[WATCH] Giovinco's incredible goal clinches Toronto FC's first-ever playoff berth

Sebastian Giovinco made a starring cameo appearance for the second night in a row as he followed his heroics for Italy with a stunning goal to help Toronto FC clinch their place in the Major League Soccer play-offs.

Playing back-to-back days is a rarity in the modern game, particularly when the games concerned are on different continents, but Giovinco showed he was undaunted by jetting back from Europe to help out his club side.

The former Juventus player had come off the bench for Italy to trigger a fightback in Rome on Tuesday that saw the Azzurri beat Norway 2-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifying game.

He again entered the fray in the second half on Wednesday, and made the journey worth it by scoring a brilliant solo effort to spur Toronto to a 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls.

Herculez Gomez barged through to poke Toronto ahead in the 51st minute, before Giovinco came off the bench in the 71st minute and made his big impact eight minutes later.

Collecting the ball wide on the left, he tore through challenge after challenge before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot across Luis Robles and into the far corner.

Shaun Wright-Phillips pulled a goal back for the Red Bulls with four minutes left on the clock, but they could not find a leveller.

Goals from Michael Barrios and Mauro Diaz earned FC Dallas a 2-0 home win against the Vancouver Whitecaps, while Real Salt Lake's play-off hopes were all but ended by a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers.

The Timbers improved their own prospects thanks to Fanendo Adi's 54th-minute spot-kick, awarded for a foul by Jamison Olave on Lucas Melano. Olave was sent off for the challenge that came at the edge of the penalty area.