Dreadful start costs TFC in second straight loss to FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — Goals by Calvin Harris and Luciano Acosta helped FC Cincinnati dispatch 10-man Toronto FC 2-0 Wednesday for its second win over TFC in four days.

The margin of defeat could have been higher had Cincinnati's finishing been better. Toronto was hanging on by the final whistle.

Toronto (3-5-2) suffered a third straight defeat after a disastrous start on "Stars Wars Night" at TQL Stadium. TFC conceded a goal in the second minute and then saw midfielder Ralph Priso's third-minute yellow card turn into red after video review.

The win vaulted Cincinnati (4-5-1) past Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings. After an 0-2-0 start to the season, Cincinnati has now won four of its last eight (4-3-1) after recording just three victories in its previous 31 games.

The four victories match Cincinnati's total last season when it went 4-22-8 to finish last in the then 27-team league. TFC was 26th at 6-18-10.

TFC is now winless in its last 13 league road games (0-9-4), having not won away from home in league play since a 2-1 win in Chicago on July 24.

Toronto coach Bob Bradley was dealing with a depleted roster.

And after paying for some sloppy defending in a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on the weekend at BMO Field, Toronto was short in the backline for the rematch.

Mexican centre back Carlos Salcedo, along with forward Ifunanyachi Achara, was unavailable — in health and safety protocols. Fellow defender Chris Mavinga, a French-born Congolese international, was out with a leg injury that forced him out of Saturday's game in the 29th minute.

Toronto was also without the injured Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Noble Okello and Jacob Shaffelburg. Midfielder Jonathan Osorio also didn't make the trip, with no immediate reason given.

Kadin