TORONTO (AP) — Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr each scored a first-half goal and Toronto FC hung on for a 2-1 win over Austin in its first-ever visit to BMO Field on Saturday.
Toronto (11-15-3) came into weekend play in eighth in the Eastern Conference. Austin (9-12-7) has won just one of its last six league games (1-4-1).
Osorio scored at the end of a counterattack in the seventh minute when a sliding Austin player poked it away from Kerr but the ball bounced to Osorio, who beat goalkeeper Brad Stuver with a rising shot.
Toronto made it 2-0 in the 30th after another counterattack. Richie Laryea unselfishly sent a perfect low cross across goal for Kerr to knock home.
Teenager Owen Wolff, the son of Austin coach Josh Wolff, scored in the 76th by controlling a long ball, beating a defender and then waiting out goalkeeper Sean Johnson before slotting it home.
The win evened Toronto’s home record at 7-7-0, while Austin fell to 3-8-3 on the road. Toronto has five games remaining, including three more at home as it looks to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Toronto FC midfielder Richie Laryea, left, defends against Austin FC midfielder Osman Bukari (7) during the first half of a MLS soccer game in Toronto on Saturday, September 14, 2024. (Chris Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson makes a save against Austin FC, during the first half of a MLS soccer game in Toronto on Saturday, September 14, 2024. (Chris Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne celebrates with forward Deandre Kerr after Kerr scored during the first half of a MLS soccer game in Toronto on Saturday, September 14, 2024. (Chris Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup that his country hosted and epitomized a player exceeding expectations on soccer’s biggest stage, has died. He was 59.
Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.
The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer.
Schillaci had never scored for Italy before the 1990 World Cup, having previously only played once for the national team. Overall, he made 16 appearances for Italy and scored seven goals — six of them at the World Cup.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. ... His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament's top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
“Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on X.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.
“Ciao Totò,” Juventus said on Instagram.
“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.
Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy's opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”
With Schillaci having been born and raised in Palermo, the city will hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Juventus' Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, center, attends a team training session with teammates Giancarlo Marocchi, left, and Oleksandr Zavarov, in Turin, Italy, between 1989 and 1990. (LaPresse via AP)
Italy Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, right, controls the ball during a World Cup soccer match between Italy and Austria, in Rome, on June 9, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)
Italy's Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, right, in action during a World Cup soccer match between Italy and the United States, in Rome, on June 14, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)
Italy's Salvatore "Totò Schillaci, right, celebrates with teammate Roberto Baggio after scoring a goal during the World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay, in Rome, on June 25, 1990. (LaPresse via AP)
FILE - Italian forward Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, center, celebrates after scoring the first goal for Italy in the World Cup game against Czechoslovakia, in Rome, Italy, June 19, 1990. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, file)
FILE- Former Italian striker Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci is overcome by emotion as he arrives at the reality show "L'Isola dei Famosi" in Milan, Italy, Friday, Nov. 19, 2004. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, file)
FILE - Italy's Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci, left, and Argentina's Juan Simon chase the ball during the Soccer World Cup semi-final, in Naples, Italy, July 3, 1990. (AP Photo, file)
