It’s still very early, but Toronto FC appears to have a true gem of a player in Niklas Dorsch. 

Signed via transfer from German club 1. FC Heidenheim last month, Dorsch impressed in his MLS debut on July 31 away to New York City FC and followed that up with a man-of-the-match display in TFC’s important 2-1 home win over the New England Revolution on Saturday. 

Toronto was fortunate to have a 1-0 lead late in the first half despite being largely outplayed by New England after an own goal gave the Reds their advantage.  

But there was nothing lucky about Dorsch’s screamer of a goal in first-half injury time that held up as the game-winner. The veteran German midfielder started the play by applying some defensive pressure that led to a giveaway by the Revolution deep inside their half of the pitch. 

Toronto quickly transitioned from defence to attack as Dániel Sallói scampered down the left side after getting on the end of a pass from DP midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. The Hungarian winger eventually played the ball back to Mihailovic at the top of the box and he teed it up for Dorsch, who unleashed a gorgeous curler from 25 yards out that nestled into the top right corner.      

In the post-game press conference, Dorsch explained that during a break in the action earlier in the half due to an injury to TFC fullback Richie Laryea, coach Robin Fraser advised his team to press New England higher up the pitch. Dorsch took his coach’s instructions to heart, and the end result was the German scored one of the finest goals at BMO Field in recent memory. 

"After the break, when Richie got injured on his head, we had a short (talk with) the coach who told us to get a little bit higher; push them higher, and set a little bit more pressure, higher pressure. ... The ball was like in a perfect position; in training sometimes, I try to shoot from this position. So, I'm very happy it worked out today in the........

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