Breaking the Drought: Toronto FC Seize First Win | OneFootball

After enduring a frustrating start to the 2025 MLS campaign, Toronto FC finally secured their first win of the season in their eighth league match — a narrow but hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.

The Road to Here

Following a disappointing 2024 campaign, expectations for Toronto FC were cautiously optimistic heading into the new season. Much of that hope was pinned on the midfield pairing of Matty Longstaff and Jonathan Osorio. Longstaff stood out as a bright spot last year, however, 2025 has proven to be a tougher challenge for the English midfielder. Despite his strong form in 2024, Longstaff has struggled to break into Robin Fraser’s starting XI, with the head coach opting instead for Deybi Flores to partner with Osorio in the heart of midfield.

The belief was that with the right pieces in midfield, star attackers like Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi would find more opportunities to thrive in the final third. However, that vision has yet to fully materialize. Toronto’s struggles in front of goal have been persistent, with the club failing to score more than once in a match since Matchday 2.

One of the most pressing issues for Toronto FC has been the lack of a true No. 9. The club attempted to address this in the summer window by bringing in Norwegian forward Ola Brynhildsen and Canadian international Theo Corbeanu. While both players have shown flashes of potential, consistency and goal production remain concerns.

Defense Is Key

Toronto’s biggest strength so far has been its defensive organization. In several matches, the team has shown an ability to defend as a cohesive unit, limiting opposing chances and relying on veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson to make timely saves. This defensive stability was on display in the win over RSL.

The game’s only goal came from a moment of high pressing by Corbeanu, who forced a turnover from the RSL backline before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper. After the goal, RSL pushed hard for an equalizer — even going down to 10 men in the second half — but Toronto’s backline and Johnson stood firm.

Looking Forward

“Toronto FC Flags” by stevenharris is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Still, there are concerns. Toronto’s attack lacks identity and cohesion. Too often, their offensive strategy relies on isolating Bernardeschi or Insigne and hoping for a moment of brilliance. The midfield and forwards don’t move fluidly as a unit, which makes chance creation feel forced and predictable.

As the season progresses, the question remains: Can this team consistently score enough goals to challenge the league’s best? One win doesn’t erase all the concerns, but for now, it provides a much-needed sense of direction and belief. Toronto FC finally has momentum — the challenge now is to build on it.