TORONTO 鈥� With its third draw in a row against in-form opposition, Toronto FC is no longer losing games. But it is still looking for its first win of the MLS season.
Toronto restricted high-flying Minnesota United FC to one shot on target but could not make anything of its five shots on the mark in a scoreless draw Saturday.
Minnesota (4-1-3) extended its unbeaten run to seven games since dropping the season opener 1-0 at Los Angeles FC. Toronto is now winless in eight (0-4-4) this season and has gone 0-8-5 in league play since its last victory, a 2-1 decision over Austin FC on Sept. 14.
On the plus side, Toronto has earned a point in successive matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Inter Miami and Minnesota, all teams near the top of the standings.
"I was really happy with the commitment, the engagement," Toronto coach Robin Fraser said of his side. "They're a very tough team to play against 鈥� I feel like we're doing a lot of things really well. And I really just want the players to reward themselves for the work that they're doing."
It was an even, uneventful contest with scoring chances few and far between.
With forwards Ola Brynhildsen and Deandre Kerr both out injured, a Toronto attack that has scored just seven goals this season was understrength. Derrick Etienne Jr., making his 200th MLS regular-season appearance, started up front with Theo Corbeanu and Federico Bernardeschi on the flanks.
Toronto outshot Minnesota 9-8 (5-1 in shots on target).
Minnesota entered weekend play in third place in the Western Conference, 11 points and 25 places above Toronto in the Supporters' Shield standings.
Minnesota had some fun with the trip to Toronto with Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and forward Tani Oluwaseyi. who both started Saturday, introducing teammates to Canadian treats. Coffee Crisp chocolate bars fared better than ketchup chips in the social media video.
The U.S. club also noted that the Loons actually travelled south for the matchup, with Saint Paul's latitude of 44.93 degrees North compared to 43.65 for Toronto. And in a post announcing its starting 11, it asked "What is 5-3-2 in metric?"
Oluwaseyi, born in Nigeria but raised in nearby Mississauga, and St. Clair, from Pickering, Ont., both had family and friends in the announced crowd of 22,149 at BMO Field.
Toronto was also without injured defenders Nicksoen Gomis, Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis and Richie Laryea. Fraser made two changes to his starting 11 with defender Kevin Long and Etienne slotting in.
Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores had a fine game for Toronto, breaking up Minnesota attacks from his central midfield position.
"We sometimes joke on the bench (that he's) a heat-seeking missile," Fraser said with a chuckle. "He just finds opportunities to snuff out plays and he's very good in the air. And I think that you saw him using his best attributes today, reading where things were going to be dangerous, being physical, breaking up plays, winning headers. Things like that. I thought that his play was very effective for us today."
Minnesota was missing Hassani Dotson, Owen Gene and Kipp Keller.
The visitors started brightly and Toronto 'keeper Sean Johnson had to be sharp in the third minute to parry a deflected shot from South African international Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Toronto was not happy with referee Malik Badawi with Lorenzo Insigne booked for dissent in the 32nd minute after Minnesota's Jefferson Diaz went unpunished for taking down Etienne to derail a TFC attack.
St. Clair was called into action in the 48th minute, stopping Etienne's shot from a tight angle after a good feed by Bernardeschi. At the other end, Johnson stopped Nicolas Romero from in close in the 59th minute.
St. Clair has conceded just five goals in seven games this season. Oluwaseyi has five goals and an assist, scoring in last weekend's 2-1 victory over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.
Toronto leads the all-time series 2-1-2 with Minnesota's lone win 鈥� a 4-3 decision 鈥� coming at home in July 2018. Minnesota had lost both prior visits to BMO Field.
Up next, Toronto plays at Real Salt Lake on Saturday while Minnesota host FC Dallas.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2025.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
