Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union | MLS Match Preview

MLSsoccer staff

TORONTO FC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
BMO FIELD, Toronto
October 3, 2015 (WEEK 31, MLS Game #309)
5 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE)

A first-ever qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs is in sight for Toronto FC when they play host to Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. With a win or a draw and the right combination of other results, TFC can clinch a postseason place for the first time in the club’s nine-year history, coming off back-to-back wins after their 3-2 home victory vs. the Chicago Fire last weekend. Union are sitting eight points below the red line in the Eastern Conference, coming off a 1-1 draw at the New England Revolution last weekend before falling in a penalty shootout in the U.S. Open Cup Final at midweek vs. Sporting Kansas City at PPL Park.

Sebastian Giovinco became the first player in MLS history to reach 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season when he netted a goal and added an assist in TFC’s 3-2 win against the Chicago Fire on Saturday. Now with 20 goals and 15 assists, Giovinco has combined for the most goals and assists in a single season by any player in MLS history.
Fernando Aristeguieta scored his fifth goal of the season as Union headed into Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup Final with Sporting Kansas City with a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and TFC has won the first two. Marky Delgado and Sebastian Giovinco scored goals three minutes apart in the first half as Toronto FC took a 2-1 win July 18 at BMO Field; Giovinco scored the game’s only goal in the 34th minute to give TFC the victory, May 2 at PPL Park.
Before the two victories this season, TFC’s last win in the series came May 26, 2012, when they won 1-0 at BMO Field. Union had won four of the seven meetings in between, with three draws, a three-game winning streak in the series snapped in the May 2 game.

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REFEREE: Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Peter Manikowski; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Jorge Gonzalez

MLS Career: 211 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 60; pens: 72

SUSPENDED: none

WARNINGS:

SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: TOR: Sebastian Giovinco, Nick Hagglund | PHI: Warren Creavalle, Vincent Nogueira

SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: TOR: Collen Warner, Ahmed Kantari. Damien Perquis, Justin Morrow, Jozy Altidore, Marky Delgado | PHI: Eric Ayuk Mbu, Sebastien Le Toux, Fernando Aristeguieta, Fabinho, Steven Vitoria

DISABLED LIST: TOR: Mark Bloom (season-ending injury)

INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: TOR: Jay Chapman (Canada; CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship)

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME (14 meetings): Toronto FC 4 wins, 13 goals | Union 6 wins, 21 goals | Ties 4

AT TORONTO (7 meetings): Toronto FC 3 wins, 9 goals | Union 2 wins, 12 goals | Ties 2

2015 (MLS)

5/2: PHI 0, TOR 1 (Giovinco 34)

7/18: TOR 2, PHI 1 (Delgado 29; Giovinco 32 – Casey 91+)

The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and TFC has won the first two. Marky Delgado and Sebastian Giovinco scored goals three minutes apart in the first half as Toronto FC took a 2-1 win July 18 at BMO Field; Giovinco scored the game’s only goal in the 34th minute to give TFC the victory, May 2 at PPL Park.
Before the two victories this season, TFC’s last win in the series came May 26, 2012, when they won 1-0 at BMO Field. Union had won four of the seven meetings in between, with three draws, a three-game winning streak in the series snapped in the May 2 game.
Coaches record: Greg Vanney vs. PHI: P4 W2 L2 D0 | Jim Curtin vs. TOR: P4 W2 L2 D0