An 80th-minute finish from US national team star Jozy Altidore took the shine off a two-goal performance from big-money Revolution addition Carles Gil and gave host Toronto FC a 3-2 victory over winless New England on Sunday night.
Altidore missed Toronto’s season opener after offseason ankle surgery, but came on as a 68th-minute substitute in the home opener and made his first match after signing a new three-year contract count. Surging into the New England end with fellow forward Ayo Akinola drawing the defense, Altidore slammed defender Justin Morrow’s cross over a sprawling Brad Knighton from six yards out.
BREAKING: @BMOField is still @JozyAltidore’s house#TFCLive | #TORvNE pic.twitter.com/XADfxdJF2O
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) March 18, 2019
Prior to that, the story had been Gil, who put New England (0-2-1) in front after nine minutes with a top-shelf penalty after Teal Bunbury was taken down following a tremendous first touch on a lob. Akinola tied the score less than four minutes later, slotting one past a flat-footed Knighton, with Jordan Hamilton giving Toronto (2-0-0) the lead just before halftime despite a questionable no-call on a potential offsides.
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Gil made it 2-2 in the 52nd minute on a deflected shot that snuck through a pair of Toronto defenders. He has all three Revolution goals through three matches, tying him for most in MLS.
Colombian forward Juan Fernando Caicedo, who missed New England’s first two matches with a muscular injury, made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 84th minute.