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Canada News.Net
6 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Toronto FC continue uphill battle vs. Charlotte FC
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) Toronto FC will attempt to continue to chip away at a sizable deficit in the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday night when they visit Charlotte FC. With 11 matches remaining in the regular season, Toronto FC (5-12-6, 21 points) reside 12 points out of ninth place for the conference's final playoff spot. While the Canadian side has an uphill challenge, the club has four points in four matches since the departures of Italian internationals Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser remains optimistic even though his team lost 1-0 to Nashville SC last Saturday. 'If you look at the last several games, I'm really proud of the character that this group shows,' Fraser said. 'Whatever the circumstances are, we're keeping ourselves in games.' The Reds will face a tough opponent in seventh-place Charlotte FC (11-11-2, 35 points), who have won three matches in a row and are unbeaten in their last four (3-0-1). Charlotte answered an early tally by Atlanta United by scoring three goals in a row in a 3-2 victory last Saturday. The win included the 10th goal of the season for Pep Biel, who has started all 23 matches in which he has played for Charlotte this season. Biel is on a tear with five goals in the last five matches, including the match-winner against D.C. United on July 16. That offensive firepower and winning matches have changed the tone of Charlotte FC. 'Yeah, I can see from the last few games ... that obviously they're a little bit chirpier and happier, as they should be having earned an extra day off by getting the result,' Charlotte manager Dean Smith said. 'You know everybody gets a little bit chirpier and a little bit more confident, and you can take that into the games then and use that.' Charlotte recorded a 2-0 win in Toronto on May 31 in the teams' only meeting this season.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insigne reveals 2026 World Cup goal after disastrous Toronto spell
Lorenzo Insigne does not see his disastrous spell with Toronto FC as the end of the road for his playing career. The Italian believes there is more yet to accomplish, and is even aiming to play a role in helping his country qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Advertisement Insigne scored just 15 goals in 66 MLS matches for Toronto, despite being one of the highest paid players in league history. The former Napoli star was brought in along with compatriot Federico Bernardeschi to help catapult Toronto back into the upper echelon of MLS but the Canadian club failed to qualify for the playoffs in all three seasons the duo donned the red shirt together. Toronto terminated the contracts of the two attackers earlier this month. Yet Insigne says he still hopes to play a role in helping Italy qualify for the World Cup in 2026. "I hope to return to play as soon as possible," Insigne said this week. "The goal is the 2026 World Cup.' Advertisement Insigne last featured for Italy in 2022, and it is unclear what his next move is following his TFC exit. 📸 Tim Nwachukwu - 2023 Getty Images
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Former Maurizio Sarri Pupil Gives His Priority to Lazio
Despite the gloomy mood at the club, Lorenzo Insigne has given his preference to Lazio, as he remains very much interested in a reunion with Maurizio Sarri. The 34-year-old is now a free agent after terminating his contract with Toronto FC. After three underwhelming seasons in Major League Soccer, the winger has expressed his desire to play in Serie A once again. He had only represented his hometown club of Napoli during his time in the Italian top flight. Advertisement Why Lorenzo Insigne Wants Maurizio Sarri Reunion Insigne played for the Partenopei's first team for 10 years, but many believe his best performances occurred under Sarri's guidance. The two men still share a strong bond, and as we told you before, the manager called his former pupil to enquire about his availability. (Photo by) Even though Lazio cannot sign any new players this summer due to a transfer ban, we can confirm that the Euro 2024 winner still considers the Italian capital side his preferred destination. Hence, he has decided to cast aside all other proposals for now, including one from Udinese. Advertisement Lazio Hoping to Lift the Ban in September & Sign Insigne on Free Transfer Insigne is thus willing to wait for the Biancocelesti, at least if they manage to unblock their market operations after the end of the summer transfer window. The hierarchy will know more about this next week, and their ability to sign the former Napoli captain could hinge on the outcome.
National Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
New-look Toronto FC beaten 3-1 by New York City FC
NEW YORK — Toronto FC, in its first outing since buying out the contacts of Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, was beaten 3-1 by New York City FC in the lone MLS game Thursday. Article content Hannes Wolf, Mitja Ilenic and Kevin O'Toole scored for New York (9-7-4). Eight of NYCFC's wins have come at home (8-3-0). Article content Article content The win moved NYCFC up three places to sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, seven places and 14 points above Toronto. Article content While Toronto (4-11-5) was competitive at Yankee Stadium, its offence was stagnant in the first half. There wasn't much offence until Ola Brynhildsen and Theo Corbeanu both tested New York 'keeper Tomas Romero around the hour mark. Article content At the other end it too often allowed NYCFC attackers too clear a path to TFC's goal. Article content '(It's) disappointing because I thought we more than started well,' said Toronto coach Robin Fraser. 'I thought for a lot of the game we were really good. And really solid. Article content 'Mistakes. Mistakes did us in. We're disappointed in the result, partially because we know how badly we need results. But really I'm proud of the effort. The effort was great. There were a couple of mental lapses that ended up costing us too much. But so many guys played so well and put in a real honest shift. It's just disappointing when you do so many things well and you still come out on this side of it.' Article content New York outshot Toronto 10-8 (5-2 in shots on target). Article content Toronto started brightly but found itself trailing 1-0 in the 20th minute when, after a NYCFC free kick, a cross found Wolf and the Austrian midfielder's stylish left-footed volley went in after beating Sean Johnson and hitting both goalposts. Article content It was the ninth goal of the season for Wolf and his sixth in his last six games. Article content Ilenic doubled the lead in the 49th minute, sticking out a leg to deflect in Agustin Ojeda's cross after the Argentine winger had been allowed to race towards the Toronto goal without challenge. Ilenic, a 20-year-old Slovenian international fullback, marked his second goal of the season with Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark celebration. Article content Toronto cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 70th minute via an own goal. Corbeanu beat a defender down the right flank, reached the byline and sent in a cross that deflected off defender Justin Haak and then Romero into the goal. Article content O'Toole restored New York's two-goal lead in the 74th minute. Kosi Thompson was dispossessed and Maxi Moralez passed the ball to Wolf, who found O'Toole unchecked in the Toronto penalty box. The substitute dribbled towards goal and beat Johnson with a low shot. Article content Fraser went with the same lineup that beat visiting Portland 3-0 Saturday in what was TFC's best performance of the season.
