Shocking Last-Minute Defeat | Atlanta United 2-1 Toronto FC

June ends for TFC without a single win in MLS, suffering 4 losses and 1 draw. In their last match, a draw slipped away in the last minute due to an unbelievable error by Luka Gavran.

For this match, it seemed like Toronto FC might turn things around after a string of poor results, but things went from bad to worse. With no clear favorite going into the match, the balance tilted towards Atlanta United, who ended up defeating Toronto FC 2-1 in a game where TFC had shown a promising performance in this MLS visit.

In the first half, Toronto FC had a very close call as Lorenzo Insigne scored a stunning goal after a great assist from Marshall-Rutty, but it was disallowed due to a prior action by Federico Bernardeschi. This happened in the 24th minute. At the end of the first half, TFC suffered a blow with a goal from Thiago Almada in the 45+2 minute, putting Atlanta United ahead 1-0.

Immediately at the start of the second half, the Italian duo leveled the score in the 46th minute when, after a fantastic assist from Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi drove past several defenders and found space on his left foot to score and make it 1-1.

Following this, the match saw periods of dominance for both TFC and Atlanta United, with Luka Gavran making several important saves until the misfortune of the night struck. Practically at the end of the match, an error by Luka Gavran in the 90+7 minute occurred as he contemplated a long clearance to wait for the final whistle. However, during this short dribble, he failed to notice Jamal Thiare behind him, who stole the ball and scored the final 2-1, giving Atlanta United the victory.

READ MORE: Toronto FC's Absences to Face Atlanta United in MLS Matchday 23

A Difficult Position in the Eastern Conference

Toronto FC ends matchday 23 of the MLS in 8th place in the Eastern Conference, struggling increasingly as they are tied on points with 9th place Atlanta United, who have a game in hand over Herdman's side.

It’s a tough moment where falling out of the playoff zone would further complicate things for TFC, given the negative period they are experiencing and the persistent lack of focus in each match, which seems to have no immediate solution.

The next match will be against Orlando City at BMO Field, where they hope to secure a win and firmly re-enter the playoff zone without worries. However, these small mistakes are costly, and this must change to improve the outlook for Toronto FC in the remainder of the season.