Toronto FC vs. New York City FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Toronto FC vs. New York City FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 24
BMO Field — Toronto
August 12 — 4 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN, TSN4

Fresh off putting themselves in the driver's seat to win another Canadian Championship title, Toronto FC return home to meet a New York City FC squad aiming to make up ground in their Supporters’ Shield pursuit Sunday at BMO Field.

TFC rallied to draw Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the opening leg of the CanChamp final at BC Place on Wednesday, while NYCFC also drew the ‘Caps in league play last Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

New York City have lost just once in regular season action to Toronto (3W-4D), though that lone win came in the most recent game in Toronto (July 2017).

Toronto FC

Toronto (6-11-5) are now unbeaten in six games across all competitions following a wild 2-2 draw in the opening leg of the Canadian Championship final at BC Place Wednesday night.

After Kei Kamara put the ‘Caps in front on a 24th-minute penalty kick, Jonathan Osorio leveled two minutes later. It appeared Erik Hurtado scored the late winner to put Vancouver in front, 2-1, in the 84th minute, but a Doneil Henry own goal deep in second-half stoppage time gave the Reds a much-welcome second away goal.

“The scoreline is in our favor with two road goals,” Greg Vanney said. “That’s a decent road result. We go home now with a need to try and win the game or keep the game in a good position for ourselves. The vision of the game wasn’t necessarily what we anticipated, but it’s the result that matters when you go home.”

Suspended: D - Chris Mavinga
Suspended after next caution: F - Sebastian Giovinco
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Drew Moor (quadricep strain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund — Michael Bradley — Auro, Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore

Notes: Toronto FC are 3W-2L-1D in MLS play when Jozy Altidore has started this year. They have won as many matches in the 16 games he has missed (3W-9L-4D). … TFC have not tasted defeat in their last three MLS games (2W-1D), tied for their longest stretch this season without a defeat.

New York City FC

NYCFC (13-5-5) squandered a chance to move within two points of Atlanta United when they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against the Whitecaps last Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

After falling behind on a Nicolas Mezquida goal, Jesus Medina leveled in first-half stoppage time and Valentin Castellanos put NYCFC in front just after halftime before Hurtado leveled late for the Whitecaps.

“They can play in different ways. Toronto for now is the champions of MLS, never forget it,” Dome Torrent said. “I respect a lot this team and their coach because he was the best manager last year. That means, it’s a top team for me. It’s not easy to play the Concacaf [Champions League] and after that the MLS. But maybe right now they are in the best moment because they improved a lot. They changed some players and I think right now they are much better than, I don’t know, two weeks ago.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Tommy McNamara
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Yangel Herrera (ankle injury), D - Cedric Hountondji (hamstring avulsion); QUESTIONABLE: GK - Sean Johnson (shoulder injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Brad Stuver — Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat — Jesus Medina, Alex Ring, Maxi Moralez — Valentin Castellanos, David Villa, Jo Inge Berget

Notes: Maxi Moralez created seven chances last weekend against Vancouver, his third game this season with 7+ chances created in a match. Only two other players have done so twice. … New York City FC have won just one of their last eight MLS road games (5L-2D), conceding 2+ goals in all but one of the eight matches.

All-Time Series

Overall: Toronto FC 1 win, 14 goals … New York City FC 3 wins, 15 goals … 4 draws
At Toronto: Toronto FC 1 win, 5 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 3 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Toronto: Toronto FC 4, New York City FC 0 (July 30, 2017)