Globe and Mail
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Toronto FC lose 3-1 to NYCFC in first game since buying out Insigne. Bernardeschi contracts
Toronto FC, in its first outing since buying out the contacts of Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, was beaten 3-1 by New York City FC in the lone MLS game Thursday. Hannes Wolf, Mitja Ilenic and Kevin O'Toole scored for New York (9-7-4). Eight of NYCFC's wins have come at home (8-3-0). The win moved NYCFC up three places to sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, seven places and 14 points above Toronto. While Toronto (4-11-5) was competitive at Yankee Stadium, its offence was stagnant in the first half. There wasn't much offence until Ola Brynhildsen and Theo Corbeanu both tested New York 'keeper Tomas Romero around the hour mark. At the other end it too often allowed NYCFC attackers too clear a path to TFC's goal. Toronto FC buys out hefty contracts of Italy's Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi Toronto started brightly but found itself trailing 1-0 in the 20th minute when, after a NYCFC free kick, a cross found Wolf and the Austrian midfielder's stylish left-footed volley went in after beating Sean Johnson and hitting both goalposts. It was the ninth goal of the season for Wolf and his sixth in his last six games. Ilenic doubled the lead in the 49th minute, sticking out a leg to deflect in Agustín Ojeda's cross after the Argentine winger had been allowed to race towards the Toronto goal without challenge. Ilenic, a 20-year-old Slovenian international fullback, marked his second goal of the season with Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark celebration. Toronto cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 70th minute via an own goal. Corbeanu beat a defender down the right flank, reached the byline and sent in a cross that deflected off defender Justin Haak and then Romero into the goal. O'Toole restored New York's two-goal lead in the 74th minute. Kosi Thompson was dispossessed and Maxi Moralez passed the ball to Wolf, who found O'Toole unchecked in the Toronto penalty box. The substitute dribbled towards goal and beat Johnson with a low shot. Toronto coach Robin Fraser went with the same lineup that beat visiting Portland 3-0 Saturday in what was TFC's best performance of the season. Toronto moved the ball around but showed little in front of goal in a first half that saw both teams attempt four shots with NYCFC holding a 2-0 edge in shots on target. TFC defender Kevin Long was shown a yellow card in the second minute with midfielder Matty Longstaff following him into referee Fotis Bazakos' book in the 20th minute. Defender Richie Laryea, back from Gold Cup duty with Canada, came on in the 57th minute. Maxime Dominguez became the third TFC player to be cautioned after a tussle with Ilenic in the 67th minute. Thompson made his 100th appearance for TFC in all competitions. New York forward Alonso Martínez returned from international duty with Costa Rica but goalkeeper Matt Freese, the hero of the American penalty shootout quarter-final win over Honduras, remains at the Gold Cup. Romero, an El Salvador international and former Toronto player, started in goal for NYCFC. Canadian Greg Ranjitsingh, his backup, also had a stint with TFC. Toronto defenders Nicksoen Gomis, Zane Monlouis and Henry Wingo remain long-term casualties. Captain Jonathan Osorio was also out, recovering from a lower-body injury suffered with Canada, while midfielder Deybi Flores played in Honduras's 2-1 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup semi-final Wednesday in California. Toronto signed TFC 2 defender Reid Fisher and midfielder Malik Henry to MLS short-term agreements for the game. Originally drafted by CF Montreal in the second round (39 overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Henry's promotion cost Toronto a third-round draft pick in 2026 with US$75,000 in conditional general allocation money, given Montreal had retained his MLS priority rights. Henry came on in the 70th minute, picking up a yellow soon after. Toronto has had little success at NYCFC with a 1-6-5 regular-season record there. The lone win was a 1-0 decision on Sept. 23, 2020, thanks to a 90th-minute Alejandro Pozuelo penalty in a game played at Red Bull Arena. TFC has won two playoff games at NYCFC. Up next, Toronto hosts Atlanta United on July 12 while NYCFC visits Charlotte FC.
