Toronto FC (7W-9L-3T, 24 points) lost by a score of 1-2 to the visiting Nashville SC (5W-5L-8T, 23 points), at BMO Field on Wednesday evening.

First Half:

Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman made three changes from the side’s starting eleven against Chicago Fire on the weekend, with Sigurd Rosted, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and Deandre Kerr making way for Nicksoen Gomis, Federico Bernardeschi and Prince Owusu.

The hosts began proceedings on the front foot, enjoying majority of the possession and outnumbering Nashville’s attempted shots by 13 to 4 through the opening 45 minutes at BMO Field.

In the 29^th minute, Lorenzo Insigne’s clipped ball into the box was met by Prince Owusu, only for the German forward’s header to come off the post. Federico Bernardeschi was quickest to the rebound and drew Nashville’s Tah Anunga into committing a foul in the box, leaving referee Chris Penso with no option but to point to the penalty spot. Bernardeschi stepped up but was unable to convert from 12 yards out however.

Moments later, the Reds made their dominance count, when Alonso Coello’s side-footed effort from Bernardeschi’s pass flew past Nashville’s Joe Willis to find the back of the net. The 34^th minute goal marked: the Spanish midfielder’s first competitive goal for Toronto FC in his 39^th appearance for the club, Bernardeschi’s fifth MLS assist of the 2024 season and Derrick Etienne Jr.’s first MLS assist for the Reds.

Second Half:

Following back-and-forth exchanges to begin the second half, the visitors drew level when a sweeping move led by Hany Mukhtar’s silky dribbling was capped off by Sam Surridge’s neat finish in the 64^th minute. The effort marked the ex-Nottingham Forest player’s sixth MLS goal and the German playmaker’s seventh assist of the 2024 MLS campaign.

Eager to take the lead, the two Eastern Conference sides played out a tense final 25 minutes before the Boys in Gold scored a dramatic 90^th minute winner, when Sam Surridge completed his brace with a clever close-range finish from substitute Tyler Boyd’s disguised pass into the box.

Despite the Reds’ valiant efforts in stoppage time, the hosts were unable to find a late equalizer to salvage a point, ultimately falling by a score of 1-2 to Nashville SC.

Toronto FC return to MLS action following another quick turnaround when the Reds visit New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening. Kickoff from Red Bull Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN5 in Canada.

LINEUPS:

TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Nicksoen Gomis, Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta; Federico Bernardeschi, Alonso Coello (Kosi Thompson 88’), Deybi Flores, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Deandre Kerr 88’); Matty Longstaff, Lorenzo Insigne (C) (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 62’), Prince Owusu (Kobe Franklin 81’)

Substitutes Not Used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Aimé Mabika, Sigurd Rosted, Charlie Staniland, Cassius Mailula

NASHVILLE SC – Joe Willis; Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman (C) (Brent Kallman 75’), Jack Maher, Daniel Lovitz; Tah Anunga (Sean Davis 46’), Dru Yearwood (Forster Ajago 85’), Alex Muyl (Tyler Boyd 46’), Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge; Teal Bunbury (Amar Sejdić 85’)

Substitutes Not Used: Elliot Panicco, Joey Skinner, Taylor Washington, Isaiah Jones

NOTABLES:

• Alonso Coello scored his first goal for Toronto FC, becoming the 10^th different player to open his account for the Reds during the 2024 season.
• Derrick Etienne Jr. registered his first MLS assist for TFC since joining the club on April 24, 2024.

POSTMATCH SOUND

• Link can be found **here**