While it was an acceptable performance in a Friday evening 1-1 draw against New York City FC, Toronto FC's long winless run continues, as the Reds have now gone 13 games without a win in all competitions.
For the first time all season, Robin Fraser had a full complement of attackers to pick from, meaning attacking designated players Đorđe Mihailović and Josh Sargent started together for the first time all season, with Dániel Sallói and Theo Corbeanu on the wings.
New midfield signing Niklas Dorsch also made his debut in the double pivot alongside captain Jonathan Osorio.
That being said, the match did not get off to a bright start for the visitors.
NYCFC winger Bénie Traoré was allowed to turn on the left and played a perfect ball in behind the back line to Agustín Ojeda. The winger was then dragged down in the box by Richie Laryea, leading to a penalty for the Pigeons and a yellow card for Toronto's left back.
Nico Fernández Mercau converted that spot kick, beating Luka Gavran despite the TFC keeper diving the right way, giving the hosts the lead inside nine minutes.
From there, the game ground down to a more gritty, slow affair. The ball was bouncing quite a bit on the Yankee Stadium pitch, and New York City were pretty happy to play conservatively and compact.
Meanwhile, Toronto couldn't get much going. They drew a couple of yellow cards along the halfway line against Talles Magno and Fernández Mercau but couldn't find much substance in attack.
A couple of Sallói half-chances were either put wide or easily stopped by Matt Freese, while Sargent and Mihailović struggled to get into the game. As the half wore on, frustration from the Reds grew, and Osorio picked up a yellow in first-half stoppage time with the team's eighth foul of the half.
As time wound down, it seemed as though NYCFC were going to cruise into the break with a 1-0 lead. But a miscue at the back from Thiago Martins gave Toronto the chance they desperately needed. After a couple of attempts, a rebound from a Sallói shot fell to Mihailović alone at the back post, who tapped the ball into the open goal.
That goal flipped the game on its head, sending the teams into the dressing room level at one apiece.
The second half started with a more attack-minded look from New York City, with Traoré finding a decent chance with a header early on before a flurry of opportunities off a corner a few minutes later.
Dorsch picked up a yellow in his debut in the 56th minute, bringing down the lively Traoré after he got in behind Toronto's defence. James Sands forced a fine save from Gavran on the ensuing set piece.
It was the Pigeons who made the first substitutions of the game in the 59th minute, swapping both their wingers as Traoré and Ojeda departed for Malachi Jones and Hannes Wolf.
TFC picked up another yellow moments later, with Gilman getting caught out of position and having to stop an attack by grabbing a shirt.
Each team went to the bench in the 71st minute, with Deandre Kerr, Derrick Etienne Jr., and Alonso Coello entering in place of Dorsch, Mihailović, and Sargent for the Reds, while Máximo Carrizo came on up front for Magno for the Pigeons.
The ball was in the net just a minute later for Toronto as Osorio scored off an Etienne Jr. cut-back, but the Haïti international was deemed to be offside on the initial ball in.
After the 80th minute, the game began to stretch. Andrés Perea stung the palms of Gavran after a Zimmerman giveaway, and then TFC stormed up the other way for Laryea to send a shot wide.
NYCFC emptied their bench in the 86th minute, with Seymour Reid entering up front for Fernández Mercau and Mitja Ilenič coming in for Martins, who appeared to be dealing with a leg injury after a sprint about ten minutes prior.
Toronto also made a change, bringing on the energetic Malik Henry in place of Corbeanu.
Both sides had a chance or two as the minutes ticked away, but nothing clear-cut, and as referee Ramy Touchan blew his whistle, each side had to settle for the 1-1 draw.
In isolation, a point away at NYCFC is a reasonable enough result for Toronto, but it does nothing to end the long winless streak, which now sits at 13 games.
The Reds have a weekend off as they did not qualify for this year's Leagues Cup, but are back in action on 15 August at home to New England — the first match at BMO Field since 9 May.
