TORONTO - Hamdi Salihi scored a late goal to give D.C. United a 1-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.
The victory clinched a playoff spot for United (16-10-6), while last-place Toronto (5-20-7) stretched its winless streak to 12 games since beating Colorado on July 18.
Conceding late goals has been reoccurring issue all season for the Reds and on Saturday they did it again. Former Toronto player Maicon Santos sent a cross from the right side in the 88th minute that TFC 'keeper Milos Kocic mishandled and couldn't hold onto. Salihi was in the right place to tap home from close range.
Announced attendance was 15,281 on a chilly, blustery day alongside Lake Ontario, though swaths of seats remained empty as Toronto played its second to last home game of a miserable season.
Five minutes in D.C. midfielder Andy Najar’s cross from the right side was deflected and Kocic had to be sharp to backtrack and poke the ball over.
Toronto’s only real opportunity of the first half came in the ninth minute on some nice build up on the right side.
Reggie Lambe sent a cross into the 18-yard box where forward Luis Silva just got his toe on the ball to deflect it towards goal. But D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid raced off his line and cut down the angle to block Silva’s shot.
The visitors were gifted with an opportunity on the half hour mark as Toronto defender’s Darren O’Dea’s poor clearance resulted in Lionard Pajoy getting a chance at the top of the penalty area but his shot missed over the bar.
Toronto had the better chances in the second half and in the 62nd minute Hall took the ball to the edge of the D.C. penalty area and found Ryan Johnson, whose high shot forced a diving save from Hamid.
Toronto threatened again in the 71st minute with D.C. slow getting back on defence. However, Andrew Wiedeman too long on his shot, allowing the visitors to recover and his shot couldn’t get through traffic.
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