Toronto FC 3, New York Red Bulls 3 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Nick Rosano

Bradley Wright-Phillips made history, but Jozy Altidore got the last laugh at BMO Field on Sunday evening.

Wright-Phillips looked to have the New York Red Bulls cruising after becoming the first player in MLS history with two 20+ goal seasons, but Altidore scored twice in the second-half – including a picture perfect free kick – to earn Toronto FC a 3-3 draw and help them all but clinch a spot in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

It was an all-too-familiar scene for the Red Bulls, who once again coughed up points from a leading position after their high pressure led to an early own goal and Wright-Phillips' first tally of the evening. But Toronto would get one back later in the first half after Michael Bradley ghosted into the box to finish off a well-worked TFC passing sequence.

Wright-Phillips would grab his second goal, and a little piece of history, when he finished off a through ball from Sacha Kljestan three minutes into the second half to restore the Red Bulls' two-goal advantage.

The cushion would only last for 20 minutes, though, before Altidore brought the Reds back within one with a bending free kick that gave New York 'keeper Luis Robles no chance. Altidore required a bit more fortune on his equalizer, taking a pass from Bradley and squeezing the ball past a TFC defender before slipping it underneath Luis Robles at the near post.

Box Score

12' – NY – Steven Beitashour own goal
31' – NY – Bradley Wright-Phillips
41' – TOR – Michael Bradley (Justin Morrow, Jonathan Osorio)
48' – NY – Bradley Wright-Phillips (Sacha Kljestan, Alex Muyl)
68' – TOR – Jozy Altidore
86' – TOR – Jozy Altidore (Michael Bradley)
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Three Things

FAMILIAR FEELING:
Stop me if you've heard this one before: the New York Red Bulls coughed up points from a winning position. It was not quite as dramatic as last Sunday's collapse against D.C. United, but once again the Red Bulls were unable to gain the full three points, even with a lead into the 85th minute of regulation. Safe to say it's been a trend this year:

#RBNY have now dropped a league-worst 18 points from leading positions in 2016. Insane. #NYvDC
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) September 11, 2016

There are myriad theories as to why this has been the case for an otherwise-excellent team, ranging from mentality to tactics to substitution patterns, but one thing is clear: This is a clear trend that the Red Bulls must figure out before it costs them in the postseason.

MEN POSSESSED: Sometimes, you just have to sit back and watch the two hottest goalscorers in MLS do their thing. On the visiting side, Wright-Phillips staked his claim as one of the most dangerous goalscorers in league history with a well-taken brace that included in sumptuous chip of TFC's Alex Bono. Altidore, for his part, reminded fans of his US national team pedigree with a tremendous free kick and an equalizing goal when his team was reaching maximum desperation. Both forwards also impressed with their work as target forwards on the evening.

DRESSED TO HIGH PRESS: The Red Bulls' famed high pressure game once again paid dividends in the early goings of a match. Their first goal was a product of Felipe pouncing on a loose ball at the edge of the penalty area and playing a neat give-and-go before firing a perfectly-placed cross that left Steven Beitashour with the unenviable choice of attempting a nearly-impossible clearance of letting Daniel Royer tap in at the far post. The second Red Bulls goal came as Royer caught Toronto's Eriq Zavaleta dawdling on the ball, forcing a turnover that found its way to Wright-Phillips, who chipped home.