Toronto (5-5-4) snapped a two-game losing streak with the 2-1 win over New York and coach Chris Cummins was pleased the team escaped the battle with all three points.
"We've been questioning ourselves to see if we can grind out results, and we showed ... that we can do it," Cummins said. "It wasn't a pretty game but we ground a result out and the most important thing today was the three points." Toronto, which has four wins and two ties in 10 home matches, will try to build on the victory and jump into second place in the Eastern Conference.
TFC is in a three-way tie for third place with the Kansas City Wizards and the Columbus Crew, and are just two points behind the second-place Chicago Fire.
With first-place D.C. United off this week, Toronto has a chance to jump to the top of the standings when it plays at Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the second of two games this week.
Toronto has some concerns this week, though, with midfielder Amado Guevara and defender Andrian Serioux both questionable with injuries. In addition, defender Marvell Wynne - another usual starter - is with the United States.
Guevara did play in the last meeting with New York, missing a penalty kick in the third minute that Sam Cronin followed up for the opening goal. Danny Dichio added the game-winner before half.
While Toronto was off from league play, New York (2-10-4) did manage to end its five-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders FC last week.
Juan Pablo Angel scored in the 40th minute, but the Red Bulls allowed a late extra-time goal to Fredy Montero and the 1-all score held. In the second half, didn't manage a single shot on goal.
"It was very difficult to come back from that dramatic goal against but at the end, it's a point and I think we played for our pride in the second half and I think it was worth it," New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio said.
The Red Bulls will have to change a season-long trend this weekend to build on the tie. New York is 0-7-1 on the road and has scored just one goal in those eight games.
Added to those woes, Angel and fellow forward Macoumba Kandji are both on the injury list with leg problems. New York is also without Andrew Boyens due to international duty with New Zealand, and Kevin Goldwaite and Mike Petke are suspended.
New York has the fewest points in MLS, but with D.C. just 13 points away, the defending Western Conference champions could still factor into the playoff race over their final 14 matches if they can start a win streak against Toronto.
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