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FBL-MLS
Bradley brace lifts Toronto over Union in MLS opener
LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Toronto FC captain Michael
Bradley’s brace lifted the Canadian side to a 3-1 victory Saturday at
Philadelphia in the opening game of the 2019 Major League Soccer season.
The 31-year-old US midfielder found the goal three minutes into first half
stoppage time and again in the 62nd to put Toronto on top.
Mexico’s Marco Fabian answered for the Union in the 73rd minute but US
midfielder Nick DeLeon sealed Toronto’s victory three minutes into stoppage
time.
Ten games in all were on the league’s kickoff ledger, with Chicago at the
Los Angeles Galaxy following the dedication of the first statue at a stadium
for an MLS player as England legend David Beckham was honored outside his
former club’s venue.
Former Galaxy coach Bruce Arena and teammate Robbie Keane attended the
cermony along with Beckham, who is set to become an MLS club owner when
expansion side Inter Miami joins MLS.
Beckham played for the Galaxy from 2007 to 2012, taking league titles in
his final two campaigns, during a career that also featured stops with
Manchester United and Real Madrid in addition to England’s national team.
Also set for a debut was expansion squad FC Cincinnati, which was to open
at Seattle.
Three other early matches ended in draws with FC Dallas and the New
England Revolution deadlocked 1-1, Orlando City and New York City level 2-2
and the New York Red Bulls finishing 1-1 with the Columbus Crew.
Andreas Ivan headed home Florian Valot’s cross in the sixth minute for Red
Bulls but Gaston Sauro nodded in Federico Higuain’s corner to equalize in the
41st for the host Crew.
Michael Barrios scored for Dallas in the 13th minute but Carles Gil
equalized for New England in the 57th minute in his MLS debut. First-half
goals by Ebenezer Ofori and Alex Ring put NYCFC in front but the Lions
leveled from Chris Mueller in the 59th minute and Tesho Akindale’s goal in
the 75th minute.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0843 hrs