Reds down Austin, keep playoff pace

Osorio, Kerr score to overcome massive shot discrepancy, TFC holds onto eighth in the East

- NEIL DAVIDSON

Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr scored first-half goals and Toronto FC hung on for a 2-1 win over Austin FC in MLS play Saturday night.

Austin’s first visit to BMO Field, before an announced crowd of 25,538, showcased two teams on the MLS playoff bubble. Both badly needed the three points on offer.

Teenage substitute Owen Wolff, son of Austin head coach Josh Wolff, pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 76th minute. The 19year-old U.S. youth international, controlling a long ball, beat defender Raoul Petretta and then waited out goalkeeper Sean Johnson before slotting it home for his first of the season.

Toronto survived a nervy six minutes of stoppage time as Austin pressed for the equalizer.

Toronto, now 11-15-3, entered weekend play eighth in the Eastern Conference. The eighth- and ninthplace teams in each conference qualify for wild-card playoffs.