In the internal confrontation between these teams often victory remained on the side of NY.
Advertisement
Two minutes later, Toronto was celebrating a goal after Michael Bradley, who started his pro career with the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) tallied his first league goal in nearly a year to slice the lead to 2-1. On Sunday, Jozy Altidore scored a sick, curling free-kick goal for Toronto FC against the New York Red Bulls to pull close at 3-2. NY playmaker Sacha Kljestan was given too much time in front of the Toronto defence and he found Wright-Phillips alone on the left.
NY restored its two-goal lead shortly after the restart when a turnover saw the Red Bulls shred TFC on the counter and Wright-Phillips score past a helpless Bono.
Jozy Altidore was the hero on the night for Toronto, scoring a brace, including the equalizer in the 86th minute.
Toronto were able to get a goal back just before halftime, however. Altidore turned his defender at the top of the box before firing the ball past Luis Robles in the NY net to make it 3-3.
Toronto switched to a back three midway through the second half in a bid to find some offence.
Star striker Sebastian Giovinco, who missed Toronto’s last game with strains in his quadriceps and adductor, featured in training Friday with Vanney cautiously optimistic. Wright-Phillips finished off the play, continuing to add to his Golden Boot lead.
Altidore stroked home a attractive, curling free kick from 25 yards out in the 68th minute, and then scored again with four minutes left in regulation on a shot that snuck by Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Irwin, who was excellent prior to going down, has a 1.08 goals-against average (to rank fourth in the league) with six shutouts.
Bono came into the weekend second in the league in goals-against at 0.98. Toronto was also missing forward Tosaint Ricketts (groin), defender Mark Bloom (ankle) and Ashtone Morgan (foot), and midfielder Jay Chapman (MCL tear).
Advertisement
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice for the Red Bulls, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Toronto FC in one wild and entertaining match.
