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Photo Credit: Chicago Fire SC
Missed Opportunity: Toronto FC Concedes Late Equalizer To Chicago Fire
By With the regular season nearing its end, Toronto FC is still jockeying hard to keep hold of its postseason berth. This weekend saw the Reds share points at SeatGeek Stadium after a 1-0 victory slipped away following a late goal from Jonathan Dean, who leveled things up for Chicago.
In what was a slow-paced game with missed chances and misplaced passes from both sides, the first opportunity on goal was brought in from the hosts in the 34th minute as Georgios Koutsias fired a shot while driving into the box. His shot was fended off, but Justin Reynolds got the rebound and sent a header that former Fire keeper Sean Johnson proved equal to.
The first goal of the night then came from Prince Owusu in the 45th minute. The striker converted a penalty awarded to the visitors after Federico Bernardeschi charged into the box before seeing himself tripped up.
The penalty scored was Owusu’s eighth goal in the MLS season thus far and his eleventh goal in all competitions. It was a much-needed ice breaker for the visitors, as it was also Toronto’s first goal scored in three games.
Come the second half, Toronto would maintain their 1-0 lead until the 84th minute. That’s when Chicago Fire substitute Jonathan Dean scored the equalizer after a cross from Lassiter found him in the box. He would bury the opportunity, locking in his first MLS goal.
The Reds would almost find themselves the equalizing goal through substitute Lorenzo Insigne in the 88th minute, who found himself at set up with a through ball and a chance on goal. The designated player had a one-on-one opportunity with Chicago keeper Chris Brady, but instead the Italian took a pass back to teammate Deandre Kerr. It did not go as planned, to say the least.
Insigne would get another opportunity at the game-winner in the 90th minute of stoppage time as a freekick from 30 yards out was given, but his shot would instead strike the post. With the final whistle coming moments later, three points were not to be found for the Reds in the Windy City.
“It’s a missed opportunity,” TFC head coach John Herdman said after the game. “We were [six] minutes away from taking three points, so it’s a big missed opportunity.”
It’s also one that could impact their playoff push as a crucial period begins in the span of the next seven days. Toronto’s game against Chicago was the second game in the hectic three-games-in-eight-days schedule, though the Reds will have home advantage in their next fixtures.
“We’ve got to win these two games and get six points,” added Herdman. “Better to be at home than on the road”.
The road journey has been intensive but a struggle, wit Toronto enduring a tough 4-2 penalty defeat to Vancouver and 2-0 loss in Colorado.
“That’s the whole team’s focus the next two games ahead of us,” said Kobe Franklin after the match. “Very very valuable points, kind of an all-or-nothing situation.”
The Reds cling to eighth in league standings as they look to return to the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2020. The late push for playoffs now hangs in the balance as their eighth place wild-card match position is being hunted down: both Montreal and Philadelphia now share the same number of points, all while having a game in hand.
Toronto FC will have to do more then just win against the playoff bound New York Red Bulls on October 2 and the Supporters Shield-bound Inter Miami on October 5. The Reds will have to finish strong at home in the hopes that will be enough to make it on MLS decision day.
Header Image Photo Credit: Chicago Fire SC
