Union earn crushing road draw after Toronto FC’s second-half comeback: ‘This was two points lost’
Leading 2-0, the Union allowed Toronto to score two second-half goals. Nathan Harriel nearly had the game winner, but Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran scored in the 96th minute to tie it 3-3.
Toronto FC mounted a stunning second-half comeback to secure a 3-3 draw with the Union at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.
Nathan Harriel looked as though he had won it for the Union with a goal in the 89th minute, but Luka Gavran, Toronto’s goalkeeper, scored to tie the game in the 96th minute after coming into the Union box for a last-ditch set piece.
Goals from Milan Iloski and Danley Jean Jacques put the Union (1-6-2, five points) up, 2-0, but two second-half goals for Toronto (3-2-4, 13 points) brought the game level. Josh Sargent scored Toronto’s first in the 56th, and Kobe Franklin evened the game eight minutes later.
The draw is the second in as many games for the Union, who are unbeaten in their last three matches.
“You can’t be coming away from home, taking the lead [two] times and giving up the lead,” Union manager Bradley Carnell said. “I feel that this was two points lost today.”
The Union applied pressure over the opening 15 minutes, keeping the ball in Toronto’s half, but the Union could not convert on four early shots.
Toronto began to settle around the 20th minute, and Walker Zimmerman nearly put the home team up in the 27th minute. Zimmerman got his head to the end of a corner kick at the back post, but Harriel was there to block the shot off the goal line.
Harriel’s clearance rebounded back out to José Cifuentes near the top of the 18-yard box, but Cifuentes’ shot sailed out for a goal kick.
Indiana Vassilev was knocked down by Zimmerman on his run to the ball, leaving Vassilev on the turf clutching his side. Trainers came out to check on Vassilev, but after a lengthy injury stoppage, the midfielder was able to walk to the sideline. He rejoined play shortly after the match restarted in the 31st minute.
The Union’s backline came up big again in the 44th minute. Josh Sargent had an advantageous angle on Andre Blake from inside the 18-yard box, but Japhet Sery Larsen was able to deflect Sargent’s shot out with his foot.
The Union found the match’s opening goal in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. Jovan Lukić controlled a turnover in the Toronto half and played a quick ball forward to Iloski, who made a run past the Toronto backline.
Through on goal, Iloski beat Luka Gavran with a right-footed shot across the face of the net. The goal was Iloski’s second of the MLS season, and his third this season across all competitions.
Toronto had two chances from inside the Union’s 18-yard box before the halftime whistle, but neither resulted in a goal for the home side.
Jean Jacques added a second goal for the Union in the 52nd minute. The midfielder pressured Zane Monlouis deep in the Union’s attacking third and made contact with the ball as Monlouis attempted a clearance.
Jean Jacques was able to redirect the ball toward Toronto’s net, where it looped over Gavran and put the Union up, 2-0.
“That wasn’t lucky,” Carnell said of Jean Jacques’ goal. “We knew those types of moments can happen, and we put them under pressure. ... I’m glad he got rewarded.”
Sargent pulled one back for Toronto in the 56th minute, besting Blake with a left-footed shot. The goal is Sargent’s second since joining Toronto in February.
Kobe Franklin scored for Toronto in the 64th minute, tying the game at two goals apiece. Franklin took a right-footed shot from the right side of the 18-yard box. It hit off the inside of the left post and went into the back of Blake’s net.
“There’s a couple of moments where we don’t really defend, one versus one, in the way that we usually do, in a space and a capacity that I know we can,” Carnell said. “It’s just a bitter pill to swallow.”
Carnell made a change to his lineup after Franklin’s goal, bringing in Alejandro Bedoya for Vassilev in the 65th minute. Carnell made another change in the 79th, swapping Ezekiel Alladoh for Bruno Damiani.
Still searching for a winner, Carnell made his final changes in the 82nd minute, bringing in Malik Jakupovic and Cavan Sullivan for Iloski and Lukić in the 82nd minute.
Harriel put the Union up from a corner in the 89th minute. Jesús Bueno played the ball to Bedoya, who headed it on to the back post.
Harriel got his head to the ball, redirecting it past Gavran and giving the Union a 3-2 lead.
Gavran got his revenge at the game’s last gasp, beating Blake to steal a point and extend Toronto’s unbeaten streak to seven games.
Up next
The Union will finish a two-match road trip with a visit to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to face the Columbus Crew on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).