Defensive errors sank New York City FC in Wednesday night’s Eastern Conference semi-final at Citi Field, where they lost 2-1 to Toronto FC.
First-round knockout winners, the Eastern regular-season champions Major League Soccer got off to a rough start.
A blunder by defender Maxime Chanot made just in front of the New York net led to the first goal of the game, scored by Alejandro Pozuelo in the 47th minute.
New York City FC finally got their act together in the middle of the match and gave themselves several great opportunities to tie the game. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi did so in the 69th minute by recovering a cross from Maximiliano Moralez.
The game turned in favor of the visitors in the 90th minute, when defender Ronald Matarrita mowed down Richie Laryea in the penalty area. Pozuelo then scored the decisive goal, his second of the game, on a penalty shot.
Still bothered by a quadriceps injury, Jozy Altidore did not participate in the game for the Toronto side.
The Canadian team will face the winner of the game between Atlanta United and the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference final.
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