Where would Toronto FC be without goalkeeper Luka Gavran this season?

It’s a question that coach Robin Fraser and his staff must be asking themselves after Saturday’s 2-0 road loss to Nashville SC, TFC’s third consecutive defeat and a result that kept them four spots and four points below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference with seven matches remaining in the MLS regular season.

The 2-0 scoreline rather flattered Toronto, as the damage inflicted by Nashville, the top team in the league, could have been much worse if not for Gavran’s heroics. Nashville carried the bulk of the play over the course of the 90 minutes, enjoying 61.9 per cent possession and a 22 to 11 edge in total shots, and bossed the game for long stretches.

Fortunately for TFC, Gavran prevented the damage that Nashville inflicted from being much worse. Toronto's goalkeeper put in a man-of-the-match effort, making 11 total saves and coming up with some big stops at key moments to keep his team in the game.

Nashville forward Sam Surridge is one of the league's top scorers – he ranks fourth in the Golden Boot race with 16 goals. But Gavran managed to get the better of the Englishman, stopping all three of his shots on target.

Twice in the second half, Gavran robbed Surridge of a sure goal by coming up with highlight-reel saves. He made a fabulous right-handed stop on Surridge’s header from close range and then picked himself to stop Reed Baker-Whiting’s rebound attempt that appeared destined for the lower right corner. Gavran again........

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