A pair of first-half goals from Toronto FC were enough to ward off a second-half push from the New York Red Bulls as Toronto beat the slumping American side 2-1 Saturday evening.

Toronto's first goal came after they were awarded a penalty kick two minutes in when New York midfielder Seth Stammler touched the ball while falling to the the ground.

Amado Guevara took the shot from the spot, the ball was knocked away to the right by goalkeeper Danny Cepero, but a charging Sam Cronin knocked in the rebound to give Toronto the early lead - and Cronin's first MLS goal.

"I really didn't expect it," Cronin told reporters after the game. "My job at the top of the box is, if there's a rebound, make sure you're there for it. I just tried to get inside the New York guys and the ball just ended up at my feet."

Then it was Danny Dichio who put Toronto FC up 2-0 in the 42nd minute, collecting a rebound off Pablo Vitti's one-on-one attempt with Cepero.

New York has had a history of conceding goals late in the game - and the second goal at the end of the first half highlighted their recurring problem.

The New York Red Bulls pulled one back in the 54th minute after Albert Celades slotted the ball under Stefan Frei who had to deal with a flurry of activity in front of his net.

Guevara returned to the lineup after being called up for the Honduran national team, which forced him to miss several games recently. The midfielder leads Toronto with six goals this season.

Toronto FC entered the game in a four-way tie for 16 points, but at the bottom of that pack due to its poor goal differential.

New York has been squandering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with only nine points to their name.

Toronto recently got some defensive help after signing Nick Garcia this week from the San Jose Earthquake. The team also acquired the discovery rights to striker Ali Gerba and released veteran goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

The move to acquire another player at the back was made as defender Marvell Wynne would be away for the majority of June after he was called up to the United States National team. Captain Jim Brennan sat out this game after he suffered an ankle injury last match, so Carl Robinson wore the armband Saturday.

Robinson, who called the game "scrappy and messy," says the club missed Guevara in the last three games, which were all losses.

"He's more of a control of the game player," says Robinson. "Puts his foot on the ball and dictates the pace."

Garcia, Toronto's newest member, made his presence felt from the first whistle. The defence looked tidier than usual with Garcia appearing to play in the centre, talking with teammates and directing plays.

The Reds' signing said the challenge of the match was to get in tune with his new teammates.

"At times, it's challenging because I don't know everybody's idiosyncrasy," said Garcia. "With that, I tried to just stay put in the middle. Direct, lead and vocalize to the guys what I thought was the most dangerous situations."

Nana Attakora made a crucial and well-timed tackle on New York forward Macoumba Kandji who was in a dangerous position to level things up about 10 minutes in. The Senegalese forward had only the Toronto keeper to beat, but Attakora swept the ball out.

Kevin Harmse threatened to increase Toronto's lead at least three times, making runs down the far flank of the field that sliced apart the Red Bulls' defence. Harmse, however, waited too long to take his shot on at least two attempts while other teammates were open.

Toronto continued to apply the pressure as the first half wore on with a sniping header from Danny Dichio just skimmed the outstretched fingers of Cepero, whistling over the crossbar in the 33rd minute.

Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei wasn't seriously called into action until the 45th minute when New York captain Juan Pablo Angel shook off his markers and sliced across the pitch to deliver a threatening shot on net - which was tipped away by the Toronto FC rookie 'keeper.

After the first half, New York had out-shot the home side 6-5, but it was Toronto who converted the most chances.

But the visitors came out strong in the second half as the game bounced from end-to-end.

"We said at half time we know they're going to come at us," said coach Chris Cummins. "They're not going to roll over - they're fighting for their lives at the bottom (of the table)."

"It wasn't a pretty game, but we ground a result out," he said..

A giveaway by Adrian Serioux gave New York a chance to create some problems in the home side's penalty box shortly after the start of the second half.

But New York clawed themselves back into the match with a goal in the 54th minute by Celades. The midfielder was fed the ball by Angel and then fired it under Frei.

Then again, Dichio looked as if he were about to get his second goal in the 55th minute after a cross from Dwayne De Rosario landed on the tall striker's feet, but the ball went just wide of the net.

Kevin Harmse continued to be a threat after he carved around a pair of New York players to deliver a blistering shot on goal - which was tipped over the crossbar by Cepero.

Minutes later Serioux would try his luck with another strong shot from outside the penalty box, forcing the 24-year-old goalkeeper to make a diving save.

In their previous three matches, Toronto has had only one goal from 44 shots on net. Instead, Toronto converted two of their nine shots on goal Saturday.

Rohan Ricketts impressed as a late-game substitute, especially in one exciting run down the near wing. Cummins said after the match he likes how there's a level of competition for places in the starting lineup.

Notes: Adrian Serioux, Kevin Harmse and Carl Robinson all received yellow cards for Toronto FC. Attendance was 19,843.