This Week in Toronto FC History: TFC's First Ever Match

On this week in Toronto FC history, we celebrate the birth of a franchise that would eventually become the first Canadian club to win the MLS Cup. While the club’s trophy cabinet is now well-stocked, the journey began nineteen years ago during a week of historic "firsts."

Toronto FC officially took to the pitch for the first time on April 7, 2007at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, against Chivas USA. Led onto the pitch by captain Jim Brennan, the expansion Reds displayed plenty of early-season grit but ultimately succumbed to the clinical finishing of a more established Chivas side. Ante Razov capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 34th minute to score the first-ever goal against the franchise, and despite a standout performance from goalkeeper Greg Sutton, TFC struggled to generate a consistent offensive threat. A late strike by Sacha Kljestan in the 88th minute buried any hopes of a comeback, sealing a 2–0 defeat for the visitors.

It was a humble beginning - Toronto struggled to find the back of the net—a trend that would famously continue for several weeks. The result was a sobering introduction to the rigours of the league. However, the result mattered far less than the milestone. For the first time, a Canadian team was represented in Major League Soccer, and the starting XI from that day became the answer to a permanent trivia question.

The Starting XI for TFC’s First Match:

• Goalkeeper: Greg Sutton
• Defenders: Marco Reda, Jim Brennan, Andrew Boyens, Richard Mulrooney
• Midfielders: Andy Welsh, Carl Robinson, Maycoll Canizalez, Paulo Nagamura
• Forwards: Alecko Eskandarian, Edson Buddle

While that first squad faced a steep learning curve, several individuals from the early era carved their names into Toronto sports lore:

• Jim Brennan: As the club’s first-ever captain and first-ever signing, Jimmy was the face of the franchise. A local Toronto boy who had played extensively in England, he provided the grit and leadership the expansion side desperately needed.
• Carl Robinson: His legacy is that of the quintessential professional, serving as the steady, tactical heartbeat of the franchise during its turbulent first years. The Welsh international provided a level of quiet authority and defensive stability that was rare for an expansion side.
• Maurice Edu: The first overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, Edu’s performance in that inaugural season earned him the MLS Rookie of the Year award. His success proved that TFC could develop world-class talent, eventually leading to a high-profile transfer to Rangers FC in Scotland.

There was one notable omission from the inagural squad - Danny Dichio. Although he didn't join until April 16th, Dichio is perhaps the most iconic figure of 2007. He scored the club’s first-ever goal on May 12, 2007, triggering the famous "seat cushion" celebration. To this day, TFC fans sing his name at every home match in the 24th minute—the exact time of his historic strike.

The legacy of that first week in April 2007 isn't found in the scoreline, but in the culture it created. Despite the team’s early struggles (they famously went 384 minutes without scoring a goal to start the season), the city of Toronto rallied behind them with a ferocity that set the bar for supporter culture around the league.

There was a significant TFC and Canada connection to that match almost 20 years ago. Amado Guevara lined up for Chivas in the midfield before being traded to Toronto in 2008. Guevara made 46 appearances and scored 9 goals for TFC in 2008 and 2009. Current Men's National Team coach Jesse Marsch lined up in the midifeld for Chivas and played a full 90 minutes.

Future TFC player and current General Manager Jason Hernandez was an unused substiute for the match. Future TFC manager Preki manned the sidelines on the bench during the inagural match as well.

Related: This Week in Toronto FC History - The Preki Era Officially Begins

BMO Field became a fortress of atmosphere, introducing European-style supporters' culture to North American soccer in the home opener on April 28th. That first match on April was the spark that ignited a fan base known for its loyalty, eventually leading the club through the "Bloody Big Deal" era of Jermain Defoe and into the golden age of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore.