Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Last week, Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco led the way by scoring the game’s lone goal. This time, the Italian star provided a spark by way of the pass.
Giovinco provided two assists, as Toronto FC cruised past the visiting San Jose Earthquakes en route to a 3-1 victory at BMO Field.
The diminutive Italian’s first helper of the day came via a cross in the 22nd minute. After an extended spell with the ball, Jonathan Osorio found a cutting Giovinco on the left side. Giovinco’s looped ball in fell right into the path of Justin Morrow, who provided a diving header from the center of the box, giving TFC the 1-0 lead.
With finishes from Chris Wondolowski and Warren Creavalle in between, Giovinco provided the assist on the insurance goal in the 71st minute.
Tracking down a long pass from Michael Bradley, Giovinco took time on the ball from the right side. The forward then centered a perfectly placed pass around the Earthquakes defense and right into the stride of a cutting Luke Moore, who hit the pass first time for TFC’s third and final goal.
The lone bright spot of the afternoon for the Earthquakes came via a Wondolowski penalty just two minutes after Morrow’s opener.
Wondolowski’s penalty kick came as a result of his own handy work, as the forward’s header was sent straight into the outstretched arm of Ashtone Morgan, earning the referee’s whistle. Wondolowski stepped up and buried the penalty to goalkeeper Chris Konopka’s right, giving the Earthquakes the equalizer.
The level scoreline lasted just nine minutes before Creavalle’s go-ahead goal via a long-range effort.
After collecting a TFC cross, the Earthquakes backline collected the ball before Sanna Nyassi appeared to be fouled by Giovinco. The referee ruled the play clean, allowing Moore to recover. Moore played the ball to Creavalle, who smashed a grounded shot first time, giving TFC a lead that the hosts would never relinquish.
The victory is TFC’s second in as many games, while the Earthquakes fall for the first time in six games.
TFC look to make it three in a row with a visit to D.C. United on June 6, while the Earthquakes look to bounce back with a June 7 home matchup with FC Dallas.