Cesar Araujo collected a goal and an assist to lift host Orlando City to a convincing 4-0 victory over Toronto FC on Tuesday night.
Duncan McGuire scored in the first half and Dagur Thorhallsson and Ercan Kara converted in the second as Orlando City (9-5-7, 34 points) improved to 5-0-2 in their last seven matches against Toronto FC.
Pedro Gallese did not record an official save en route to notching his seventh clean sheet of the season and 26th of his career for the Lions, who are 4-0-3 in their last seven matches at home.
Orlando City held a decisive 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Greg Ranjitsingh finished with five saves for Toronto FC (3-9-10, 19 points), who have lost four in a row overall and saw their road winless stretch extend to 14 matches (0-10-4).
Toronto played with just 10 men after Federico Bernardeschi received a pair of yellow cards 15 minutes apart. Bernardeschi, who was whistled for a bad foul in the 47th minute and again in the 62nd minute, is tied for the team lead in both goals (three) and assists (four).
Rafael Santos’ cross was headed home at the back door by a diving Araujo to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Araujo’s goal was his first of his MLS career in his 51st match.
McGuire doubled the advantage six minutes later after he tapped home a deflected shot from Ivan Angulo at the left post. McGuire’s goal was his team-high-tying seventh of the season and third in his last five matches.
Thorhallsson scored his first career MLS goal after settling Araujo’s through ball and deking Ranjitsingh before scoring into an empty net in the 77th minute. Kara capped the scoring seven minutes later after scoring from the center of the box.
–Field Level Media