BRIGHT START TO TFC’s HOME OPENER UNTIL…..

Saturday, March 25th, 2025, began with showers before the sky opened up for the sun to get a break after what seemed like one of the worst winters in quite some time. A promising sign, no doubt, for Toronto FC’s home opener in Major League Soccer (MLS) against Chicago Fire at BMO Field in Toronto.

That day also marked the return of Robin Fraser to Toronto. Robin enjoyed good times in Toronto but entered the game winless in three games, with one tie and two losses. Before joining Colorado Rapids, where he stayed for 5 seasons, he was an assistant coach under Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney for five seasons (2015-2019). During that time, the club was very successful on the field of play. Toronto FC won the first domestic treble in MLS league history by winning the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and the Canadian Championship in 2017. While qualifying for three MLS Cup Playoffs (2015, 2016, 2017), reached two MLS Cup Finals (2016, 2017) and was also part of the coaching staff that led TFC to capture three consecutive Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018).

However, despite the winning experience in Toronto, Coach Fraser entered BMO Field with a winless start to his team’s first three. He looked forward to his first win in front of what is still regarded by many as the best fans in Major League Soccer.

Coach Fraser’s young team may also have anticipated their first win in front of the home crowd, and they were on the front foot from the kickoff after having possession at kickoff. For the first twenty minutes, it was all Toronto, and the team was rewarded when #29 Deandre Kerr won an aerial challenge and scored with a beautiful goal (header) in the 11th minute. It was the best start for the home team, which enjoyed their first lead of the season.

Toronto FC’s left-footed players were taking the play to Chicago down the left side, with TFC’s wing-back Nicksoen Gomis feeding Tyrese Spicer up front. It was a promising attack since Spicer was having some early success with his defenders, and at that point, it seemed like it would be a long afternoon for the visiting Chicago Fire team. However, it appears that the inexperienced TFC players either became anxious or lacked energy as

Chicago began to take over the game’s momentum and systematically moved into attack mode. At that point, it seemed like there was a dogfight, and the battle began to work against the inexperienced Toronto team. The tables finally turned in the 30th minute when Chicago’s Andrew Gutman scored the equalizer with a left-footed piledriver that beat goalkeeper Johnson’s outstretched left hand into the last post. Gutman’s shot was from just outside the 18-yard box to the left. The goal resulted from a careless giveaway from a TFC player’s attempt to dribble his third opponent.

It was not the goal Toronto should have conceded when the game was beginning to slip, and an extra effort was needed to weather the storm. Chicago capitalized on the momentum change and took the lead in the 44th minute when Hugo Cuypers mopped up a rebound off TFC’s goalkeeper Johnson. Chicago went into halftime leading 2-0.

There was no scoring in the second half, although Chicago scored a goal that the referee disallowed. The VAR officials in the booth above determined that the goal deserved a second look. After further review, the goal was called back because of a Chicago player’s infringement (foul) during the scoring.