HARRISON — Toronto FC restored out-of-favour Italian star Lorenzo Insigne to the starting lineup but lost again Saturday, beaten 2-1 by the New York Red Bulls.
Toronto (0-4-1) rallied in the second half but left it too late and suffered its fourth straight loss.
Swedish international Emil Forsberg scored both goals for the Red Bulls (2-1-2), from the penalty spot in the 44th minute with the winner coming in the 76th minute.
Deandre Kerr scored against the run of play in the 70th minute to tie it at 1-1 for Toronto, heading home a cross from fellow substitute Derrick Etienne Jr., a former Red Bull. Insigne also earned an assist, sending Etienne on his way down the left flank.
It was Kerr's second goal in as many weeks off the bench.
The game, in sporadic rain at Sports Illustrated Stadium, marked the return of Insigne after being frozen out for the first four games of the MLS season. Insigne started up front alongside fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi, who wore the captain's armband with Jonathan Osorio away with Canada.
It marked the first competitive action for Insigne since Oct. 5 when he made a 10-minute cameo off the bench in TFC's 2024 season finale. The 33-year-old former Napoli captain had not dressed in the four previous games and didn't travel with the team on its three away matches.
Insigne played the entire game Saturday, roving around the field but had little impact other than his role in the Toronto goal.
"Lorenzo gave us good moments and some honest work," said Toronto coach Robin Fraser. "And for someone who has not played for a long while, his contribution was quite good."
Felipe Carballo who set up the Red Bulls' winning goal, was sent off in the 93rd minute for back-to-back yellow cards. The first — for throwing the ball away to delay a Toronto free kick — seemed somewhat harsh given the ball only travelled a few feet. The Uruguayan clearly thought so, picking up the second for dissent.
The Red Bulls controlled play in the first half but generated few chances. They went ahead in the 44th minute after the video assistant referee convinced referee Jon Freemon to go to the pitchside monitor to review a play that saw Canadian Raheem Edwards, a former TFC player, go down in the Toronto penalty box.
It seemed a harsh call, with Edwards seemingly initiating the contact as his leg tangled with a chasing Henry Wingo. But the Toronto defender did not help his cause by briefly laying a hand on the Red Bull who went down theatrically.
Freemon eventually pointed to the spot and Forsberg beat Johnson for his second goal of the season.
"It's probably best I don't say anything about it," Fraser said of the penalty call. "You look at the replay and tell me what you think."
Fraser received a yellow card at halftime when he tried to speak to the referee about the call.
The Toronto defence was caught short on the play after a Zane Monlouis pass hit a Red Bulls player and bounced back toward the Toronto goal.
Forsberg made it 2-1 in the 76th minute, put behind the defence by a pass from Carballo. Toronto appealed for offside but the goal passed a VAR check.
The New Yorkers had 68.4 per cent possession, outshot Toronto 14-5 (7-2 in shots on target) and had five corners to Toronto's one.
Toronto has not won a regular-season outing at the Red Bulls since a 2-0 decision March 2016 and is 2-18-2 all-time at the New Yorkers' suburban home in regular-season play, outscored 53-12.
The Red Bulls have won their last eight regular-season matches at home against TFC and are unbeaten in 12 games home and away (9-0-3) against Toronto in regular-season play since a 3-1 win at BMO Field in July 2019.
TFC did win a playoff game at the Red Bulls in 2017 in their championship year.
Insigne was one of four changes to Toronto's starting 11, with Wingo, Petretta and Markus Cimermancic also slotting in. TFC 2 midfielder Michael Sullivan, signed to to an MLS short-term agreement, was on the Toronto bench.
A.J. Marcucci made his MLS debut in goal for the Red Bulls, with No. 1 'keeper Carlos Coronel away with Paraguay.
Toronto was without injured Norwegian striker Ola Brynhildsen and Canadian international fullback/wingback Richie Laryea. Midfielder Deybi Flores (Honduras) and wingback Tyrese Spicer (Trinidad and Tobago) were away with their national teams.
Out injured for the Red Bulls were Kyle Duncan, Cameron Harper, Roald Mitchell, Marcelo Morales, Lewis Morgan and Mohammed Sofo.
UP NEXT
Toronto: Hosts the high-flying Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, March 29.
Red Bulls: Visit the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 29.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2025.
The Canadian Press
