ORLANDO, Fla. – Toronto FC scored two goals in the final five minutes to claim a 3-1 in over Swedish side BK Häcken in a Tuesday night Group B match from the 2012 Disney Pro Soccer Classic.
Trialist Moises Orozco sent a curling shot into the top left corner to break a 1-1 tie in the 85th minute, and Ecuadorean winger Joao Plata deposited a ball into the back of the net in stoppage time to round out the result. Both goals were assisted by Dutchman Nick Soolsma.
Jamaican forward Ryan Johnson made a triumphant return from international duty for Toronto FC, opening the score for his side just before halftime. He latched onto a cross by rookie Luis Silva and sent a left-footed shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Both teams struggled to create offensive opportunities in the first 30 minutes, but Toronto FC came on strong to close out the first half.
In the 36th minute Torsten Frings, who lined up at sweeper in a 3-4-3 formation, struck the left post with a long-distance effort and Johnson sent the rebound off the crossbar.
Three minutes later Silva fed Johnson down the left side on a break and the Jamaican international served a ball for striker Danny Koevermans, only for the Dutchman to watch goalkeeper Damir Mehic make the save.
After Johnson gave TFC the halftime lead, BK Häcken equalized 12 minutes into the second half on a penalty kick after TFC central defender Aron Maund was ruled to have brought down Oscar Lewicki at the edge of the box. Andreas Dugge stepped up to convert past TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic for the equalizer.
But TFC, which sent in a number of substitute to conclude the game, found moments of brilliance from Orozco and Plata to capture the result and position themselves to qualify for the final day of the tournament on Saturday.
SCORING SUMMARY:
TFC - 44’ Ryan Johnson (Luis Silva)
BKH – 57’ Andreas Dugge (PK)
TFC – 85’ Moises Orozco (Nick Soolsma)
TFC – 90’ Joao Plata (Nick Soolsma)
TORONTO FC (3-4-3): Kocic – Aceval (66’ Henry), Frings (73’ Dunfield), Harden (46’ Maund) – Morgan (83’ Huezo), Stinson (73’ Burgos), L. Silva (46’ Avila), Eckersley (60’ Green) – R. Johnson (46’ Soolsma), Koevermans (58’ Plata), Lambe (64’ Orozco)
BK HÄCKEN (4-4-2): Mehic – Zuta, Forsell (Ali Khan), Wahlstrom, Joza – Da Silva (Makondele), Lewicki, Ericsson, Westermark – Drugge (78’ Elvsby), Hernandez (Anklev)
WATCH: Full Match Highlights
