A Light in Toronto FC's Defeat to Orlando City
• Toronto FC drops to 9th place in the Eastern Conference
• Herdman motivates his players to soon break out of this negative streak
By Oscar Cortes
![A Light in Toronto FC's Defeat to Orlando City A Light in Toronto FC's Defeat to Orlando City](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_33/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/368/01j20b1y8tpnh4hs7tjy.jpg)
In the match on July 3rd for MLS matchday 24, Toronto FC hosted Orlando City, ending in an unexpected negative result as they lost 1-2, with the game being decided by an own goal from Nicksoen Gomis.
This defeat dropped Toronto FC to the ninth position in the MLS Eastern Conference, impacting their playoff hopes and extending their negative streak to five consecutive losses in the league.
Final from BMO Field pic.twitter.com/Hy7ENuYua3
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 4, 2024
The standout player for TFC
Despite the loss, Derrick Etienne Jr. was a key player for TFC, making significant contributions as a forward. He played 66 minutes, during which he scored a goal from 35 touches and had a high passing accuracy. Although he didn't participate much in the play due to his forward position alongside Prince Owusu, he achieved a 77% pass completion rate, successfully completing 17 out of 22 passes.
Additionally, TFC's high pressing to recover the ball led to a notable ball recovery by Etienne, highlighting his commitment on the field.
READ MORE: Toronto FC's woes continue under Herdman | Toronto FC 1-2 Orlando City
A season where he strives to secure his place
It's worth mentioning that Etienne has played 15 MLS matches, scoring two goals. In total for the 2024 season with Toronto FC, he has played 19 matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist, with the assist coming in the Canadian Championship.
After the match, John Herdman was very encouraging, trying to ensure that the players remain motivated despite the adverse results. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and motivated for the upcoming challenging schedule in July, not just in MLS but in the various tournaments TFC is competing in.