Two sides that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024 aim to begin the new Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign on a winning note as DC United host Toronto at Audi Field on Saturday.
Last year the Black and Red missed the post-season on goal difference to Atlanta United, while the Reds had just three points fewer than DC at the end of the campaign.
Match preview
© Imago
A year ago, DC United missed the playoffs for a fifth successive occasion, losing their final regular-season fixture versus Charlotte FC 3-0.
It was the second consecutive season that they were within reach of the playoffs down the stretch of the campaign but failed to get the job done, giving them plenty of motivation for 2025.
Troy Lesesne saw his side win just four games at home a year ago, the joint-fewest in the league alongside the San Jose Earthquakes and Philadelphia Union.
In the pre-season, they went unbeaten in their four matches played, including a solid 3-1 triumph over the Houston Dynamo last Saturday.
DC have won their regular season opener in each of the past four years, coming away with a 3-1 victory at home to the New England Revolution last year.
They have picked up at least a point in their last eight home dates against Toronto, beating them in their 2023 season opener at Audi Field 3-2.
© Imago
A campaign that began with so much promise ended in typical disappointing fashion for Toronto, who were winless in their final five contests, after earning seven points from their first three league fixtures.
That marked the fourth successive time that they missed the playoffs, with John Herdman leaving at the end of the campaign after just one season in charge.
To try to end their playoff drought, the club have turned to a familiar face who played a part in perhaps the most glorious period for this club in MLS.
Robin Fraser was an assistant to Greg Vanney from 2015 to 2019 in Toronto, helping them make it to three MLS Cup finals over that stretch, with their lone triumph coming in their 2017 treble-winning campaign.
The former two-time MLS Defender of the Year has his work cut out to try to improve a Toronto team that have leaked plenty of goals, conceding 60 or more in three of their previous four years in this competition.
TFC have not won their opening match in the regular season since 2019 (3-1 over the Philadelphia Union) when they reached the MLS Cup final for a third time in club history.
- D
- W
- D
- W
- D
- L
Team News
© Imago
Over the off-season DC signed former Toronto defender Brandon Servania, claimed Randall Leal off waivers and acquired his ex-Nashville SC teammate Lukas MacNaughton in a trade, while also adding goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong to the roster, with the latter guiding the South Korean Under-20 team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Cup.
Meanwhile, they traded Ted Ku-DiPietro to the Colorado Rapids, sent Mateusz Klich to Atlanta United, moved Cristian Dajome to Santos Laguna and did not offer Pedro Santos a new contract.
Former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke was at the centre of their attack throughout last season, winning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals in the regular season.
Toronto added Canadian Theo Corbeanu on loan from Granada in the Spanish Segunda Division, brought in Ola Brynhildsen on a season-long loan from FC Midtjylland in Denmark and added goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario, son of 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario.
They declined to bring back Prince Owusu, who is now with CF Montreal, while Shane O'Neill went to Radnicki 1923 in Serbia and Aime Mabika was out of contract.
Owusu was their leading goalscorer last year with nine strikes, one more than Federico Bernardeschi, while fellow Italian Lorenzo Insigne was next at four.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Jun-hong; Herrera, Bartlett, Rowles, Schnegg; Peltola, Enow; Stroud, Pirani, Peglow; Benteke
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Long, Rosted, Petretta; Flores; Osorio, Longstaff; Bernardeschi, Corbeanu; Brynhildsen
We say: DC United 2-1 Toronto
It is hard to tell how much either side improved during the off-season, but Benteke is coming off a stellar season and should have his chances against a Toronto backline where questions remain.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
