Toronto FC's Danny Dichio, front, celebrates his first-half goal with teammates Dwayne De Rosario, right, and Pablo Vitti Saturday night at BMO Field. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

After being given an average grade by the general manager, Toronto FC responded with an "A-for-effort" performance.

Veteran forward Danny Dichio and rookie midfielder Sam Cronin scored first-half goals to lift Toronto to a 2-1 win over New York on Saturday night in the first of two straight MLS home games against the Red Bulls.

With the victory, Toronto snapped a two-game losing streak and improved its record to 5-5-4. New York (2-10-3) is winless in its last six Major League Soccer contests.

The result came two days after Toronto GM Mo Johnston publicly called out his players for their recent lacklustre play, saying they deserved a "C" if he were to hand out a mid-season report card.

Toronto's victory was all the more impressive when you consider the team was missing two key starters: Marvell Wynne (away with the U.S. national team at the Confederations Cup in South Africa), and fellow defender and captain Jim Brennan (ankle injury).

"We're delighted with the three points. We had to get ourselves back on track," Toronto coach Chris Cummins said.

Garcia looks solid

Veteran Nick Garcia, acquired in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes earlier this week, looked solid in his debut for Toronto, forming an effective partnership in central defence with Adrian Serioux.

Cummins lauded Garcia for his vocal leadership, describing him as "the type of character you want in the dressing room."

"Nicky gives us loads and loads of experience. He talks to [his teammates] and he organizes [the defence]," stated the Toronto coach said.

Garcia said it was all in a day's work and there's still room for improvement.

"I do what I do every day. I think I brought my personality.… I think there's some things I can do better, and we as a unit can do better," Garcia admitted.

Cummins also made changes up front, relegating out-of-form striker Chad Barrett to the substitute's bench and going with Dichio (who made just his sixth start of the campaign) as the focal point of the attack.

Toronto took the lead in the third minute after Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler handled the ball inside the 18-yard box.

New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero stopped Amado Guevara's penalty attempt, but he couldn't prevent Cronin from collecting the rebound and blasting the ball home.

"I was just doing my job. You don't really expect Amado to miss from there, but I found myself in a good spot and I put it away," Cronin said of his first goal as a professional.

Brilliant save

Toronto poured on the pressure and nearly doubled its advantage half an hour later, only to see Cepero make a brilliant fingertip save on a Dichio header from close range.

Dichio wouldn't be denied, though, and he bagged his third goal of the season with two minutes left in the first half, smashing in a rebound after Cepero stopped Pablo Vitti on a breakaway.

The Red Bulls came out charging at the start of the second half, taking advantage of some sloppy defending before Albert Celades beat Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei with a driving shot just inside the post in the 54th minute.

Toronto bounced back and laid siege on the New York goal, as Cepero was called upon to make athletic stops on long-range efforts from Kevin Harmse and Dwayne De Rosario.

The Red Bulls furiously pressed for an equalizer in injury time, only to be repelled by Toronto's bend-but-don't break defence.

"I probably can't repeat most of it," Cummins joked when asked what was going through his mind in the final minutes of the game when New York seemed on the verge of tying the score.

Saturday's game had been scheduled for later this summer but was brought forward to clear the way for Toronto to host Spanish giants Real Madrid in an Aug. 7 exhibition match.

Toronto visits the Montreal Impact next Thursday in the finale of the Canadian Club championship, a game it must win by four goals to win the competition.

Toronto then returns home to host the Red Bulls on June 24.