Deandre Kerr scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time when visiting Toronto FC rallied to tie the league-leading Philadelphia Union 1-1 on Saturday.
Kerr headed down a service by Malik Henry to give Toronto (5-13-7, 22 points) their second win in the past six matches. Each entered in the 76th minute in a match marking the debut of Toronto midfielder Djordje Mihailovic.
Indiana Vassilev scored in the fourth minute for the Union (15-5-6, 51 points), who extended their unbeaten streak to three wins and two ties.
Mihailovic, 26, was acquired Thursday from Colorado in a cash-for-player trade with the Rapids receiving $8 million plus up to $1 million in performance-based conditions.
He scored 23 goals and 22 assists in 63 appearances in all competitions for the Rapids. Mihailovic, who has 11 matches for the U.S. men’s national team, had nine goals and seven assists in 24 matches for the Rapids this season.
While Toronto FC welcomed him, they were without goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who is in concussion protocol after being injured in training. He had played every minute of every MLS match this season with six shutouts so the task of replacing him fell to Luka Gavran in his 14th career start.
Philadelphia pounced quickly although the defense marking in front of him was poor on the goal. The Union had no trouble on the transition and team leading scorer Tai Baribo showed he could do more than put the ball in the net (15 goals) when he earned his third assist with a cross-field through ball to Vassilev, who found himself open on the right wing.
Vassilev fired from just inside the box for his third goal.
Fortunately for Gavran, the defense tightened and the Union did not have a shot on goal the remainder of the half while his counterpart, Andre Blake, was challenged once when Theo Corbeanu tried to beat him at the near post in the 38th minute.
Baribo would have added to his goal total 10 minutes into the second half but video review ruled him offside.
–Field Level Media
