Toronto FC plays to 1-1 draw against MLS-leading San Jose Earthquakes

TORONTO — The BMO Field stands were rocking on Saturday afternoon, especially during an achingly close chance for Toronto FC to pull out the win.

Attacking midfielder Daniel Salloi chipped the ball towards the open goal from the right half-space outside the box in the 86th minute. But just as the ball appeared to be crossing the goal line, San Jose Earthquakes defender Reid Roberts booted it out of harm’s way — denying the Reds the go-ahead goal.

In the end, TFC managed to wrestle a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Major League Soccer-leading Earthquakes.

“I haven’t looked yet,” TFC coach Robin Fraser said of the play. “The coaches were like, ‘Hey, do you want to see it?’ And I’m like, ‘no’, because I don’t want to lose my crap over it. So, I haven’t looked.”

Fraser said he was proud of the way his injury-depleted side played against the Earthquakes, who entered the match with only one loss in 10 games.

“Character,” said Fraser, when asked to summarize his club’s performance. “This team has, for a while now, been a group that you can always rely on to fight. And always they’re going to put in a really good shift.

“When we play with that sort of urgency, and that sort of effort, we’re difficult to play against. I was really proud of the manner in which we approached the game and the manner in which we played. It was efficient, it was pragmatic and out of that we were able to create some good chances.”

Salloi, who joined the Reds (3-3-5) this season via trade from Sporting Kansas City, scored TFC’s only goal in the match and came inches away from contributing the winner. The Hungarian international now has a team-leading four goals and three assists for his new club.

“Daniel’s a big positive to this team,” said TFC winger Raheem Edwards, who also played a solid match for the Reds. “This is a player that is very, very direct — wants to attack the goal, wants to shoot, wants to create, wants to combine. And we need that on our team.

“How important?” added Fraser, when asked about the club bringing in Salloi this season. “You know the answer to that. Daniel’s been an incredible pickup. He’s been a fantastic addition and he just keeps producing for us.”

The Reds held the edge in possession — 51 per cent to 49 per cent — and fired 12 shots, one more than the Earthquakes (9-1-1), though the visitors managed four on-target to two by Toronto.

The Reds opened the scoring two minutes into the match when Salloi fired a shot into the far corner from the left side of the box, after a good pass by Jonathan Osorio with the second assist going to Markus Cimermancic — his first ever assist for TFC.

The Earthquakes replied in the 14th minute when Preston Judd redirected a free kick by Niko Tsakiris into the goal.

Osorio went down hard in the 36th minute after being clipped by San Jose defender Ronaldo Vieira. Osorio was able to stay in the match, while Vieira was issued a yellow card for the foul.

TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran was forced to make a good save in added time in the first half to keep the game tied.

Midway through the second half, the Earthquakes appeared to get away with a hand ball in front of their goal. A couple of minutes after that, San Jose scored but the goal was ruled offside.

The Reds have been decimated with injuries to some key starters, including forward Josh Sargent (thigh strain), midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (pelvis), defenders Richie Laryea (thigh) Matheus Pereira (groin) and Nicksoen Gomis (Achilles). Centre back Walker Zimmerman returned to the lineup after missing last week’s match.

Forward Timo Werner, who is the Earthquakes’ third-leading scorer with four goals, didn’t make the trip to Toronto for San Jose.

TFC II defender Micah Chisholm made his TFC debut as a 46th minute substitute.

The Reds face Canadian Premier side Atletico Ottawa in a Canadian Championship preliminary match on Tuesday night and then the Reds host Inter Miami CF next Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2026.

Steve Buffery, The Canadian Press