For the first time in the Major League Soccer regular season, Toronto will head to the capital of Texas on Saturday for a date with Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.
Earlier this week, the Verde and Black defeated the Western Conference-leading Seattle Sounders 2-1, ending an eight-match winless run, while the Reds have failed to win their last four matches in all competitions, drawing the New York Red Bulls 0-0 on Wednesday.
Match preview
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To say that times are tough for the Verde and Black at the moment would be an understatement, as a side who were 90 minutes away from a place in the MLS Cup Final last year have fallen on hard times in 2023.
In their previous encounter, though, finally, some good fortune went their way, scoring twice within an hour, capturing their second road contest of the campaign.
Josh Wolff's men will have plenty of chances to improve their form at Q2 Stadium in the coming weeks, as three of their next four league fixtures take place in the Texas capital, where they are winless in five straight matches.
Austin have failed to find the back of the net in two of their last three MLS home games, which only occurred once to them in 2022.
The Verde and Black have only dropped one of their previous four regular-season affairs against Canadian clubs at home, winning their only two fixtures versus Eastern Conference opponents from the Great White North (CF Montreal).
They have yet to lose a regular season encounter in 2023 when scoring first, but also have yet to win when conceding the opener.
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Another side struggling to find its footing would be the Reds, who have had a difficult month of May to say the least, without a victory in their last three MLS affairs, losing twice last week alone to their bitter rivals Montreal at the Canadian Championship and in MLS play.
TFC have spent their share of money on experienced attacking talent, but at the moment, those investments are not paying off as Toronto are goalless in three straight domestic encounters.
Bob Bradley came to Toronto with an impressive resume, but the former US men's national team coach has not been able to achieve much at TFC, winning just twice this season, with the club currently bottom of the Eastern Conference on 13 points.
The Reds will enter this contest winless away from home in 2023 and without a victory in nine road regular-season games, a streak dating back to last year.
Toronto have allowed six goals in their previous two MLS encounters as the visitors, two more than they had conceded in their opening four fixtures of the campaign.
Saturday will be their first visit to the Lone Star State in 2023, where the Reds have not won a regular season encounter since 2010, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on that occasion.
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Team News
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On Wednesday, Austin were once again without Sebastian Driussi because of a left adductor strain, Zan Kolmanic sat out with a right ACL injury, while Rodney Redes is eligible to return this weekend from his yellow card suspension.
Ethan Finlay had a goal and an assist in their previous match, while Gyasi Zardes netted his first in the regular season for the Verde and Black, with Brad Stuver collecting his first victory since March 11.
Jon Gallagher leads this team with four goals on the season, while their last two at home in this competition came courtesy of Driussi and Emiliano Rigoni in a 2-2 draw versus the San Jose Earthquakes.
There were numerous absentees for Toronto once again this week as Adama Diomande, Victor Vazquez, Sigurd Rosted, Jordan Perruzza, Jonathan Osorio, Shane O'Neill, Matt Hedges, Alonso Coello Camarero, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Michael Bradley all sat out due to lower body injuries, while Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty will be suspended for this match after entering the field at the conclusion of their loss versus Montreal last Saturday.
Deandre Kerr had to be substituted late in the first half for Toronto this week after taking a knock and being replaced by Themi Antonoglou, while Hugo Mbongue made his first appearance in this competition since March 11, replacing Federico Bernardeschi late in the second half.
Sean Johnson picked up his first clean sheet for the Reds since late April, while Kosi Thompson and Kobe Franklin were in the starting 11 for a second straight encounter.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Ring, Vaisanen, Lima; Gallagher, Valencia, Fagundez, Lundqvist; Bruin, Zardes, Rigoni
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Petretta, Mabika, Gutierrez; Servania, Thompson, Antonoglou; Bernardeschi, Sapong, Insigne
We say: Austin FC 1-0 Toronto
The Verde and Black should feel pretty confident following their victory on Wednesday, and given all the uncertainty in Toronto at the moment, not just with their form but the health of multiple key players, it is hard to envision the Reds miraculously turn things around so quickly.
How to watch
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