On Saturday, Lorenzo Insigne scored his second winner in as many matches. With the score level at one and just over ten minutes remaining, Insigne made an incisive run into the area. Midfielder Michael Bradley played a cheeky lob to pick out Insigne’s run. The ball took a fortuitous bounce off the back of Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma and fell for Insigne, who smashed a volley into the back of the goal.
The goal put Toronto back ahead after conceding the equalizer six minutes earlier. Central defender José Van Rankin was left completely unmarked in the area after Insigne was slow to track back. Van Rankin picked the bottom corner with Portland’s second shot on target.
Insigne was nevertheless the man of the match. He led all Toronto players in shot attempts (8) and shots on target (5). Aside from one effort that finished well off target, Insigne’s remaining shots could have all resulted in goals. In the 7th minute he did well to control a hard-hit pass by Domenico Criscito, spun past midfielder Diego Chará and attempted his patented tiraggiro, but goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič was well-positioned to make the save.
Insigne’s second chance came just past the midway point of the first half, after Jesús Jiménez’ shot was blocked. The rebound fell to Insigne but his half-volley towards the near post was stopped by Ivačič again. Insigne continued to threaten just before the break after linking up with Criscito once more. The winger skipped past a lunging Van Rankin, drove towards the area, dribbled past Chará and went for another tiraggiro, but Ivačič stopped him for the third time in the half.
Insigne picked up right where he left off at the start of the second half. Richie Laryea, who recently returned to Toronto on loan from Nottingham Forest, won a free kick near the bye line on the right wing. Federico Bernardeschi took the free kick and picked out Insigne at the edge of the area. Insigne made good contact on the volley but again Ivačič was able to get a hand on the shot.
Less than five minutes later Insigne had another go for goal from the edge of the area but his shot was blocked by a sliding defender. Finally, at the hour mark, Insigne roamed to the right side of the pitch and went for goal from about 25 yards out. Though the effort was officially ruled a missed shot, the replay clearly showed that Ivačič got a finger on the ball to prevent the goal.
Insigne’s goal, which was scored in the 79th minute, was certainly well-deserved. Federico Bernardeschi scored Toronto’s third only six minutes after Insigne put the Reds ahead. The pair have now combined for five goals and three assists since arriving at Toronto in mid-July. During that time, Toronto have collected 10 of a possible 12 points, and are now only four points back of the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference with nine matches remaining.
