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Edu helps Toronto FC snap 12-game winless streak, edge Red Bulls

Oct 5, 2007 - 4:02 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Maurice Edu and Toronto FC aren't dead yet.

Edu scored his fourth goal of the season and Toronto staved off playoff elimination by defeating the New York Red Bulls, 2-1, on Thursday.

Marvell Wynne assisted on Edu's score and TFC was helped by an own goal by Chris Leitch to avoid being officially knocked out of playoff contention.

"The game was well played on our part," Edu said. "We battled for the full 90 minutes. I thought we put together a good first half and came out in the second and built on it. We wanted to get a win for our fans."

Toronto (6-15-6), which snapped a 12-game winless streak, also won its first game in three attempts vs. New York.

The loss by the Red Bulls (11-11-6) prevented them from clinching a playoff berth with two games left.

"We're moving forward from this," Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said. "To secure a spot in the playoffs we need to win. It'd be nice to win a game, that would guarantee that. We'll have to play it out and see."

Edu led the charge for FC Toronto when he tallied in the 18th minute of the game. After taking a pass from Wynne while cutting in the goal area, the rookie midfielder fired s shot past diving goal keeper Ronald Waterreus into the bottom left corner of the net to give FC an early lead.

"Marvell had the ball out wide," Edu said. "I shot him a glance, showed him where I was going to run, and he put in a good ball to me. I was just trying to get the ball and hit a corner."

It was Wynne's third assist of the season.

The score remained 1-0 into he second half when Toronto got a little help.

In the 64th minute, Toronto advanced into New York's goal area, where Wynne sent a cross in front of the net that Leitch kicked in while trying to prevent Gabe Gala from scoring.

"It was hard luck," Leitch said. "It was one of those tough ones for a defender. You're sprinting as hard as you can back to your own goal, and you know you have a man waiting behind you to tap it in if you let it go. You're damned if you don't, damned if you do."

Rookie midfielder Dane Richards headed in a corner kick in the 75th minute to halve New York's deficit but 10 minutes later goal keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos made his third save of the contest to prevent a tie.

Stamatopoulos made a total of four saves for TFC, which won its sixth game of the season.

"I'm just happy for the guys," FC coach Mo Johnston said. "Tonight our bench was tested and that's when we saw our depth."

Waterreus also made four saves for the Red Bulls, who can still earn a playoff spot this week with a loss by both Columbus and Los Angeles.

Each team had a player ejected in the contest. New York midfielder Joe Vide left the game after receiving his second yellow card in the 64th minute while Toronto defender Andrew Boyens received a red card for serious foul in the 67th minute.