Bernardeschi scores as Toronto FC draw Atlanta for 1st point of 2023
TFC pick up 1st point as Montreal 2nd second straight to open MLS season
Matheus Rossetto scored the equalizer in the second half and Atlanta United earned a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday night.
New striker Giorgos Giakoumakis made his debut for Atlanta United after his visa was cleared this week. The hosts were trying to become the first team to win their first two home matches in four straight seasons.
Federico Bernardeschi gave Toronto (0-1-1) the lead with a goal in the 52nd minute on an assist from Michael Bradley.
Decent left peg, that 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/fbernardeschi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fbernardeschi</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TFCLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TFCLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/47N5s4R2Z6">pic.twitter.com/47N5s4R2Z6</a>
—@TorontoFC
Atlanta United outshot Toronto 9-5, with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
Brad Guzan saved five of the six shots he faced for United. Sean Johnson had 10 saves for Toronto, which ended a six-match losing streak dating to last season.
Both teams next play Saturday. United visits Charlotte FC and Toronto hosts the Columbus Crew.
Urruti scores late as Austin defeat Montreal
Maximiliano Urruti scored a goal in the 88th minute and Brad Stuver delivered a clean sheet to rally Austin FC to a 1-0 victory over CF Montreal on Saturday night.
Jon Gallagher had an assist on Urruti's game-winner for Austin (1-1-0). Sebastian Driussi saw his five-match goal streak dating to last season end. Austin improved to 13-1-2 at home against Montreal, which won for the first time in Houston last season by a 3-2 score.
Austin fútbol at its finest. 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/8lkPeQtBcs">pic.twitter.com/8lkPeQtBcs</a>
—@AustinFC
Montreal is 0-2-0 for a second straight season. It lost its first three matches last season but still posted a club-record 65 points. Montreal was shut out in its opener against Inter Miami, despite taking all 14 of its shots from inside the box. Only two teams have taken 14 or more shots — all from inside the box — Toronto (2019) and the Seattle Sounders a year later. Those two teams combined to score 10 goals.
Stuver saved both shots he faced for Austin. Jonathan Sirois had four saves for Montreal.
Up next for Austin is a matchup Saturday against Real Salt Lake on the road, while Montreal visits Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Whitecaps falter in San Jose against Earthquakes
Carlos Akapo scored a goal in the 77th minute to rally the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-1 Major League Soccer victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
Cristian Espinoza had an assist on Akapo's match-winner for the Earthquakes (1-1-0). San Jose improved to 7-1-8 against Vancouver at home since the Whitecaps joined the league in 2011.
San Jose lost its opener 2-1 to Atlanta United. The Earthquakes had never lost a regular-season match it led entering stoppage time.
Alessandro Schopf staked the Whitecaps (0-2-0) to an early lead with a goal in the 19th minute. Jeremy Ebobisse scored the equalizer for San Jose in the 68th minute.
GOAL ALESSANDRO SCHÖPF!!! <br><br>⏱ 17’<br>🌊 1-0 🌎📳<br><br>Watch free on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSSeasonPass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSSeasonPass</a> on the <a href="https://twitter.com/AppleTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@appletv</a> app 📺 <a href="https://t.co/4QXlFrcjqV">https://t.co/4QXlFrcjqV</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VWFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VWFC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJvVAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJvVAN</a> <a href="https://t.co/pz5D94vqh9">https://t.co/pz5D94vqh9</a> <a href="https://t.co/mFnxfY5cvk">pic.twitter.com/mFnxfY5cvk</a>
—@WhitecapsFC
The Earthquakes outshot the Whitecaps 20-7 with a 6-2 edge in shots on target.
Both teams are in action again next Saturday. The Earthquakes host the Colorado Rapids and the Whitecaps host FC Dallas.