TFC REPUBLIC

TFC opens Leagues Cup with win vs. Red Bulls

John Molinaro -
  • Toronto FC 0, New York Red Bulls 0 
  • TFC win 5-4 in shootout; Insigne hits crossbar 
  • Herdman fields strong starting 11, including all 3 DPs  

It was Sean Johnson to the rescue for Toronto FC in its opening match at the Leagues Cup. 

The veteran shot stopper made a pair of saves and substitute Shane O’Neill scored the winner to lift Toronto to a 5-4 penalty shootout victory away to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.

After the teams played to a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes of regulation, TFC faced elimination twice in the shootout after Lorenzo Insigne hit the crossbar on his team’s first penalty and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty saw his shot saved on Toronto's sixth attempt. 

But TFC held their nerve as Johnson made big stops on Cory Burke and Andres Reyes, and O’Neill converted Toronto’s seventh penalty to seal the win for the visitors at Red Bull Arena.