Toronto FC ace Sebastian Giovinco was forced off at the stroke of halftime against the Philadelphia Union due to an upper right leg injury, after the Atomic Ant suffered a hard tackle by Oguchi Onyewu.

TFC head coach Greg Vanney confirmed after the match that Giovinco had suffered an IT band contusion on his right leg, which is a bruise and not a broken bone or torn muscle, as feared.

Giovinco limped off with the help of the team doctor and Justin Morrow, but looked to be in serious pain, clutching his right leg for several minutes before being replaced by Tosaint Ricketts.

Toronto, down 1-0 at the time of the injury, then rounded off the first half with a penalty, which Jozy Altidore tucked home for the Reds' first goal of the year.