Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 23
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
August 4 - 4 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN, TSN4

The current MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders will host last year’s runaway winners when Atlanta United meet Toronto FC Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Five Stripes have lost just once in their last 11 games and have a four-point cushion atop the league table, while Toronto have won back-to-back games for the first time this season and the now-healthy Reds appear to be on a climb up the Eastern Conference standings.

Each of the first two meetings between Atlanta and Toronto have ended in 2-2 draws.

Atlanta United

Atlanta (14-4-5) halted the Montreal Impact’s strong run of form at Stade Saputo, winning 2-1 last Saturday night.

Josef Martinez continued his torrid scoring pace, netting a brace to increase his total to a remarkable 24 goals in 23 games. That moves him within three goals of the MLS regular-season record held by Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips, as Atlanta extended their unbeaten streak to four games.

“There’s nothing else to do when a player performs like that,” Tata Martino said of Martinez. “We just hope it lasts the entire season. When a goal scorer is performing at such a high level, you just have to let him be.”

Suspended: D - Franco Escobar
Suspended after next caution: D - Michael Parkhurst, F - Romario Williams
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Greg Garza (shoulder surgery), M - Darlington Nagbe (right adductor injury), D - Sal Zizzo (right knee injury), D - Mikey Ambrose (right knee injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Brad Guzan — Miles Robinson, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Chris McCann — Julian Gressel, Jeff Larentowicz — Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco — Josef Martinez

Notes: Martínez needs just four goals to set the new MLS record for most goals in a single season. He has one goal in one appearance against Toronto. … Atlanta United have lost just once in their last 11 MLS matches (6W-4D), conceding multiple goals just once.

Toronto FC

Toronto FC (6-11-4) made it consecutive league wins over the Chicago Fire and four victories in a row in all competitions when they defeated the Fire, 3-0, at BMO Field Saturday night.

Jozy Altidore opened the scoring on a rebound, his first league goal since bagging a brace in a 3-1 home win over Real Salt Lake in March. Twenty minutes later, the in-form Jonathan Osorio made it 2-0 and Sebastian Giovinco clinched the win with a deflected strike one minute from full time.

“[The game against Atlanta] comes at a good time. We’re trending in the right direction, had our best half I think of probably the season in-league in the second half last game,” Greg Vanney said. “I thought our rhythm came back, some of the swagger that we know of our group started to arrive again.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Drew Moor (quadricep strain), D - Auro (hamstring strain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-1-4-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Eriq Zavaleta, Chis Mavinga — Michael Bradley — Ashtone Morgan, Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore

Notes: Giovinco has 10 goals+assists since the start of June. He had six in the first three months of the MLS season. … Toronto have lost one of their last four MLS games (2W-1D) after dropping three straight matches. They have won consecutive league game for the first time since last Sept.-Oct.

All-Time Series

Overall: Atlanta United 0 wins, 4 goals … Toronto FC 0 wins, 4 goals … 2 draws
At Atlanta: Atlanta United 0 wins, 2 goals … Toronto FC 0 wins, 2 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Atlanta: Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2 (Oct. 22, 2017)