Seeking a third successive triumph in the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, Toronto host DC United on Saturday at BMO Field.
Thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo last Saturday, the Reds are six points above the Eastern Conference playoff line, while the Black and Red are bottom of the conference following a 4-3 defeat to Dallas.
Match preview
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Despite suffering their share of shaky performances in 2024, Toronto have consistently managed to stay in a playoff position throughout the MLS campaign.
John Herdman's side enter this weekend having lost just one of their previous six matches across all competitions, advancing into the final of the Canadian Championship on Tuesday.
Their leaky backline, which has conceded the joint-second most goals in the Eastern Conference this year, have been stingier of late, posting consecutive clean sheets across all competitions.
While they currently find themselves above the post-season line, the Philadelphia Union have two games in hand on Toronto, with seven matches remaining for the Canadian side in the regular season.
With 10 triumphs so far in 2024, it is the most this club have collected in this competition since the shortened 2020 regular season when they won 13 encounters.
Six of their victories in MLS this season have occurred at BMO Field, and if they can win four of their final five domestic home fixtures, it would mark the first time Toronto reach double-digits for home triumphs since their MLS Cup-winning season in 2017.
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For a fifth time in the 2024 domestic campaign, DC United were beaten by a single goal last weekend, suffering another blow in their post-season quest.
The Black and Red have not made the MLS Cup playoffs since 2019, and with eight regular-season games to go, they are two points below that line in the East and needing to overtake six teams.
Throughout the 2024 season, Troy Lesesne's men have been dismal defensively, conceding the joint second-most goals in the league alongside CF Montreal (54).
On Saturday they have a chance to win consecutive away matches in this competition for the first time since April 2023, when Wayne Rooney was in charge.
This season, the Black and Red have failed to triumph eight times domestically when scoring the opening goal, dropping 20 points as a result.
DC are winless in their last three regular-season encounters played in Canada while losing by a single goal in their previous two visits to BMO Field.
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Team News
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Last weekend, Lorenzo Insigne sat out for Toronto with a minor knock, but he could be available for this one, Nicksoen Gomis was sidelined with a knock as well, while Alonso Coello may be at least another week away from recovering from his thigh injury.
After initially being ruled out for the season, Brandon Servania could be fully recovered from his ruptured ACL by Saturday, and Tyrese Spicer is nearing a return from a lower back problem.
Their leading goalscorer in MLS, Federico Bernardeschi (eight goals), along with captain Jonathan Osorio, will have to sit out because of yellow card accumulation, while Raoul Petretta is eligible to return from his suspension.
Prince Owusu had the only goal in their victory over the Dynamo, as Sean Johnson made four stops to collect his second successive domestic clean sheet.
In their defeat versus Dallas, DC did not have Christopher McVey available because of a knock, while Kristian Fletcher and Jackson Hopkins were sidelined with ankle sprains.
Due to a torn ACL, Conner Antley is not expected to return to the lineup for them this season, and Russell Canouse is out because of a health problem.
A pair of cautions given to Boris Enow in the opening half against Dallas means that the midfielder from Cameroon will be suspended for this upcoming fixture.
Christian Benteke, who recently signed an extension to remain in the US capital until 2025 with an option for 2026, had the opening goal in their defeat last Saturday, with David Schnegg and Jared Stroud also finding the mark.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Rosted, Long, Petretta; Thompson, Longstaff, Flores, Laryea; Etienne, Insigne; Owusu
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Santos, Bartlett, Akinmboni, Schnegg; Peltola; Stroud, Klich, Ku-DiPietro; Benteke, Badji
We say: Toronto 1-2 DC United
We are not convinced that Toronto will be able to create many scoring opportunities on Saturday, given the key pieces out through suspension and the lack of depth when you go down their roster.
As leaky as DC have been on the back end, Benteke and company should find a way through what has been an inconsistent Toronto backline in 2024.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
