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TORONTO -- Jermain Defoe, playing with purpose after his England snub, and Luke Moore scored as Toronto FC snapped its three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in MLS play Saturday afternoon.
The 31-year-old Defoe, who has 19 goals and 55 caps for his country, was relegated to England's seven-man World Cup taxi squad on Monday. Defoe, who could still be called up in event of injury, admitted to being baffled and devastated by his omission from the 23-man main England squad.
Defoe made his case on the pitch Saturday, showcasing his ability to find space and then threaten goal.
On a day where Arsenal won the FA Cup at Wembley, former Gunners star Thierry Henry -- while showing flashes of his brilliance -- was relegated to a supporting role as the Red Bulls saw their 10-game unbeaten streak against Toronto snapped.
Both Defoe and Henry made their names scoring goals for north London clubs in the English Premier League.
Defoe collected 153 goals for Tottenham while the 36-year-old Henry potted 228 for Arsenal. The New York attack also featured English forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, who came into the game leading MLS with nine goals this season.
Toronto (4-4-0) had lost four out of its last five games after opening the MLS campaign with two consecutive wins.
New York (3-4-5) was coming off an ugly 5-4 loss to the previously winless Chicago Fire, which snapped its four-game undefeated streak. And the Red Bulls looked sloppy Saturday, turning the ball over in the early going.
A poor pass from fullback Kosuke Kimura led to Toronto's first goal when Bradley Orr beat Dax McCarty to the ball in midfield and drove forward. He spotted Defoe and slotted a perfect pass, with the striker hammering a right-footed rocket into the top of the net in the 12th minute.
It was Defoe's fourth goal in five MLS games. He could have had three more in the first half.
Moore, in his home debut, scored his first goal for Toronto with a tap-in in stoppage time after a defensive miscommunication.
Still it was far from a complete performance from an undermanned Toronto squad. At times, the Red Bulls sliced through the home side but did not finish.
Toronto wobbled early in the second half and New York missed a glorious opportunity to tie it in the 62nd minute when Wright-Phillips, facing an empty goal, shockingly skied the ball after Joe Bendik palmed away a dangerous cross.
Bendik, who collided with a Red Bull on the play, needed treatment but stayed in.
Substitute Daniel Lovitz had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute but failed to convert after Jonathan Osorio found Mark Bloom with a nice pass and the fullback raked the ball across the six-yard box.
Defoe was yellow-carded late in the game after a theatrical incident with Red Bulls' Spanish defender Armando that led to some pushing and shoving near the Toronto bench.
Toronto's Kyle Bekker shot wide in stoppage time.
Both teams have lost stars to the World Cup: fullback Roy Miller (Costa Rica) and midfielder Tim Cahill (Australia) for New York and midfielder Michael Bradley (U.S.) for Toronto. Goalie Julio Cesar, who had been slated to play for Toronto on Saturday before joining Brazil, was out with the flu.
Toronto started rookie Nick Hagglund at centre back, shifting Doneil Henry to the bench. In his last three games, the 21-year-old Canadian international has given up two penalties and a giveaway that led to a goal.
Faced with one of the game's greats in Henry, Hagglund acquitted himself well on the day.
Orr moved into midfield to help fill the void left by Bradley, Brazilian winger Jackson (concussion) and newly acquired Collen Warner (suspended). Toronto's lack of resources was highlighted by the fact that Jeremy Hall was on the bench, with just one full practice under his belt after an Achilles injury.
Henry introduced himself to Hagglund by racing past the rookie and then felling him with a late tackle that earned a yellow card in the sixth minute. On the plus side, Hagglund got to shake hands with a repentant Henry.
Minutes later at the other end, Luis Robles had to parry a hard shot from Defoe.
Brazilian striker Gilberto's poor luck in front of goal continued in the 17th when his sliding tip went wide of the Red Bulls post after a free kick.
Defoe threatened again in the 24th when Osorio dissected the New York defence with a pass. But a Red Bulls defender got a toe to it before Defoe could shoot.
And in the 31st minute, Defoe was off target after taking a well-weighted ball pass from Bekker.
The Red Bulls had not lost to Toronto since June 24, 2009, a 7-0-3 stretch that saw them outscore TFC 25-5.
Toronto, meanwhile, improved its career mark against the Red Bulls to 5-11-4.
Former Toronto FC midfielder Bobby Convey started at left back for New York. Fullback Richard Eckersley was on the bench.
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