Giovinco breaks MLS points record in Toronto’s 3-2 victory over Chicago

TORONTO – On an afternoon Sebastian Giovinco became the all-time Major League Soccer points leader, it was a spectacular goal that he didn’t get credit for that had Toronto FC’s locker-room buzzing afterward.

Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore scored to lift Toronto 3-2 over the last-place Chicago Fire on Saturday — TFC’s first victory this season after conceding the first goal.

Jonathan Osorio was credited with a third TFC goal that looked like it was Giovinco’s. And afterward, Osorio refused to take any ownership of what was a beautiful goal, no matter who put it in.

“I hope that MLS goes back and reviews it and gives it to Seba,” Osorio said.

The goal in question came in the 29th minute when Giovinco corralled the rebound on his own corner kick, then chipped the curling ball seemingly into the far corner of the net. Officials credited a crashing Osorio.

Asked about the spectacular setup, Osorio said: “He took it with the outside of his foot, it takes a special quality to pull off something like that. So it wasn’t a setup, it was a goal. And I think he took it very well.”

Giovinco, a favourite to win league MVP honours, had two assists, the second giving him 35 points for the league record.

The Italian star only learned he hadn’t been credited with the goal in the post-game locker-room, and after sitting hunched over in his locker watching the footage on his phone with Altidore, he said he didn’t want to speak to reporters.

“We’ve said it from early this year that he’s one of, if not the best player to ever play in the league, so I think reaching that mark is sort of justification for some of those comments early on,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said of the record. “This is a guy who can do a lot of things.”

With four games left in the regular season and the Reds playing for favourable post-season positioning in what would be their first playoff appearance in franchise history, every game is huge.

Toronto, with 13 wins, 13 losses and four draws, is fifth in the Eastern Conference, and would host a playoff game in Toronto if they can move past fourth-place D.C. United. The Montreal Impact is hot on Toronto’s heels in sixth.

On paper, the game in front of 22,513 sun-drenched fans at BMO Field, was Toronto’s to lose. Chicago (7-18-6) has the worst record in the MLS.

But it wasn’t until the 79th minute that Altidore scored the game-winner, after a scramble in front of the net off a Giovinco corner kick.

Vanney said the come-from-behind victory shows his team’s character — and at the perfect time.

“For me, from a mentality standpoint, this was one of our biggest wins for sure of the year,” the coach said. “It shows we’ve grown in terms of our patience and understanding of who we are and what we are, and how we’re going to be successful that we were able to just stick with it.

“It’s maturity by our group. That character, that confidence you need as you go into the playoffs is critical.”

Bradley scored in the 59th minute, winding his way through several Chicago players to score from inside the box.

Gilberto, a former Toronto FC designated player, scored both of Chicago’s goals. The Brazilian forward, who had seven goals and five assists for Toronto in 2014, clearly came to play, pouncing on a TFC turnover just 30 seconds after the opening whistle to slot the ball past Toronto ‘keeper Chris Konopka.

Gilberto, who became expendable when Toronto signed Altidore, giving the club one more than the allowable three designated players, scored again in the 52nd, after some sloppy tackling in the midfield by Toronto.

Vanney credited the energy in the crowd Saturday, and said he can normally gauge whether it will be good based on the national anthem, when the sound is turned down and the crowd finishes the singing of O Canada.

“When the national anthem is sung loud, it gives me the chills, it’s a special thing that our stadium has. . . and then it’s up to us to provide the energy and the excitement,” he said.

Toronto hosts Philadelphia, New York and Columbus before capping their regular season in Montreal.