Atlanta United earned a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, putting an end to the Reds’ seven-game unbeaten streak and 13-game home unbeaten run.
The loss dropped Toronto to three wins, three losses and four ties on the season. The victory was only the second of the year for Atlanta, which also has seven losses and one draw.
The Reds dominated possession (68 per cent to 32 per cent) but managed only two shots on target in the game.
TFC’s first dangerous foray occurred in the 18th minute but it was Atlanta that drew first blood in the 22nd minute when striker Cayman Togashi picked up a long pass from Alexey Miranchuk and beat TFC defender Zane Moniouis to the outside. However, after a video review, it was determined Togashi was offside when he received the pass.
The Five Stripes did jump ahead 1-0 in the 48th minute on a free kick. Left midfielder Miranchuk deposited a left-footed shot from just outside the box into the top left corner after a questionable foul call on Toronto’s Josh Sargent.
Shortly after that goal, Sargent almost tied it when he dove towards a floating ball in front of the Atlanta goal and just missed with an attempted header. A couple of minutes later, after Sargent was fouled, Toronto centre back Alonso Coello right-footed a shot just wide on a dangerous free kick.
Coello then took a corner kick, which was headed by Zane Moniouis right at Atlanta keeper Lucas Hoyos.
United jumped ahead 2-0 when defender Tristan Muyumba scored with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box in the 67th minute after a brilliant series of passes in the TFC end. Assists went to Fafa Picault and Cooper Sanchez.
Four minutes later, Emilio Aristizabal converted for the Reds to make it 2-1. He scored with a header from the centre of the box into the top left corner after a great feed by Kobe Franklin. Coello also assisted.
The Reds kept pushing after their first goal, with Malik Henry just missing on a right-footed shot that sailed just past the Atlanta goal post. TFC tied the game 2-2 in the 85th minute by Jules-Anthony Vilsaint but the goal was waved off when he was ruled offside.
The Reds have been hammered by the injury bug. On Friday, it was announced that defender Matheus Pereira underwent surgery for a chronic groin condition and is expected to be out for 10 to 12 weeks.
Also unavailable against Atlanta were: Theo Corbeanu (knee), Nicksoen Gomis (Achilles), Richie Laryea (thigh), Djordje Mihailovic (pelvis), Henry Wingo (thigh) and Deandre Kerr (groin). The Reds were also without centre back Walker Zimmerman as he and his wife were expecting their third child.