An Alejandro Pozuelo penalty kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time helped lift Toronto FC to a 3-2 win over Atlanta United Wednesday night at BMO Field.
Pozuelo slipped his penalty kick underneath Brad Guzan after substitute Florentin Pogba fouled Richie Laryea following Video Review.
Atlanta had a chance to level at the death when Pity Martinez stepped to the spot after Nick DeLeon was ruled to have handled a cross in the box after yet another Video Review. But the Argentine skied his attempt as Alan Kelly’s final whistle blew.
Tsubasa Endoh opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the match. It wasn’t quite Mike Grella fast, but his tap-in off a deflected cross gave Toronto FC the lead.
Atlanta United leveled from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Pozuelo handled the ball in the box following Video Review. Martinez pushed his spot kick to the left of Quentin Westberg, who dived the other way.
A sliding clearance attempt of a Brandon Vazquez cross by Laryea in front of the net caromed off Eriq Zavaleta and directly to Julian Gressel, who stuffed the ball in to put the visitors in front in the 22nd minute.
Pozuelo atoned for his mistake and equalized in the 27th minute, latching onto a composed cross by Jacob Shaffelburg following a switch and heading in.
Goals
- 1’ — TOR — Tsubasa Endoh | WATCH
- 17’ — ATL — Pity Martinez (PK) | WATCH
- 22’ — ATL — Julian Gressel | WATCH
- 27’ — TOR — Alejandro Pozuelo | WATCH
- 90’+4’ — TOR — Alejandro Pozuelo (PK) | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: When all the smoke clears, it’s about the points won and Toronto FC needed all three in the worst way as it ended an eight-match winless streak. After five straight wins, Atlanta now have lost three of their last five.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: It was a tale of two controversial stoppage-time penalty kicks. Both appeared soft and the second was perhaps the wildest. The Video Review, the third of the match, occurred as Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough,” TFC’s longtime anthem after victories, blared at BMO.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: What a first MLS start for Shaffelburg, who displayed blazing speed and provided some terrific service, especially to Pozuelo. He had three successful crosses, won three corner kicks and picked up the assist on Pozuelo’s first goal.
Next Up
- TOR: Saturday, June 29 at D.C. United (8 pm ET | TSN2, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US)
- ATL: Saturday, June 29 vs. Montreal Impact (6 pm ET | TVAS, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US)
