HARRISON, N.J. — Dániel Sallói scored a goal in the 82nd minute, Luka Gavran had three saves, and Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday night.
Toronto is now tied with the Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Cincinnati has two games in hand on Toronto and New York.
"This is huge," Sallói said. "Obviously, every game is now life or death and we are very happy today, but tomorrow we have to keep working because we're still far away from the playoffs.
"It's going to take a lot in these last games to get in there and we have difficult games coming up. I'm saying that because every game is difficult at the end of the year and especially when it's a must-win so we just got to keep working, keep fighting and we've got to be above the line at the end the regular season."
TFC won without three usual starting defenders — Richie Laryea, Benjamin Kuscevic (yellow-card accumulation) and Walker Zimmerman (ankle).
TFC head coach Robin Fraser also had to serve a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. Assistant Wolde Harris served as head coach in Fraser's absence.
Harris dedicated the win to his father, Trevor Harris, who passed away last month. Trevor was a soccer player in Jamaica.
"He never got to see me coach at this level ... And so, you now, for me, it has a big personal significance because I did in my own self I'm dedicating this one to him," Harris said.
"He was a footballer, a legend in (Michigan State University), a legend in Jamaica, and so for me that part of it is kind of emotional. But at the end of the day, I'm here to do whatever it is that I need to do in order to make this team and this club better, and if part of that is filling in for head coach and doing that, then I'm happy to do it because Robin is not only a great coach, but he's a good friend."
Toronto (8-10-12) took a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the third minute by New York's Justin Che.
Jonathan Osorio played a first-touch through ball to Sallói who outraced the defense and beat goalkeeper Ethan Horvath with a low shot from right of the penalty spot that capped the scoring.
The Red Bulls had 67 per cent possession and outshot Toronto 15-6.
Horvath had three saves for the Red Bulls (10-14-6).
Up next
Toronto: Plays next Saturday at Columbus.
Red Bulls: Host Miami next Saturday.
— with files from Sportsnet.