SANDY, Utah – An exhilarating performance from Theo Corbeanu earned Toronto FC a hard-fought victory over Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer action on Saturday night. Corbeanu found the back of the net for the first time in MLS during the ninth minute, helping his team secure a crucial 1-0 win, marking the end of an eight-game winless streak at the start of their season.
The decisive moment came when Corbeanu expertly intercepted the ball from Salt Lake’s Bode Hidalgo near the penalty arc. Demonstrating impressive footwork, he maneuvered past a defender and unleashed a shot from just inside the penalty area. The ball rolled delicately into the corner of the net, giving Toronto a vital lead in the early stages of the match.
The game took a challenging turn for Salt Lake in the 61st minute when Diego Luna received a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving Salt Lake to battle with ten men for the remainder of the match. Despite the disadvantage, Salt Lake (3-6-0) dominated possession, holding onto the ball for 61% of the game and taking 23 shots compared to Toronto’s 2. However, it was Toronto’s precision that made the difference on the night.
Toronto’s goalkeeper, Sean Johnson, delivered an outstanding performance, recording six critical saves. His efforts ensured back-to-back shutouts for Toronto, making it three clean sheets in their last four outings, solidifying a sturdy defense as they aim to improve their standings this season.
Although Real Salt Lake showed determination with a flurry of attempts, outshooting Toronto 23-2, they managed only a single shot on target compared to Toronto’s six. This tactical display by Toronto proved sufficient to capture their first win of the season and set a positive trajectory for the games ahead.