Toronto FC pays for missed scoring opportunities, losing 2-1 to Nashville SC

TORONTO – Sam Surridge scored his second goal of the night in the 90th minute to complete Nashville’s 2-1 comeback win over Toronto FC in Major League Soccer play Wednesday.

Tyler Boyd set up the goal, cutting through Toronto’s defense before sending a cross to Surridge from close range before tapping home with a nifty back heel for his seventh of the season.

Toronto (7-9-3) had given Chicago goals with a variety of blunders in a 4-1 loss Saturday, prompting coach John Herdman to demand that “the real us” appear Wednesday.

This time TFC paid for not finishing in front of an announced crowd of 23,361 on a steamy BMO field. And Nashville (5-5-8) took advantage and rallied for the win in the second half.

Alonso Coello scored his first MLS goal for Toronto.

It was 31 degrees Celsius at kickoff and it felt like 41 degrees as Toronto experienced a heat wave. Yet Nashville wore black.

Federico Bernardeschi, returning from suspension, and compatriot Lorenzo Insigne pulled the strings for Toronto, ratcheting up the tension as the first half progressed. TFC led 1-0 at halftime and could have led by five after outscoring Nashville 13-4 (4-0 in shots on goal).

Toronto had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 31st minute, but Bernardeschi slipped as he took a penalty and sent the ball over the crossbar. The Italian won the penalty, dragged down by defender Brian Anunga who grabbed a handful of Bernardeschi’s jersey.

The penalty came seconds after Prince Owusu hit the Nashville goal post with a header from an Insigne cross.

It was Bernardeschi’s third penalty miss of the season, although he scored on the rebound when his penalty was saved against FC Dallas. He converted his first seven penalties in all competitions for TFC.

Toronto finally opened the scoring in the 34th minute, with Bernardeschi doing the hard work, beating a defender and keeping the ball in play before sending in a cross. A dummy run from Owusu left an unmarked Coello to drive the ball home.

It was sweet redemption for the 24-year-old Spaniard who had a tough night in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Chicago.

Insigne had a few scoring opportunities in the first half, but, like Owusu, missed the goal from close range.

Insigne came off in the 62nd minute as he worked his way back from injury and family time before the birth of his child.

Three minutes later, Nashville scored on its first shot on goal, with 2022 MVP Hany Mukhtar allowing too much space and circling Deybi Flores before finding Surridge, who opened his hips and curled a low shot past goalkeeper Luka Gavran.

Flores and Mukhtar were warned in the 71st minute after being caught up in the tackle. A few minutes later, Gavran had to be sharp to stop Walker Zimmerman’s header from a free kick.

Toronto is now winless in its last five league games (0-3-2) and has won just one of its last eight (1-5-2).

TFC entered midweek in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two spots and four points ahead of Nashville.

Nashville has lost just one of its last six games (2-1-3) since a 2-0 win over Toronto on May 15 at Geodis Park. But while Nashville’s defense was tight (recording shutouts in three of its previous four outings and conceding the fewest goals (five) in MLS since May 1), they entered Wednesday’s match with just 20 goals in 17 games.

Bernardeschi and defender Nicksoen Gomis returned from suspension on Wednesday.

Their availability was responsible for two of the three changes to Herdman’s starting lineup. Owusu, limited to 27 minutes off the bench on Saturday when he returned from a calf injury, was also back as a starter.

Wednesday’s game was in familiar territory for Nashville interim head coach Rumba Munthali. Born in Zambia, 45-year-old Munthali grew up in Brampton, Ontario, and played for the Toronto Lynx.

Both teams were missing players for Wednesday’s match, which celebrated Indigenous heritage.

Toronto captain/midfielder Jonathan Osorio and fullback Richie Laryea (Canada) and goalkeeper Sean Johnson (USA) are at the Copa America. Wingback Tyrese Spicer, who missed the game against Chicago due to a back injury, remains out, while defender Shane O’Neill and midfielder Brandon Servania are out with long-term injuries.

Toronto signed 19-year-old TFC II midfielder Charlie Staniland to a short-term deal in the MLS before the match.

Nashville winger Jacob Shaffelburg, a former TFC player, is also with Canada, while midfielder Aníbal Godoy is with Panama and defender Shaq Moore with American-Canadian defender Lukas MacNaughton, another former TFC player, was absent with an ankle injury.

Toronto visits the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, while Nashville hosts New York City FC.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2024

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press