Toronto FC ended their 13-game winless run with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union at BMO Field.
Lorenzo Insigne gave the hosts a first-half lead before Julian Carranza levelled for the Union just before half-time.
Toronto ran away with the game in the second half and were unlucky not to score more. Deandre Kerr's first-time shot beat Andre Blake before Jonathan Osorio's header made it three. Philadelphia ended the game with then men when Jesus Bueno was sent off in stoppage time for violent conduct following a VAR review.
Ale Bedoya and Leon Flach returned to the Union starting XI, while José Martínez was fit enough to start after being forced off with a knock in the win against DC United.
Daniel Gazdag could have had a great opportunity in the opening moments of the game. The Hungarian seemingly beat the offside trap when a high and looping ball fell to him inside the penalty area. Unfortunately, he could not control the ball with his first touch, as it eventually went out for a corner. Had Gazdag managed to bring the ball under control, he would have had a clear shot at goal.
Jack Elliott had a great opportunity in the fifth minute. The Union put plenty of early pressure on the Toronto penalty area with many set pieces and crosses into the box. Kai Wagner curled a corner from the right towards the six-yard box, where Elliott jumped the highest to head goalward. He got the correct contact on the ball but could not keep it down as it cleared the crossbar.
The Union continued to apply pressure when Julian Carranza beat the offside trap to get on the end of Wagner's through ball. He did well to bring the ball under control before shooting goalward. However, a Toronto defender was on hand to provide the vital block, sending the ball behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Martínez tried his luck from around 25 yards. A loose ball trickled in his direction, and he took the initiative of the situation by striking a first-time effort. Martínez's strike had plenty of power but was always rising as it fizzed over the crossbar, leaving Tomas Romero untroubled.
Lorenzo Insigne fired the hosts in front in the 23rd minute. Jonathan Osorio played Deandre Kerr behind the Philadelphia defense inside the penalty area. Kerr spotted Insigne unmarked in the box and cut the ball back towards the Italian. Insigne shot with a first-time effort as he dragged the ball towards the far bottom corner.
The Union were forced into a 33rd minute substitution when Flach went down with an apparent groin injury. He was immediately replaced by Jack McGlynn, who slotted into the left of the diamond.
In the 37th minute, Raoul Petretta forced Andre Blake into a save. Fernando Bernadeschi cut onto his left foot before delivering a deep cross into the Philadelphia penalty area. Petretta outjumped Olivier Mbaizo to head it towards the bottom corner. Blake had it covered as he got across to push it behind for a corner.
There was a VAR check for a potential penalty in the 41st minute when Mikael Uhre's shot from the edge of the penalty area hit the arm of Sigurd Rosted and went behind for a corner. Following a review, the referee stuck with his onfield decision and a corner was given.
Carranza brought Philadelphia level just before half-time. Uhre played a smart cross with the outside of his boot towards the six-yard box. Bedoya managed to get the slightest touch to take the ball beyond Romero, with Carranza waiting at the back post to slot into the back of an empty net.
Bernadeschi stung the palms of Blake in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. He drove forward towards the Union penalty area before cutting onto his left foot. He let a powerful shot go from around 20 yards, which caught Blake a bit off guard. However, the Union keeper did well to push the ball down in his direction, with the attempt being straight at him.
HALF-TIME: Toronto 1-1 Philadelphia Union
Kerr regained the Toronto lead in the 58th minute. Bernadeschi cut the ball back for Kerr, but the ball took a deflection, creating more space for the striker. He had enough time to turn onto the ball and drill a low-driven effort beyond a helpless Blake from inside the box.
Osorio made it three in the 63rd minute. Kobe Franklin curled a cross into the box from a central position. Osorio got away from his marker before thumping a header across the goal and towards the far corner, beating the outstretched Blake.
Toronto continued to cause Philadelphia issues as they burst forward on the counter. Bernadeschi used his smart footwork to create space for himself before shooting. His effort was towards the near post, but it went the wrong side of the post.
In the 67th minute, Kerr hit the woodwork. Toronto were getting plenty of joy through counterattacks as Bernadeschi marched forward. He played a through ball for Kerr, who fizzed a shot towards the far corner. It smashed off the inside of the post before bouncing into the arms of Blake. However, if Kerr had scored, it would not have counted with the linesman's flag raised for offside.
The Union somehow failed to pull a goal back in the 80th minute. Elliott rattled the crossbar after heading Wagner's corner goalward. The rebound fell towards Jesús Bueno, who tried to hook it over Romero, who was off his line. However, the Toronto goalkeeper did well to react and prevented the ball from going over his head. The second ball dropped into a dangerous position, but Philadelphia could not take advantage, as it went out for a goal kick.
During the final stages, Bernadeschi had a huge chance to make it four. A long ball forward allowed the Italian winger to go through on goal, with the Union committing players forward. He was one-on-one with Blake, who had come well off his line and made himself big. Bernadeschi relucted to shoot and opted to try and take it around the Philadelphia goalkeeper. Blake did his job as he forced Bernadeschi wide of the goal, and his touch was too heavy, taking the ball out of play for a goal kick.
Bueno was shown a red card for violent conduct during stoppage time. He was initially booked for a challenge on Petretta. However, following a VAR review, it was viewed as violent conduct with a kick out on Petretta.
FULL-TIME: Toronto 3-1 Philadelphia Union
Toronto: Romero, Franklin, Rosted, Bradley, Petretta, Ibarra (Servania 90'), Coello, Osorio (Mbongue 90+9'), Bernardeschi, Kerr (Vazquez 80'), Insigne
Unused Substitutes: Antonglou, Mabika, Marshall-Rutty, Blessing, Pearlman, Gavran
Philadelphia Union: Blake, Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner, Martínez, Bedoya (Bueno 69'), Flach (McGlynn 33'), Gazdag (Torres 82'), Carranza (Donovan 81'), Uhre (Sullivan 69')
Unused Substitutes: Bendik, Real, Harriel, Lowe