Salloi’s late marker helps Toronto earn 1-1 MLS draw with New York City

TORONTO — Toronto FC battled back with a late second-half goal and salvaged a point as they played New York City FC to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at BMO Field.

The result stretched Toronto’s unbeaten run to five games, with the Major League Soccer team not having lost since July 25th. The Reds have two wins and three draws during that stretch as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

“I think as guys are now getting healthy, we’re seeing more belief, more conviction,” said Toronto head coach Robin Fraser after the match on his team’s improved results of late.

“It’s definitely a function of, and I keep saying this, having guys healthy. Training is sharper, training is better. I think it’s raising the level of everyone.”

Daniel Salloi came off the bench to score his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 70th minute. The Hungarian striker was able to convert a pass from winger Theo Corbeanu, who drove much of the Toronto offence in the match, and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the ball before depositing it in the lower left corner.

“Daniel, as always, makes the runs at the back post, so I know that he’s always trying to smell the goal,” said Corbeanu after the match. “He’s always putting himself in good positions where he can get on the end of it, and now this is the second game running where … Daniel and I link up, so I feel like I’m building a good connection with him.”

Nicolas Fernandez scored the lone goal for NYCFC in the 29th minute. The star Argentine stepped into a shot from well outside the penalty area and delivered a perfectly placed low strike beyond the reach of Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran.

It was Fernandez’s 14th goal of the season, moving him into third place in the MLS Golden Boot race.

“Unfortunate that we allowed that shot,” said Fraser. “He’s a very, very good player, and left-footed, so I would’ve loved if we would have not let him come into his left foot, but these things happen, and then I thought (in the) second half we really responded well.”

Toronto dominated much of the second half after Fernandez gave New York the lead, showing an impressive amount of resolve in the eyes of their coach.

“I keep talking about the character of this team, I feel like I do this every week. But they don’t quit,” said Fraser. “They dig in, they fight. But I would say a problem is we are coming from behind too often. No matter how good you are at coming from behind, it’s not as good a position as leading.

“I think we need to be able to take more leads and play from that position. It’s difficult to play from behind and you have to expend a lot of energy. When you put yourself in that hole it’s a lot of work to get out of it.”

“Obviously it’s not the best when we go one-nil down, you don’t want to start off games like that,” added Corbeanu. “We want to be on the front foot and be the first ones that score … but we were very dangerous in the second half, and everyone had so much energy.”

Both teams had other strong scoring opportunities, but weren’t able to connect on them.

Toronto winger Derrick Etienne Jr. barely missed a pass directly in front of the net that would’ve been a sure goal. Meanwhile, New York midfielder Andres Perea found himself wide open in the penalty area in the 51st minute, but was unable to cleanly volley the aerial pass and sent his shot just wide.

UP NEXT

New York City: Hosts Nashville on Friday, Sept. 4.

Toronto: Hosts the Chicago Fire on Saturday, Sept. 5.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2026.

Griffin Porter, The Canadian Press