Unbeaten in six after dropping its first two matches of the MLS season, Toronto FC is trending in the precise route and exhibiting some indicators that it may finish its five-year playoff drought.
TFC (3-2-3) confirmed loads of grit and resilience in Saturday’s 3-3 draw in opposition to Austin FC at BMO Discipline, a sport that noticed the hosts twice come again from a aim down within the second half to take a share of the factors on provide.
“It is a actually good group of fellows, and so they simply maintain preventing. They at all times, at all times maintain preventing. The vary of feelings once more — down a aim, have a lead, surrender the lead, down a aim once more, after which combat again — actually speaks volumes of the character, and even towards the top, we in all probability may have gotten one other one,” coach Robin Fraser informed reporters after the sport.
Toronto’s newest comeback effort means it has gained seven factors from dropping positions this season, one other indication that this membership is slowly getting its home so as.
On the similar time, there are critical causes for concern for TFC.
Toronto was tied for the sixth-best defensive report in MLS in 2025 throughout Fraser’s first marketing campaign on the helm, a tremendous turnaround for a aspect that ranked close to the underside of the league in targets conceded in 2024.
TFC proved to be a troublesome group to interrupt down final yr, however this yr, not a lot. The Reds have only one clear sheet by way of their first eight matches and have coughed up three targets in a single sport on three separate events. They’re averaging 1.75 targets in opposition to per match in 2026, a big enhance from final season after they averaged simply 1.29.
Saturday’s stalemate in opposition to Austin wasn’t fairly from a defensive perspective for Toronto. Lacking beginning centre backs Walker Zimmerman and Benjamin Kuscevic because of accidents, the Reds struggled to keep up a stout defensive posture all through the match, and the guests took full benefit by scoring three targets that at greatest may very well be described as preventable and at worst as gentle.
Austin opened the scoring within the twenty ninth minute off a throw-in (of all issues!) that went by way of the legs of TFC midfielder José Cifuentes contained in the penalty space. The ball landed on the ft of Jonathan Bell, who shortly pivoted and unleashed a shot from 10 yards out whereas surrounded by a number of Toronto gamers that took a deflection and whizzed previous goalkeeper Luke Gavran.
Down 2-1 within the 78th minute, Austin launched a counterattack down the center that simply ripped by way of TFC’s defence and ended with Facundo Torres netting the equalizer by sweeping Robert Taylor’s ball throughout the field from eight yards out. Toronto was caught napping once more minutes later when a cross into the field deflected off defender Zane Monlouis, permitting Austin’s Christian Ramirez to pounce and fireplace it residence because the guests took the lead.
Fortunately for the Reds, they have been in a position to rescue a degree due to Kobe Franklin’s tying aim within the 88th minute — it was additionally his first MLS aim in 69 league video games since making his TFC debut in 2022.
However that should not disguise the truth that Toronto has been defensively inconsistent this season, which received’t sit properly with Fraser, a former two-time MLS defender of the yr throughout his taking part in profession.
“I hope the followers take pleasure in all of the targets; I actually do not. I assumed we began off very well … and defensively, we’re making [it] very tough for them. After which I assumed possibly our depth stage simply dropped a bit, which allowed them again into the sport,” Fraser defined.
“[In the] second half, I assumed our mentality was a lot better once more. Clearly, [we] created the aim in quite a lot of possibilities. However you’ve to have the ability to cease groups as properly. So, disappointing in the truth that we gave up three targets.”
It’s nonetheless early on within the marketing campaign — we’re not even 1 / 4 of the way in which by way of the season — and beneath regular circumstances, Toronto would have loads of time to make changes and enhancements.
But it surely’s not so easy for a group that has a brand new central defensive pairing in Zimmerman and Kuscevic, who’ve by no means beforehand performed collectively, and are additionally coping with different defensive accidents. A groin difficulty saved fellow newcomer Matheus Pereira out of Saturday’s contest, whereas Henry Wingo and Nicksoen Gomis are nonetheless working their method again to full health following prolonged damage layovers.
There’s going to be a studying curve concerned for TFC because it tries to set issues proper on the defensive finish, particularly with a again line that includes a number of new faces.
“Clearly, there are going to be ebbs and flows and now we have to be snug within the moments [in games] that we won’t get to the issues that we usually can. And in these moments, now we have to remain collectively and simply be sure that groups do not get between us and behind us. That is all a part of the maturation technique of this group, which means now we have some very mature gamers, however as a group, we’re comparatively new,” Fraser mentioned.
Elsewhere in MLS this previous weekend:
• The Vancouver Whitecaps proceed to be the category of MLS this season, a convincing 3-0 residence over Sporting Kansas Metropolis on Friday cementing their spot atop the general league desk with a 7-1-0 report. Emmanuel Sabbi had a aim and an help, whereas Bruno Caicedo scored his first aim in league play for a Whitecaps aspect that’s off to its greatest begin to an MLS season in membership historical past.
• CF Montreal (2-6-0) snapped a four-game dropping streak and climbed out of final place within the MLS standings due to a convincing 4-1 residence win over the New York Pink Bulls on Saturday. The win was a welcome aid for Montreal, which was taking part in its first match beneath interim coach Philippe Eullaffroy following the firing of Marco Donadel the week prior.
• It’s at all times an enormous event when Lionel Messi involves city, a truth not misplaced on the Colorado Rapids, who moved Saturday’s residence sport from Dick’s Sporting Items Park to Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive, residence of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Messi placed on a present by scoring two targets in a 3-2 win earlier than 75,824 followers, the second greatest crowd in MLS historical past. Solely a July 4, 2023, match between the LA Galaxy and LAFC drew extra spectators — 82,110.
Editor’s be aware
John Molinaro is likely one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 27 years for a number of media retailers, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports activities and Solar Media. He’s at the moment the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a web site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.
