Pereira answers costly handball with late equaliser as Fraser praises Toronto defender

Toronto defender responds to setback with late goal

Matheus Pereira’s eventful performance against Orlando City offered Toronto FC head coach Robin Fraser a chance to praise the defender’s professionalism. Pereira conceded a penalty through a handball in first-half stoppage time, converted by Martin Ojeda, before scoring an 89th-minute equaliser in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw. It was Pereira’s first goal for Toronto.

Despite the error, Pereira led Toronto in possessions won, with eight, and touches, with 64. Fraser said the Brazilian did not allow the mistake to undermine his performance.

“Things are going to happen and you can’t let a mistake affect you. As a seasoned and experienced professional, he didn’t,” Fraser said. “He played well, he obviously contributed in many other ways, and that’s what I would expect.”

Fraser added that he was pleased Pereira had remained focused after the incident, saying players must continue to perform even when involved in “an erroneous moment.”

Toronto chase New York in the Eastern Conference

The draw came ahead of Toronto’s meeting with New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The teams were separated by three points, with New York eighth in the Eastern Conference and three places ahead of Toronto in the playoff chase.

New York entered the match after a 2-1 defeat to D.C. United, its second loss in three MLS matches, following a 4-1 home win over San Diego FC. The Red Bulls had gone unbeaten in 14 consecutive regular-season meetings with Toronto, winning nine and drawing five; their last league defeat to Toronto was in July 2019.

Toronto, meanwhile, had shown a knack for late drama: Pereira’s equaliser against Orlando followed a match in which the club had scored twice in stoppage time to beat Montreal 2-1. Daniel Salloi had seven goals and seven assists in the 2026 MLS season after setting up Theo Corbeanu against Orlando.

Key players and forecast

New York’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had scored in consecutive regular-season matches, while the report noted he had never scored in three straight. Cameron Harper was identified as the last Red Bulls player to achieve that run, in May 2024. The match forecast gave New York a 46.5% win probability, compared with 26.5% for a draw and 27% for Toronto.