Toronto FC rally past Orlando City to end head-to-head skid

Toronto FC scored twice in three minutes to rally for a 2-1 win against host Orlando City on Saturday.

After Tyrese Spicer pulled Toronto level in the 87th minute with a header at the top of the goal area, Prince Owusu was at the left side of the net to head in a pass through the box from Federico Bernardeschi short side to put Toronto ahead 2-1 in the 90th minute.

It was Toronto's (5-4-1, 16 points) first win against Orlando since 2019.

Duncan McGuire scored for Orlando (2-4-3, 9 points), which had its four-game unbeaten streak end.

It was a slow start early for both sides as neither was able to generate a sustained attack.

Owusu registered the first shot attempt for either side in the ninth minute with a shot from outside the box that went over the crossbar.

McGuire gave Orlando a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute. Robin Jansson volleyed a pass from midfield to Torres, who hustled to catch up with the bouncing ball at the edge of the box. Torres then quickly sent a cross from the left side to McGuire driving to the goal area, where the forward got his right foot on it for the tap-in past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

Bernadeschi had arguably Toronto's best opportunity in the first half in the 42nd minute on a cross from the right side but the ball missed the left post by inches.

McGuire appeared to score his second of the match in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, but the goal was waved off for offside.

In the 61st minute, Orlando's Dagur Thorhallsson jumped into the play, collecting a deflected Torres pass near the spot for an attempt, but his shot rolled just wide of the net.

In the 68th minute, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese denied Alonso Coello's point-blank attempt from the right side of the box.

Johnson countered with a big stop in the 73rd minute when he dove to get his hands on Torres' left-foot kick and deflect it away.