TORONTO – After an explosive start, Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls could not find the net again and played to a 1-1 draw Saturday night at BMO Field.
New York’s Jan Gunnar Solli and Toronto’s Danny Koevermans traded goals in the first six minutes of the game as TFC continued on a roll after opening the season with nine straight losses. Since Paul Mariner took over for Aron Winter on June 7, the Reds are now 1-1-3.
And while New York came closest to adding a second when they hit the post in the first half, it was Toronto who came closest to taking all three points with several chances in the closing stages of the match.
However, early on it looked like the same old story for Toronto, surrendering an easy goal early as New York struck in the fourth minute.
Solli was allowed too much room in the left side of the box and put his right foot to knock in a cross from the right from teammate Brandon Barklage into the bottom left corner. It was Solli's second goal of the season in consecutive matches.
But two minutes later, the ever-dangerous Koevermans was in the center of the box to head home a corner from Torsten Frings for his eighth goal of the season and seventh tally in his last seven matches.
A few minutes later, Toronto winger Reggie Lambe made a strong run while fighting off two defenders, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Ryan Meara who had come out of his goal. But defender Wilman Conde slid at the goal line to keep the ball from crossing.
OPTA Chalkboard: TFC thwart NY possession game
Kenny Cooper nearly put the Red Bulls ahead in the 45th minute when he slipped behind the Toronto defense but his deflection of a cross caromed off the left post.
In an evenly played second half, New York (9-4-4) had all they could handle to hold off Toronto with about 10 minutes left. First Koevermans put a header into the hands of Meara and then second-half substitute Nick Soolsma just missed to the right.
Toronto next play on Wednesday, July 4 at FC Dallas. New York’s next game is July 8 at New England. Get tickets now at Red Bulls Ticket Central.
