TFC made to wait for Supporters' Shield after drab defeat to Revs

The chase for the Supporters' Shield goes on.

Toronto FC couldn't cash in on its first opportunity to claim Major League Soccer's annual award, dropping a 2-1 result to the sputtering New England Revolution on Saturday.

All of the goals arrived in the final 10 minutes of a rugged outing at Gillette Stadium. Nicolas Hasler's cushioned volley had canceled out substitute Lee Nguyen's scrappy go-ahead goal, but Kei Kamara restored the Revs' lead for good with a clutch header three minutes from time.

Greg Vanney's side has now suffered back-to-back losses in MLS for the first time since April 2016.

Last Wednesday's frenetic 5-3 defeat to the Montreal Impact broke TFC's 11-match unbeaten streak, and on Saturday, the Reds didn't look much better.

The setbacks come amid injuries to Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, Chris Mavinga, and Eriq Zavaleta. Head coach Vanney had just one centre-back, Drew Moor, available for the trip to New England, forcing him to play full-backs Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour out of position in a back-three.

On the opposite end, TFC struggled to create genuine chances. The Revolution, meanwhile, gained in confidence and found their footing as the second half went on.

Although it may seem like time to hit the panic button, TFC is expected to get all of its stars back for the final stretch of the season. Winning the Supporters' Shield feels more like a question of when, not if, as the Reds have the luxury of a 10-point gap on nearest rival New York City FC. While there are a few scenarios at play, TFC remains in control of its Shield destiny.

TFC can also break MLS' all-time points record with two wins and a draw from its last three matches, against the Red Bulls, the Impact, and free-scoring Atlanta United.