Giovinco scores hat trick to lead Toronto FC to win in MLS

Toronto FC regained the lead in the 57th minute after some more intelligent and industrious play by their most valuable player, with Giovinco earning a foul several yards outside the Orlando City box and then curling in a genuinely brilliant goal on the ensuing free kick. With 10 assists, Giovinco has been directly involved in 26 of Toronto’s 36 goals (72.2 per cent) this season.

Giovinco’s hat trick gives him the all-time single season goals record for Toronto.

That loss to the Revs also cost Toronto the services of Jozy Altidore, who saw red in the 39th minute.

Head coach, Greg Vanney will still have the Atomic Ant at his disposal though, with Sebastian Giovinco taken out at halftime on the weekend, to ensure he is fit for the clash against Orlando. His free kick on the game winning goal was simply world class and unstoppable by any keeper in the world.

In the 88th minute, Giovinco beat Hall with a low angled shot after a long seeing-eye pass from Benoit Cheyrou, prompting the crowd of 26,648 to chant “MVP, MVP”.

“I think he is one of the best players in MLS”.

The former Juventus striker opened the scoring with a penalty in the 12th minute and got his second with a spectacular free-kick in the 56th minute after Orlando had levelled through Luke Boden in the 17th minute. Both teams had trouble putting shots on goal, with Montreal finishing three for seven and New York two for twelve.

Giovinco had forced a save from Hall just three minutes in.

“I think we have to get used to global football, with players selected from championships all over the world”.

That left the spotlight on Giovinco and Orlando rookie Cyle Larin.

“I thought we started quite bright”.

With Kaka and other key players unavailable due to injury, Orlando lost steam as the match progressed, with the visiting team unable to generate any significant scoring chances in the second half.