Earthquakes spoil Criscito’s night out for Toronto FC with extra-time goal

Lucas2022-07-10

After a week of seismic activity in Toronto FC’s front office, the San Jose earthquakes shook the world of Toronto on Saturday night. And not in a good way.

TFC came back in spectacular fashion from a 1-0 deficit with two spectacular second-half goals by GTA lads Deandre Kerr and Jonathan Osorio to take a 2-1 lead after Jeremy Ebobisse scored for San Jose in the first 45 minutes.

But then, in stoppage time, San Jose midfielder Jack Skahan tied the game 2-2 when he scored after a gift from the Reds in their own half. Just before that goal, TFC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg made a huge save on Ebobisse.

The draw was a heartbreaking result for the Reds, who dominated most of the game and are desperate to start racking up the wins. The TFC is six points out of a playoff spot in the MLS Eastern Conference with 15 games to play and six teams to go.

Saturday’s game marked left-back Domenico Criscito’s first appearance in a TFC uniform. Criscito joined the Genoa Reds after the end of the Serie A regular season and showed quality and creativity early on on the left side, although the 35-year-old, who hadn’t played a real game since a few weeks out, tired near the end of the game and appeared to injure his right hamstring before being substituted in the 80th minute. He received a big ovation from the crowd.

Criscito’s Italian national teammate Lorenzo Insigne, who is nursing a calf injury, will not play for Toronto on Saturday, not being ready to play on the pitch until at least July 23, when TFC host Charlotte. TFC centre-back Carlos Salcedo, who could be transferred to FC Juárez from the Liga MX due to family problems in Mexico, was also not in the squad.

The TFC acquired veteran MLS midfielder and Canadian international Mark-Anthony Kaye on Friday in exchange for 19-year-old midfielder Ralph Priso, a place on the 2023 international roster, a natural choice first round of the MLS SuperDraft in 2023 and General Allocation Money (GAM). He wasn’t in the lineup against San Jose.

Earlier in the week, the Reds traded star attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (2020 MLS MVP) to Inter Miami for US$150,000 in MAG. TFC are trying to acquire former Juventus winger/attacking midfielder Federico Bernardeschi now that the 28-year-old’s contract at Juventus has expired.

Two Canadian teenagers — Kerr and Jayden Nelson — have played well for the TFC on offense.

torontosun

Lucas2022-07-10