Marquee matchups don’t always live up to the billing, but Sunday night’s clash between Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls delivered on the national stage. Even without reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco, there were plenty of quality moments in the match to remember.
The visitors kicked things off inside the first quarter hour with a nice bit of interplay between Felipe and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Brazilian maestro played a dangerous ball across the six looking for Daniel Royer, but it was TFC defender Steven Beitashour who inadvertently put it in the back of the net.
Early lead = good.
It wouldn’t be long before New York doubled their lead thanks to another mistake at the back from Toronto. This time it was Eriq Zavaleta who coughed it up after succumbing to the high press, which left Bradley Wright-Phillips plenty of time and space to do this.
Jesse liked that too.
But the home side struck back just before the stroke of halftime as USMNT captain Michael Bradley fired one home, leaving Luis Robles no chance.
Coming out of the half, the Red Bulls reasserted their dominance and restored their two-goal lead shortly thereafter. Once again, it was BWP to the rescue as he notched goal #20 on the year.
First time, far post.
The guys were pumped.
So was Jesse.
This was one was from over, however, as the Reds stormed back. Former Red Bulls and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore stood over a free kick and struck it perfectly to bring Toronto within one.
Jesse urged his team to see the match out…
But it wasn’t to be. Altidore took advantage of a fortuitous bounce in the box and a deflection on the way in to beat Robles and tie the match at three.
And that’s how it would finish. A hard-fought match between two heavyweights ended with a point apiece.
The unbeaten streak moves to 12 as the Red Bulls get ready for another Canadian clash this weekend with the Montreal Impact visiting Red Bull Arena on Saturday night.
