Akinola scores twice as Toronto FC draw DC United - Game was postponed twice

Twice Toronto FC against D.C. United was delayed. First, Toronto FC delayed their departure to Florida because of suspicion of COVID-19 among the team. Then on Sunday, the game was called off at the last moment after Toronto FC had an inconclusive test and D.C. United one positive test. Finally, on Monday the game went underway and thanks to a dramatic end finished 2-2. 

Toronto seemed unfazed by the events of the last few days. The Reds dominated the game from the very beginning and in the 12th minute took the lead. Alejandro Pozuelo found Ayo Akinola outside the box and the Detroit native produced a fantastic shot from 22-yards to give his team the lead. 

The US youth international had a fantastic game. In the 17th minute, he could have doubled the lead but saw his shot saved. But in the 44th minute, he would not be denied. Pozuelo broke into the box and under pressure played a ball to the far post where Akinola had to simply tap the ball across the line. 

Then in stoppage time of the first half D.C. United's Júnior Moreno was sent off with a second yellow card. A man up Toronto dominated possession but failed to add a third goal.

Instead D.C. United got on the board in the 85th minute, when Federico Higuaín managed to lift the ball over Quentin Westberg to half the lead. That goal meant a dramatic finish to the game in which D.C. United found an unlikely equalizer in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Frédéric Brillant headed home the equalizer after a set-piece. 

Akinola then almost found the winner for Toronto FC in the 96th minute. But this time the striker would be denied by goalkeeper Bill Hamid, whose save secured his side an important point to open the tournament. 

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