Toronto FC rallies to tie Atlanta United as Lorenzo Insigne returns from injury

Canadian fullback Richie Laryea scored a highlight-reel goal for TFC. Giorgos Giakoumakis opened the scoring for Atlanta in an entertaining end-to-end game on a pleasant evening before an announced crowd of 27,892 at BMO Field.

Insigne came on in the 77th minute, his first action since leaving the pitch 34 minutes into Toronto’s season opener on Feb. 25 with a groin injury. The 31-year-old Italian, the highest-paid player in MLS, had missed the previous six matches.

Both teams sprung surprises with their lineups.

Toronto captain Michael Bradley was on the bench to start, alongside Insigne. Bradley, who had made 298 appearances for TFC in all competitions before Saturday, had started TFC’s last 42 league games — last missing out in Atlanta on Oct. 30, 2021.

Bradley was held out Saturday as a precaution after feeling something off before the game, according to a club official.

The veteran midfielder had played every minute of the previous seven games this season. Jonathan Osorio led the team out in his absence.

Atlanta did not dress Argentina World Cup winner Thiago Almada, who has four goals and five assists this season. It was also a precautionary move due to a leg issue.

Toronto (1-1-6) had not lost since the season opener, when it conceded 90th- and 98th-minute goals in a hard-to-forget 3-2 loss to D.C. United. But it came into Saturday’s game on the back of three straight ties and with just one win in the six games since (1-0-5), needing to start converting draws into victories.

Toronto was coming off a 0-0 tie in Nashville, having already posted draws against Atlanta, Columbus, San Jose and Charlotte. The 2-0 win over visiting Inter Miami on March 18 represented TFC’s lone victory in 13 league games (1-6-6) dating back to last August.

Atlanta (4-1-3) is unbeaten in three games (1-0-2) since a 6-1 beating at the hands of high-scoring Columbus.

The game saw the return of former TFC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg, deputizing for captain Brad Guzan, who tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at New York City FC.

The visitors had a dream start with Giakoumakis, from the near post, heading home a Brooks Lennon corner in the fourth minute. Giakoumakis beat two Toronto defenders to flick a glancing header into the far corner of the goal past a diving Sean Johnson.

Giakoumakis has scored in his first four starts for Atlanta, the first player in club history to do so. But the Greek’s night ended in the 49th minute after he went down grabbing his leg.

Toronto answered with a world-class goal in the 43rd minute. Laryea, in his 100th appearance for TFC in all competitions, took a short pass from Bernardeschi, turned on the afterburners and outpaced two defenders before hammering a shot past Westberg. Jordan Peruzza made a nice run to draw away defenders and make space for his fullback.

It was the 10th goal in Toronto colours for Laryea.

Bernardeschi, meanwhile, has been involved in 17 of TFC’s 31 goals (11 goals and six assists) since he and Insigne made their debut in a 4-0 win over Charlotte in July 23, 2022. The Italian was yellow-carded in the 63rd for shoving Atlanta’s Caleb Wiley as they jostled for the ball for a throw-in.

Bernardeschi forced a save from Westberg in the 81st minute with a well-aimed free kick.

Spanish midfielder Alonso Coello got his second career start for Toronto with Lukas MacNaughton filling in for injured centre back Matt Hedges (concussion protocols).

Toronto coach Bob Bradley in search of offence in the absence of the injured Adama Diomande (hamstring), started Perruzza over Deandre Kerr and Ayo Akinola, who have both seen action up front this season. Akinola replaced Perruzza to open the second half.

Atlanta, which boasts more urban tree canopy than any other city in the U.S., wore its “deep green and cool mint” Forest kit.

With Toronto trailing 1-0, Bernardeschi almost repeated his “Olimpico” from TFC’s April 1 game against Charlotte, curling in a corner that was pushed away at the last moment by Westberg.

Giakoumakis went airborne in the 20th minute, acrobatically trying a scissors kick but the ball never reached him.

Fans howled for a penalty in the 27th minute when Laryea went down in the penalty box but referee Ted Unkel was having none of it. Westberg made a good save to stop a Servania header from the ensuing corner.

Toronto appealed unsuccessfully for another penalty in the 32nd minute when Servania went down at the edge of the box.

Atlanta almost went ahead in the 75th minute when MacNaughton’s attempted clearance deflected the ball off the Toronto goalpost.

Toronto was also without midfielder Victor Vazquez (lower body) and fullback Cristian Gutierrez (non-COVID illness).

Atlanta was missing Argentine youth international Franco Ibarra, who was suspended after being sent off last week. Atlanta fullback Andrew Gutman (adductor) was questionable.

Toronto visits the Philadelphia Union next Saturday.

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Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2023.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Toronto FC rallies to tie Atlanta United as Lorenzo Insigne returns from injury

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