Toronto FC suffer setback in home loss to Nashville SC

• Toronto FC 1 (Osorio 90’+1’), Nashville SC 2 (Surridge 57’, 89’)        
• Reds have a regular season record of 180 wins, 265 losses & 155 draws
• Jonathan Osorio scored on his return; now has 50 regular season goals

TORONTO – Beating up one of the worst clubs in MLS with the man advantage is one thing. Earning a result against the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference at even strength is quite another.  

It’s a lesson that Toronto FC learned the hard way as it crashed down to earn on Saturday in a hard-fought 2-1 home loss to Nashville SC at BMO Field before an announced crowd of 19,504.

TFC (3-8-4) were coming off a historic 6-1 road win over CF Montreal last weekend. They found the going much tougher against Nashville (8-4-3) who are now unbeaten in six MLS games (with four wins). Captain Jonathan Osorio came off the bench in the second half to score his 50th career regular season goal for the Reds. He missed the previous four contests with a dislocated shoulder. 

This was Toronto’s 600th regular season match in club history, but there were no celebrations on this special night for Robin Fraser’s side. The Reds have an all-time regular season record of 180 wins, 265 losses and 155 draws. Their all-time home record in regular season play is 123-97-79.   

Last week’s big win at Stade Saputo proved to be just a momentary reprieve for TFC, who were reminded on Saturday that they very much remain a work in progress. The Reds only came alive in the attack after going down and chased the game for most of the second half.

“I thought we didn't start as well as we needed to. We had, we had some difficulty starting attacks in the first half. A couple of reasons for that, but I felt like we just weren't sharp enough in the very beginning of the game, which led to a bit of a slog fest,” Fraser told reporters after Saturday's loss.

He later added: "I think without a doubt we're seeing progress. Yes, there's things that we want to see. And yes, we need to be better and more consistent in certain things, because I do believe that within most games, we see some very good moments. So, the idea now is to be more and more and more and more consistent."

Osorio offered: "I don't feel we're as bad as [our] record suggests. But at the same time, it doesn't matter. At some point you have to get results. But the team is improving it's play and that's a positive. We have to focus on this and work every day to now get results, because now, honestly, we can't waste any games. We have a lot of ground to cover."

Fraser made one lineup change from last week's win in Montreal, swapping in Canadian international Theo Corbeanu for Tyrese Spicer. Six players were ruled out due to injury: wingback Richie Laryea, defender Nicksoen Gomis (out for the season), midfielder Marcus Cimermancic, fullbacks Raoul Petretta and Kobe Franklin, and forward Deandre Kerr.  

Nashville's starting 11 featured ex-TFC players Jacob Shaffelburg and Daniel Lovitz, and former league MVP Hany Mukhtar.  

The first half was played at a quick pace but produced only one shot on target and no quality scoring chances between the sides. After dealing with Nashville’s pressing game early on, Toronto began to grow into the match and saw more of the ball in the attacking end of the pitch. The Reds’ most promising moments came via probing runs down the flanks through Corbeanu and Federico Bernardeschi, although their efforts didn’t lead to anything substantive.  

TFC’s first shot on target early in the second half was a beauty and nearly opened the scoring. Lorenzo Insigne delivered a great ball into the box for Ola Brynhildsen who hit a marvellous bicycle kick that forced Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to make a diving save at the far post.  

Nashville took the lead minutes later with a perfectly worked goal. After Toronto cleared away a corner kick, Andy Najar played a ball over the top that found a streaking Mukhtar inside the penalty area. The German played a brilliant first-touch pass across the box before the ball touched the ground for Sam Surridge to tap into an empty net.   

Mukhtar should have doubled the lead for the visitors soon after, but Sean Johnson tipped the Nashville attacker’s shot from close range onto the crossbar and out of play. Johnson came up with a fabulous diving stop on Mukhtar’s curling shot later in the half to keep it at 1-0.  

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Needing a goal, TFC began to force the issue in Nashville’s end of the pitch. Both Insigne and Brynhildsen had great looks on goal but failed to convert as they pushed their shots wide. Bernardeschi’s drive on goal from inside the box off a setup from Insigne was stopped by Willis.  

Toronto continued to pour on the pressure for the last 10 minutes of regulation, pinning Nashville deep inside its half. But Nashville doubled its lead when substitute Jonathan Perez was allowed to run down the middle unchecked before feeding a pass for Surridge who beat Johnson with an angled shot.  

Osorio’s goal from distance in injury time broke up Willis’ bid for a clean sheet. Substitute Charlie Sharp registered his first career assist for the Reds on the play.

Osorio is the third player in club history to score 50 career goals in the regular season, joining Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. The Canadian is only second homegrown player in MLS history to reach the 50 goal-50 assist milestone, joining current LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagúndez (76 goals, 76 assists). 

"It kind of sucks. I wish it could have been a game-winning goal or at least a game-tying goal to get a result," said Osorio, who has 67 goals in all competitions for TFC. 

NOTES: Nashville leads the all-time series against Toronto with four wins and three draws in eight regular season matches. Nashville also has a playoff win over Toronto… TFC are 1-2-2 at home vs. Nashville with their only win at BMO Field coming on Sept. 18, 2021... Saturday was the first of two regular season meetings between TFC and Nashville. They'll meet again on July 19 at Geodis Park... Toronto returns to MLS action when it hosts the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, May 28 (7:30 p.m. ET/Apple TV).  

(Top photo by Casey Telford)

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