Toronto FC kept the good times rolling on Saturday night, defeating FC Dallas 3-1 on their home pitch to extend their win streak to three games.
Italian designated player midfielder Federico Bernardeschi scored twice for the Reds (6-4-1, 19 points), scoring his first goals since Aug. 20, 2023. He also stepped up with Lorenzo Insigne remaining on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
English midfielder Matty Longstaff added a late insurance goal for Toronto in the 82nd minute. Sam Junqua scored for Dallas (2-6-2, 8 points) with an 87th-minute strike to ruin Sean Johnson’s bid at the clean sheet.
Bernardeschi opened the scoring in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, finishing a rebound off a penalty kick after Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes stopped the initial attempt. Toronto captain and Canadian international Jonathan Osorio drew the penalty, offering Bernardeschi the spot kick after a video review negated a goal earlier in the match.
It didn’t take long into the second half for Bernardeschi to score his second goal of the game. The Toronto winger ran down the right wing, beat two defenders to create space, and unleashed a curling strike from the top of the box to beat Paes, who dove to his left.
Longstaff’s goal came late in the match. He took a pass from Bernardeschi before slotting the ball toward the near post and past the Dallas goalkeeper.
Though head coach John Herdman and Toronto FC have experienced slumps this season, the three straight wins in MLS mark their longest win streak this season. They entered Saturday’s match after wins against the New England Revolution and Orlando City SC.
Johnson ended his night with a single save in the win, while Paes stopped three Toronto shots despite allowing three goals. Toronto outshot Dallas 13-7.
–Field Level Media
