State of the Union: New look Toronto FC grinding it out

The message was clear from Jonathan Osorio as he and his Toronto FC teammates huddled together on the pitch at BMO Field shortly after Saturday’s home opener. 

“This is our team. This is our team,” Osorio emphasized.  

Moments earlier, TFC put the final touches on a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC, a hard fought result that guaranteed the Reds’ best start to an MLS campaign since 2020 and their second-best in franchise history.   

The clean sheet was Toronto’s third in a row and was highlighted by Lorenzo Insigne’s spectacular game winner. But more important than any of that, the performance was characteristic of a new look TFC that has emerged in 2024 under John Herdman.