Toronto FC’s on a roll, extends its club-record win streak to six
TORONTO — The number six written large on the white board in Toronto FC’s dressing room said it all.
Thanks to a 77th-minute Tosaint Ricketts’ header, Toronto extended its Major League Soccer franchise-record win streak to six games Saturday with an eventful 3-2 win over expansion Minnesota United.
Toronto (7-1-4) had to do it the hard way, losing Sebastian Giovinco and Nick Hagglund to injury during the game with Jason Hernandez subbed at halftime due to illness.
“Even on a day when things weren’t perfect, we found a way to really push and really go for it ... in a way where there was only going to be one team walking away with three points,” said captain Michael Bradley
The injuries — and a secondhalf pushback from Minnesota — made for a wide-open final 45 minutes that produced four goals before more than 27,000 fans at BMO Field.
“A little too entertaining for my liking,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney said.
“They kept matching our goals.”
But Vanney took pride in the resilience of his league-leading team on the day and during a recent gruelling part of the schedule. Toronto’s last five wins — Houston, Orlando, Seattle, Columbus and Minnesota — have come since April 28.
“Guys are exhausted,” said Vanney.
“They’ve put a lot into this stretch and exceeded any of our expectations over this (run) in terms of taking points in every game.”
After the game, Bradley called on the league to improve its scheduling.
The good news is the team doesn’t play again until Friday, but that kicks off another fivegame, 15-day stretch.
Hagglund’s knee injury appears the most serious on the day, requiring an MRI.
Veteran centre back Drew Moor, who has been out since mid-April with an irregular heartbeat, is close to a full return, however, so a replacement is likely available if needed.
Minnesota (3-6-2) likely deserved a better fate — at least a point.
After a dreadful start (0-3-1) that saw the team leak 18 goals, Minnesota arrived on the back of a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City and had lost just once in its last four games (2-1-1).
The Loons are 0-4-2 on the road, however.
“The last few weeks they are starting to believe in what we are trying to do,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said.
“I think the most important thing, from our point of view, is that we are getting better.”
Toronto failed to convert ties into wins in four of its first five outings this season but has been perfect since a 2-1 loss in Columbus on April 15.
The last team to win six straight in one season was New England in 2015.