Things appeared ominous for Toronto FC before the match even started when it was revealed that star striker Josh Sargent was starting from the bench and talismanic midfielder Đorđe Mihailović did not even make the match squad. Another key player who returned to the match squad last week but is absent tonight is centre-back Benjamin Kuscevic.
XI locked in 🔐
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 22, 2026
Watch on @AppleTV 📺: https://t.co/V8Tq8dcEFh
Also on TSN4 pic.twitter.com/87koLJ2ZwK
The Reds' back line features some youth, with 22-year-old Jackson Gilman partnering Walker Zimmerman for his fourth consecutive start. Joining him is recently promoted first-team player Richard Chukwu. The 18-year-old from Bradford, Ontario, is making his Major League Soccer debut at left centre-back.
The 17th minute saw the first effort on goal, with the Revolution's Griffin Yow comfortably saved by Luka Gavran. But just moments later, following a mad scramble inside the TFC box, the ball was again cleared by Gavran for a New England corner.
In the 27th minute, Dániel Sallói was put through by Emilio Aristizábal, but Sallói got under the ball, and his shot sailed harmlessly over the net.
TFC had a glorious opportunity in the 38th minute, but the hard-driven low cross from Richie Laryea got caught up in Jules-Anthony Vilsaint's feet. What should have been a tap-in goal was instead easily scooped up by Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner.
The biggest chance for TFC goes to Jules-Anthony Vilsaint but he can't find the back of the net.#MLS pic.twitter.com/uLzKgnikte
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 23, 2026
Right on the 43rd minute, New England's star playmaker Carles Gil struck a drive with his favoured left foot from the edge of the box off the crossbar and out, and then had another opportunity with his right foot moments later that Gavran firmly steered aside.
YES LUKA 🛑 pic.twitter.com/YydgZcxAMe
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 23, 2026
Just before the end of the half, Gavran again kept the game scoreless with a close-range save from Peyton Miller from a set piece. It was just another of several saves Gavran would make in a spectacular goalkeeping performance.
Entering the break, New England dominated with 66% possession, but TFC held the edge with 1.03 xG to New England's 0.75. Gavran was immense for TFC in goal with several key late saves, and rookie Richard Chukwu had not looked out of place in his debut either. However, Emilio Aristizábal had been invisible leading the line, and half-time changes were to be expected.
Opening the second half, Robin Fraser brought in Josh Sargent for the ineffective Emilio Aristizábal as the only change made.
The first decent chance of the second half came to Toronto from a corner, but Walker Zimmerman's headed effort sailed just wide of Turner's goal.
TFC have now hit one off the woodwork as things stay tied.#MLS pic.twitter.com/Ud0K1Ap0WU
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 23, 2026
In the 59th minute, it was the Reds' turn to hit the woodwork. Deandre Kerr's head met Sallói's lofted ball into the area, but the crossbar was all that met his effort.
Just a few minutes after the hour mark, Fraser reached into his bench again and brought in Malik Henry and Theo Corbeanu for Deandre Kerr and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint. Just six minutes later, rookie Richard Chukwu went down with a knock and was replaced by Zane Monlouis.
It was another corner in the 76th minute that produced TFC's next opportunity, but Josh Sargent's headed effort went just wide of the New England post.
The game wound down through its final 20 minutes with neither side seriously threatening the other, as the match ended in a scoreless draw — Toronto's second consecutive within a week.
Robin Fraser remarked post-game: "We've got two shutouts in a row on the road, so I look at that as progress. I feel like we were leaking soft goals going into the break, and you look at the determination and the coordination with which we have defended — certainly that's progress."
On the lack of offence, he added: "I feel like we had a number of decent chances; we just need to be sharper in the attacking end and in our decision-making and our execution. But this is definitely progress, and we know we need to get a little bit sharper."
When asked about 18-year-old Richard Chukwu's TFC debut, Fraser commented that "he really grew into the game, and he had some big plays defensively and had some good distribution."
Luka Gavran added about Chukwu: "He's young and he has huge potential. As he goes on in his career, every training session, every game, he's gonna get better, and we have to understand that, and we have to help him through it, and I think he's got a great career ahead of him."
For Toronto, it was their league-worst tenth consecutive winless match, as the club remains well outside the play-off spots with just 16 points from 16 matches. The Reds won't have much time to dwell on it, though, as they head to Washington in three days for a match with DC United on Saturday, 25 July, at Audi Field.
