Gallery: Toronto FC 2-New York City FC 3

Toronto FC 2-New York City FC 3

During a Major League Soccer season playoff spots and silverware are very often decided by what happens in August. Bad calls, defensive miscues and very often poor player decisions can result in whether teams gain or lose points and whether they are ultimately contending for top honors. Toronto FC nearly avoided a tough result on Sunday afternoon at BMO Field but ultimately came up short, losing 3-2 New York City FC.

With Toronto (6-12-5, 23 points) looking to move up in the standings in the Eastern Conference and NYCFC (15-6-2, 47 points) looking to cut into Atlanta United FC’s lead tensions were high at kickoff. That tension led to an early booking for Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore, who was sent off in the eleventh minute. With a man advantage NYCFC struck four minutes later with David Villa finishing off a pass from Anton Tinnerholm for his ninth goal of the season.

Needing points in this match Toronto FC poured everything into the attack. It paid off in the 27th minute when Sebastian Gionvinco scored his eighth goal of the season to make it 1-1. Although NYCFC snagged the lead just before halftime with a goal from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (36′), Toronto scored again just after halftime with Victor Vazquez (51′) doing the honors. That goal seemed to set the match as if were to go to a draw. But NYCFC found the match-winner just before injury time with Tajouri Shradi hitting a punishing volley from just beyond the eighteen yard box.

You can check out Luis Martinez’s recap of the match below. In the meantime please enjoy some of our photos from the match courtesy of Prost Amerika photographers David Chant (You can give him your thoughts on Instagram) and Michael Fayehun (you can follow him on Instagram here) . Also our full gallery of TFC photos can be found on SmugMug.