Toronto FC well positioned for BMO Field rematch with New York Red Bulls
HARRISON, N.J. — Faced with a New York pushback in the second half, Toronto FC served a timely reminder at Red Bull Arena that it can defend as well as it can attack.
Now the sixth-seeded Red Bulls, down 2-1 after the opening leg, face an uphill battle Sunday in Game 2 of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal at BMO Field where league-leading Toronto posted nine shutouts while going 13-1-3 this season.
The Red Bulls need to win and score at least two goals to survive, or at least match Monday’s score to force overtime. And given Toronto’s offence — it scored in 31 of 34 games this season and was last blanked at home on March 31 — that seems a very tall order.
Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, normally a firecracker on the sidelines, was a muted figure in the first half Monday as a loud, partisan crowd of 18,107 tried to cheer the home town on. At one point, after watching another turnover, he turned away and wiped his forehead in frustration.