble burst in the 24th minute after a brilliant free kick from Santiago Rodriguez. NYCFC added the go-ahead goal midway through the second half on a Kevin O’Toole header and won the first game of the season 2–1 at Yankee Stadium.
A reversal of fortune wasn’t in the cards early for New York, which allowed a seventh-minute goal to Toronto’s Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty after a game full of defensive errors.
NYCFC were desperate for a win as one of three teams in MLS entering the weekend without a win, with team head coach Nick Cushing firmly on the hot seat.
Rodriguez’s free kick from about 25 yards out from goal curled into the top left corner, freezing Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Garvan for the equalizer.
New York City FC was looking for its first win of the season against Toronto FC on Saturday evening
A Santiago Rodriguez free kick was the first goal Toronto had conceded this season
TFC’s usual starting goalkeeper, United States men’s national team team Sean Johnson, is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.
Johnson might not have had a chance to stop the Rodriguez golazo either.
Garvan did step up when needed over the next few minutes, especially after a first-half injury time chance from Keaton Parks, which he saved from close range.
NYCFC took the lead in the 64th minute after a Kevin O’Toole header, which hit the crossbar over Garvan’s outstretched hands before crossing the goal line.
Julian Fernandez set up the goal with an assist, firing the ball towards goal with the outside of his left foot as the ball met O’Toole on the pass.
A win did not come easily for NYCFC after taking the lead as it played with 10 men for a long time to end the match and Parks was sent off in the 68th minute.
NYCFC returns to action next weekend against FC Cincinnati, while Toronto returns home to take on Atlanta United.