NYCFC celebrates Jesus Medina’s goal. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – For the first time in five games, New York City FC defeated Toronto FC Wednesday.

NYCFC can thank Jesus Medina for that.

Medina slotted home a rebound of a Valentin Castellanos shot in the 51st minute to lift City to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC at Rentschler Field.

Toronto has been NYCFC”s thorn in its side over the past several seasons, showing City the door in last year’s MLS Cup playoffs.

It was NYCFC’s second victory in a row over a Canadian team, having dispatched the Montreal Impact, 3-1, on Saturday night.

NYCFC is 9-3-3 in its last 15 games.

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who wasn’t severely tested, registered the clean sheet.

Next up for NYCFC: the Hudson River Derby vs. the Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium Sunday at 7 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.