Toronto FC settles for road draw in season opener

• Toronto FC 2 (Osorio 28’; Bernardeschi 70’), D.C. United 2 (Enow 8’; Benteke 35’)
• TFC earn a point in Robin Fraser’s debut as coach  
• Reds haven’t won a season opener since 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wins in MLS season openers continue to elude Toronto FC.  

TFC kicked off their 2025 domestic campaign by valiantly coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against D.C. United at Audi Field on a crisp Saturday night in the American capital.

While it was a moral victory of sorts for the Reds, they would have much preferred the genuine article as this result means they are now winless in six consecutive MLS curtain raisers.  

Captain Jonathan Osorio and Federico Bernardeschi scored for Toronto who has an all-time record of five wins, nine losses and five draws in their season openers. TFC's lone win in their opening match of the MLS campaign came in 2019 when they earned a 3-1 road decision over the Philadelphia Union courtesy of a brace from former captain Michael Bradley and a goal by Nick DeLeon.  

Saturday's match began a fresh chapter for TFC with newly-hired coach Robin Fraser taking charge of the team for the first time. It’s early days so no definitive conclusions can be drawn other than the Reds are clearly a work in progress.

Toronto struggled to deal with D.C.’s pesky and persistent pressing style for long stretches, and committed too many giveaways that led to dangerous chances in transition for the home side. At the same time, Fraser's squad showed a lot of grit and heart in twice fighting back from a goal down to earn a valuable road point.

"We started off with a few nervous mistakes, and then I think we grew into the game. ... As confidence grew, our stance changed, and we started to be a little bit more aggressive, and at times we were able to control the game. So, overall, I was really pretty pleased with it," Fraser said in the post-match press conference.

"I think we probably will regret missing some of the chances that we did, but the fact that we're creating the chances is really good."

It was sentiment echoed by 20-year-old Markus Cimermancic, who earned a start in his first MLS appearance.

"We were happy to get the point, but we thought we deserved more. ... We were pleased, but not satisfied," Cimermanic stated.

Osorio put in a man-of-the match effort and marked the occasion by becoming the first player in TFC history to play and score in 13 MLS seasons.  

"I've said this before, I don't think there is a person alive who embodies TFC more than Oso. I didn't know [about] that stat, but it's very, very fitting. He bleeds red... It speaks so much about him that he has played 13 seasons, scored in 13 seasons. That means he's been significant for 13 seasons for the club that he grew up loving and loves," Fraser offered.

"I'm so happy to have him. I think his intelligence, his work rate, his leadership, whether by the things that he says or how he works on the field is a huge, huge part of this team. I'm very fortunate to be working with him again."

Fraser's initial starting 11 was set up in a fluid 5-3-2 formation that saw Sean Johnson play behind centre backs Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted and Henry Wingo, who were flanked by wingbacks Richie Laryea and Cimermanic. Osorio anchored things in midfield (although he sometimes operated as a false nine) and was supported by Deybi Flores and Alonso Coello, while Bernardeschi and Theo Corbeanu played up top. Cimermanic and Corbeanu were making their TFC debuts. Also debuting for Toronto was defender Zane Monlouis who came on deep into injury time.

Lorenzo Insigne was back in Toronto as the club is trying to work out an exit plan for the Italian DP. Norwegian forward Ola Brynhildsen is still working his way back into match fitness and wasn’t in the matchday squad. Defender Nicksoen Gomis, who is coming off a calf injury, was also missing. D.C.’s starting 11 featured former TFC midfielder Brandon Servania who was making his debut for the hosts.

Toronto thought it won a penalty in the first minute when Corbeanu got tangled up with D.C.’s Boris Enow, but the ref waived play on and a VAR review didn’t reverse his non-call. Moments later, Gabriel Pirani's left-footed shot just went over the crossbar at the opposite end of the pitch.  

D.C. kept applying pressure and opened the scoring early on. Enow intercepted a poor pass by Wingo, split two TFC players and easily sidestepped Long before firing past Johnson from inside the box. Johnson turned away an Aaron Herrera free kick later in the half as D.C. continued to turn the screws.  

Toronto slowly grew into the game and nearly equalized when D.C. goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong, a 21-year-old making his MLS debut, mishandled Bernardeschi’s shot from distance. The South Korean committed another error as he couldn't corral Wingo’s low ball across the box, which led to a botched clearance by Herrara. Osorio pounced and slotted the loose ball past a helpless Kim Jun-hong.

D.C. regained the advantage after Lucas Bartlett played a high ball out from the back that released Jacob Murrell down the right side. Murrell penetrated deep and took advantage of Cimermancic not doing enough to close him down by delivering a gorgeous cross to the edge of the six-yard box. The ball went over Long and Christian Benteke connected on a powerful header that sailed past Johnson.  

"The ball was played over my head, and I wasn't able to stop the cross," Cimermancic admitted.

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Toronto started the second half on the front foot with both Flores and Osorio forcing Kim Jun-hong to make a pair of solid saves from close range in the opening minutes.

TFC were in the ascendancy and were given a gift when Servania’s high boot clipped Laryea inside the box while challenging for the ball. Bernardeschi powered his penalty shot past Kim Jun-hong to draw the visitors level. 

Corbeanu broke in on goal down the right flank after latching onto a fabulous through ball by Coello only to see Kim Jun-hong make a smart kick save at the near post.  Johnson fought through traffic to punch away a wicked cross by David Schnegg deep into the box in the dying minutes to help preserve a draw for TFC.

NOTES: D.C. leads the all-time MLS regular season series against Toronto with 18 wins and 13 draws in 43 games. TFC are 4-8-9 on the road vs. D.C. with their last road victory coming in 2016 when D.C. was still playing its home games at RFK Stadium... This was the first of two regular season games between Toronto and D.C. They'll meet again on May 10 at BMO Field... TFC remains on the road and will face Orlando City at Inter&Co Stadium on March 1 (7:30 p.m. ET/Apple TV).

(Top photo courtesy of Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)

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