Music: {allcanada} TFC beat Union to snap 9-game losing streak

TORONTO -- Finally!

Toronto FC's horrendous losing streak came to a dramatic end on Saturday, with the Reds earning a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union courtesy of a late goal from Danny Koevermans before 18,227 relieved spectators at BMO Field.

The Dutch forward came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute before banging in the winning goal with two minutes remaining in regulation to help the beleaguered Reds earn their first points of the Major League Soccer season.

One of the club's three designated players, Koevermans started his fourth consecutive game on the bench since returning to action from a groin injury, but made the most of his limited playing time, scoring one of the most important goals of the season for Toronto.

This victory was a very long time in coming for TFC (1-9-0), who lost its first nine games of the MLS campaign to set a record for the worst start to a season in league history.

"This is nice, (answering) different questions," coach Aron Winter quipped in the post-match press conference.

Winter later added: "After nine games and zero points, each game you play and you don't get points, it's not nice. But this is a big relief."

One would think so. After being continuously hounded by the press over speculation about his future and the ill fortunes of the club as the losses piled up one after another, the Dutchman looked at ease as he fielded queries from the assembled reporters.

All together Toronto was winless in its previous 12 league matches (nine losses and three draws), its previous MLS win coming in a 2-1 decision over the Colorado Rapids at home on Sept. 17, 2011.

Saturday's win also builds on the Reds' midweek victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps to claim the Amway Canadian Championship for a fourth consecutive year.

Philadelphia, at 2-7-2, is the second-worst team in MLS and is winless in five games, so Saturday's victory wasn't all that impressive when you consider the calibre of the opposition.

But beggars can't be choosers and when you're desperate for a win like TFC was, three points is still three points.

What will be interesting to see now is if Toronto can further build upon this result and fight its way back into playoff contention, especially with a daunting slate of matches on the horizon.

Toronto goes on a three-week break from competition before resuming MLS play with a road contest against Sporting Kansas City on June 16. After that, TFC has challenging games against the Houston Dynamo and Montreal Impact (away) and the New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls (home).

A month ago, Winter boldly proclaimed his team would come back and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

"Always," the Dutchman replied Saturday when asked if he still thought his team could still qualify for the post-season.

Time will tell, but in the meantime Winter and his players can rightly bask in the afterglow of a rare league victory.

TFC started brightly, the attacking triumvirate of Ryan Johnson, Joao Plata and Reggie Lambe running rampant amidst the disorganized Philadelphia defence.

Toronto should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when captain Torsten Frings started a quick counter-attack with an exquisite pass that sent in Lambe alone on goal. Union goalkeeper Chris Konopka, the club's third-stringer and making only his second league start, did well to cut down the angle, and Lambe comically corkscrewed his rebound attempt wide of the near post despite staring at an open goal from two yards out.

Johnson also spurned several quality scoring chances, including firing past the far post despite being unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box and having a clear shot on goal.

Philadelphia looked lively to start the second half, and nearly took the lead through Michael Farfan. The Union midfielder capitalized on some slack marking by Julian de Guzman, unleashing a fierce shot from 25 yards out that sailed past TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic but hit the crossbar.

That served as a wakeup call for Toronto, who began to play with more urgency and put continued pressure on the Union's back line as they poured forward. Frings delivered several quality crosses and dangerous corner kicks into the box, forcing Philadelphia into some harried defending.

Jeremy Hall played a smart pass to Frings, who ran directly on goal in the 80th minute, only to see Konopka rush off his line to deny the German.

Toronto would not be denied though, and after Nick Soolsma, another second-half substitute, worked hard to win possession inside the Philadelphia box, the ball fell to Koevermans who poked it home from two yards out in a goal-mouth scramble in front of Konopka.

TFC's goal-scoring hero could not talk to the media, as he was playing in a reserve league match immediately after Toronto's win. Others spoke for him.

"Three points on the board. It feels great to have a few days off now and get ready for KC," Hall said.