• Toronto FC 0, New York Red Bulls 2 (Kaku 70’; Etienne 90’+3′)

• TFC’s slim post-season hopes take big hit with another loss

• Toronto 10 points out of playoff spot with 5 games left



Toronto FC’s slow march towards missing the playoffs continues unabated.

The latest setback for the reigning MLS Cup champs came in Saturday’s 2-0 road loss to the New York Red Bulls, a score line that somewhat flattered the hosts based on the balance of play.

But that’s often been the story of TFC this season – consistently finding ways to throw away points after putting in a decent performance.

“The guys worked hard today, they played well today, they deserved more out of it today, but it’s how our season has been,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney conceded.

This latest loss doesn’t officially eliminate TFC from playoff contention, but merely serves as another reminder of the dreadful fate that awaits them: a long off-season of reflection on an MLS campaign gone wrong.

Toronto (8-15-6) currently sits ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, 10 points and three spots behind the Montreal Impact who hold down the sixth and final playoff berth in the East. With only five matches remaining in the regular season, TFC is not going to make up the deficit, and will fail to qualify for the playoffs. The Reds have only won back-to-back matches in MLS once this year – they’re not going to suddenly win five in a row.

“All we can do is try to take care of our business over this last stretch and see if a few things can’t go our way to make it interesting,” captain Michael Bradley said.

Added goalkeeper Alex Bono: “Until it’s not possible [to make the playoffs] we’re going to go out there and fight for it.”

TFC forward Sebastian Giovinco (calf) and defender Drew Moor (calf) sat out Saturday’s game, but defender Chris Mavinga returned to the starting 11 following a lengthy layoff due to a hamstring injury.

New York immediately set traps with its high pressing style, forcing Toronto to commit a pair of turnovers that directly led to scoring chances in the first 10 minutes. TFC goalkeeper Alex Bono was equal to the task, turning aside shots by Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kaku.

TFC settled down after that and kept its defensive shape in thwarting New York’s attack. At the other end of the field, Lucas Janson had two looks on goal on setups from Marky Delgado and Jozy Altidore, but he didn’t test Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.

Altidore left the game early in the second half with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Canadian Tosaint Ricketts. Disaster was averted moments later for the visitors when Victor Vazquez’s defensive clearance went off the post and landed in the grateful hands of Bono, instead of going in for an own-goal.

Vazquez turned playmaker when he floated an exquisite ball over the top of New York’s defence and into the box for Ricketts. Even though the Canadian had time to control it, he hit it right away and misfired over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Kaku found the back of the net for the Red Bulls.

Toronto’s luck ran out due to a comedy of errors involving Bradley, Bono and Mavinga as they tried to clear a pass played into the six-yard box.

Substitute Derrick Etienne sealed the win for New York with an injury-time goal.

NOTES: New York leads the all-time regular-season series against Toronto, with 15 wins and seven draws in 30 meetings… TFC has enjoyed little success on the road against the Red Bulls, winning just two of 15 games (with 11 losses)… Toronto returns to action next Saturday when it hosts the New England Revolution…