Toronto FC fans must be wishing their favorites would leave the basement of the table they entered last season, but the ‘Reds’ didn’t give very encouraging signs on Saturday, being beaten 4-1 by the Red Bulls of New York at BMO Field.
Lewis Morgan ruined Bob Bradley’s men’s home comeback with a hat-trick. The Scottish winger needed just 13 minutes – between 17th and 40th – to complete his hat trick.
Acquired during the offseason from Inter Miami CF, Morgan scored twice on shots from the entrance to the box. He scored his third by making his speed speak, beating Alex Bono on the breakaway.
Captain Aaron Long added the Red Bulls’ fourth goal in the 42nd minute by redirecting a free kick with a header.
Jesus Jimenez hit the target for Toronto FC, who were neutralized by FC Dallas in a 1-1 draw in their first match of the season on Saturday.
A record for Bruce Arena
In Foxboro, Bruce Arena became Major League Soccer’s winningest regular season head coach with his New England Revolution’s 1-0 win over FC Dallas.
Carles Gil, on a penalty kick in stoppage time in the first half, was the scorer for this 241st Arena triumph. The 70-year-old pilot thus overtook Sigi Schmid at the top.
In his career, the American has won 125 games with the Los Angeles Galaxy, 61 with DC United, 39 with the Revolution and 16 with the Red Bulls. Named coach of the year three times in the Garber circuit, Arena has won five MLS cups, another record.