Josh Sargent had a goal and an assist as Toronto FC kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win over visiting D.C. United on Wednesday, a result that eliminated D.C. from postseason contention.
Sargent netted the winning goal in the 86th minute as the Reds (9-11-12, 39 points) completed the comeback in their last home game of the season. The ball bounced fortuitously to the club’s record signing, who slotted it in from near the penalty spot moments after Theo Corbeanu’s attempt struck the post.
TFC came to life in the second half, as has been their custom on the season. Sargent’s thundering header deflected off teammate Jonathan Osorio and into the back of the net off a corner kick. The goal was adjudged to be narrowly onside after a lengthy video review in the 64th minute.
Andre Dozzell scored the opener for D.C. (7-13-12, 33 points). Goalkeeper Sean Johnson failed to make a single save against his former club.
Dozzell was left wide open to score his first goal in black and red in the 29th minute, receiving a cut-back from Silvan Hefti and guiding it into the corner of goal with a soft, side-footed strike. Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran caught a small piece of the ball, though not quite enough to steer it wide of the post.
The home team failed to register an attempt on target in a lackadaisical first-half display, even as they controlled 59% of possession.
Toronto’s Daniel Salloi and D.C.’s Kye Rowles both went into the book after a brief shoving match early in the second half as frustrations mounted.
Osorio tallied his first goal of the season. The Canadian international has scored a goal in every one of his 14 seasons in MLS.
D.C. has lost four straight while Toronto improved to 3-1-1 in their past five.
–Field Level Media
