ORLANDO – The strange gets stranger thanks to COVID-19, and Saturday was no different as Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps battled to a 2-2 draw at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
With Canada’s borders closed, the Reds had to hose the Blue and White Village in the very Purple Palace, the normal home of Orlando City SC.
Toronto FC also has to keep in mind the coming CONCACAF Champions League matches and balancing player minutes between their MLS games and those upcoming games, which includes Tuesday’s game against Club Azul in Tampa.
Toronto go the scoring going in the 7th minute when Luke Singh left footed shot from very close range to the center of the goal following a set piece.
Vancouver had a chance to equalize with a set piece in the 36th minute after Whitecaps’ Cristian Dájome won a free kick in the attacking half. Déiber Caicedo from the Whitecaps right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner y Toronto Goalkeeper Alex Bono.
Vancouver had another chance in the 41st minute when Caicedo right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
Both Side went into the half with Toronto up 1-0
Ten minutes into the second period, Vancouver forward Lucas Cavallini was taken down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded to the Whitecaps. Cristian Dájome stepped up to the spot and, although Bono guessed correctly, he found the back of the net to tie it up 1-1.
In the 70th minute, Andy Rose header from the center of the box to the high center of the goal for Vancouver. Assisted by Cristián Gutiérrez with a cross following a set piece situation.
Toronto got the equalizer in the 83rd minute. After the Whitecaps tried to clear the ball and it bounced off the face of a defender, it fell and right to the feet of TFC midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who made it count with a right footed shot from the center of the box. Final Score was 2-2
Toronto next faces Cruz Azul on April 27th, whole the Whitecaps next face the Colorado Rapinds on MAy 2
