While the Raptors were losing to the 76ers, Toronto FC defeated the Philadelphia Union in MLS action.
Toronto won its third in a row at home while extending its unbeaten run to four games . Philadelphia had won a franchise-record five straight prior to Saturday, including four consecutive clean sheets which matched a club mark set in 2017, and was the only MLS team without a defeat.
Pozuelo decided the game in the 51st minute with a beautiful goal, taking a pass from Kadin Chung and then dribbling through three defenders before slotting the ball past a diving Andre Blake into the corner. It was the second goal of the season for the Spanish playmaker, named league MVP in 2020. Jesus Jimenez answered for Toronto in the 39th minute, elegantly curling a shot past Blake after Jonathan Osorio dribbled his way into the Union penalty box and played a sweet give-and-go with the Spaniard. Jimenez’s fourth goal this season snapped Philadelphia’s 457-minute shutout streak, dating back to March 5 when Lassi Lappalainen scored for Montreal in a 2-1 loss March 5 at Olympic Stadium.
Toronto coach Bob Bradley made three changes to the team that tied 2-2 at Real Salt Lake last week with Chris Mavinga, Chung and Jayden Nelson coming in for Carlos Salcedo, suspended after being red-carded, Lukas MacNaughton and Kosi Thompson. Philadelphia had got goals in the first 12 minutes in each of the last three games and threatened early again Saturday.
Blake was called into action soon after the Union went ahead, tipping away a venomous shot from distance from Pozuelo.