TFC falls to Union in final pre-season match

Toronto-FC

Toronto FC players Benoit Cheyrou (8) Jakcson (11) and Herculez Gomez, second left (Ryan Remiorz/CP)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Toronto FC finished the MLS pre-season on a losing note Saturday, beaten 1-0 by the Philadelphia Union at the Suncoast Invitational.

C.J. Sapong scored the lone goal in the 60th minute at Al Lang Stadium

Toronto had its chances. Sebastian Giovinco forced a big save from Andre Blake in the 20th minute and the Italian forward hit the post with a low shot in the 64th minute.

Toronto returns home Sunday and opens the regular season March 6 at the New York Red Bulls.

"We would have liked to be a little bit sharper. But it was a quick turnaround from Wednesday (a 1-1 tie with Montreal). No excuses for us," said coach Greg Vanney. "We’ll be ready to go …. As a group we need to be better than we were tonight."

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