Impoverished Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls play to a goalless draw

Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls drew 0-0 on Wednesday in what was essentially an MLS war of attrition with the two teams without more than 20 players combined due to injury, suspension or international duty.

With both sides sporting makeshift defences, there were scoring chances at each end. But the end was not there.

The Red Bulls defense held as Toronto pressed in the final minutes.

The two teams entered the game mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 2-4-6 record, with the Red Bulls leading on goal difference. The good news is that both were only three points away from a playoff position.

Still, TFC’s recent woes seemed to be reflected in the stands, with plenty of seats available and an announced attendance of 22,560 at BMO Field on Pride Night.

Kaye dealing with a lower body injury

Toronto’s injury crisis in central defense was exacerbated by the surprise omission of Mark-Anthony Kaye, a midfielder who spent time helping the back line in the weekend’s 2-0 loss in Montreal due to the absence of Matt’s first-choice central defender pairing. Hedges and Sigurd Rosted plus backup Shane O’Neill.

The club said Kaye was dealing with a lower body injury.

Fullback Richie Laryea lined up alongside Aime Mabika at the heart of TFC’s defense. Toronto had three 20-year-olds in the starting 11 in Kobe Franklin, Deandre Kerr and Kosi Thompson and its six-man bench, which included TFC II loan Anthony Couric, had an average age of 22.

The Red Bulls were also without their first-choice center duo due to suspension.

Before the game, Toronto had lost three straight in all competitions and won just one of its previous nine games (1-4-4). TFC had been outscored 10-4, losing four of their last five.

Toronto was looking to avoid a third straight home loss in all competitions, something it had avoided since March-May 2012.

The Red Bulls were coming off a 1-0 weekend win over visiting New York City FC, the second straight win in all competitions under new coach Troy Lesesne. The former assistant was given the head coaching job until the end of the season after the team parted ways with Gerhard Struber on May 8 in what the club said was a mutual decision.

Before the coaching change, the Red Bulls had won just two of 11 games (2-3-6).

Toronto captain Lorenzo Insigne had a fine chance in the seventh minute after Kerr’s header sent the Italian behind the defense. But the Italian’s shot went straight to goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.

Toronto goalie Sean Johnson had to make a reflex save after his punt attempt sent the ball straight to New York’s Cameron Harper. A swooping Coronel saved a long-range free kick from Federico Bernardeschi in first-half stoppage time

Toronto backup forward Ayo Akinola fired wide shortly after entering halftime after Bernardeschi combined with Franklin to open up the Red Bulls’ defense. New York’s Elias Manoel then hit the crossbar with a chip attempt on Johnson.

Johnson dove and saved a curling shot from Tom Barlow in the 55th.

Canadian winger O’Vonte Mullings came on in the 73rd minute, making his MLS debut for the Red Bulls.

Coronel made a great save to stop Insigne’s header in the 79th after a perfect cross from Bernardeschi found his compatriot at the far post.

The Red Bulls were without the suspended Sean Nealis, Andrés Reyes and Cristian Casseres Jr. (accumulation of yellow cards), while Daniel Edelman is out with the US team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

Belgian international winger Dante Vanzeir, one of the Red Bulls’ designated players, is serving a six-game ban for racial abuse in an April 8 game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Red Bulls’ injured list included defensemen Matt Nocita and Kyle Duncan, midfielders Frankie Amaya, Luquinhas, Lewis Morgan and Steven Serwadda, and forward Serge Ngoma.

Toronto also lacked midfielders Michael Bradley, Alonso Coello, Jonathan Osorio and Víctor Vázquez and forward Jordan Perruzza. Toronto midfielder Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty has been suspended after being sent off on Saturday.

The Red Bulls, who host CF Montreal on Saturday, were unbeaten in their previous seven games (5-0-2) against Toronto.

TFC plays Austin FC on Saturday.

CF Montreal falls to FC Cincinnati

A Joel Waterman own goal in the second minute of play was the spark that led FC Cincinnati to a 3-0 victory over visiting CF Montreal on Wednesday night.

Luciano Acosta extended the lead to 2-0 with his third goal of the season, an unassisted goal in the 26th minute.

Brandon Vázquez added his third goal of the season, with an assist from Obinna Nwobodo, to give Cincinnati a three-goal lead in the 65th minute.

The win moves Cincinnati (8-1-3) three points ahead of the inactive New England Revolution atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Cincinnati snaps a three-game losing streak against Montreal and matches the all-time series with three wins apiece. Cincinnati entered the game undefeated at home with six one-goal wins, the first team in league history to do so.

Montreal (5-7-0) ended a six-game winning streak in all competitions, the longest since it joined the league in 2012.

Cincinnati had a 14-10 shooting advantage, but Montreal had a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Roman Celentano finished with five saves to earn a clean sheet for Cincinnati. Jonathan Sirois saved two shots for Montreal.