Toronto can take another step towards securing a place in the MLS Cup playoffs when they welcome the reigning champions, the Columbus Crew, to BMO Field on Wednesday.
Thanks to a 2-1 win over Austin FC this past weekend, the Reds are five points above the Eastern Conference playoff line in eighth, while the Crew are third following a 0-0 draw with FC Cincinnati.
Match preview
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Many have wondered when the Toronto season will collapse this year, but to their credit, the Canadians keep finding a way to stay above that post-season line.
With five matches remaining, they are in a tricky situation, just two points below Charlotte FC for a top-seven place and an automatic berth in the first round of the post-season, but the three teams below the playoff line (Atlanta United, the Philadelphia Union and CF Montreal) each have a game in hand on them.
Every time it looks like things are slipping away, John Herdman's men seem to find a way to break out of a slump, winning four of their previous six league fixtures after losing six in a row.
Wednesday will be their second game in a three-match domestic homestand, with the Reds seeking back-to-back MLS triumphs at BMO Field for just the second time this year.
By winning their remaining four home games, they would surpass their regular-season wins total at BMO Field from a year ago (seven), which would be their highest total since 2019 (nine).
TFC have suffered one defeat in their previous five domestic encounters against the Crew in Toronto, losing 2-1 during the 2022 campaign.
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A slow start to September has significantly reduced Columbus' chances of claiming the Supporters' Shield for the fourth time in club history, with the team currently on a two-match winless run.
Wilfried Nancy's men have failed to score in successive league contests, putting them 12 points behind Inter Miami for first overall with only seven matches remaining.
Despite only claiming one point in their Hell is Real Derby with Cincinnati this past weekend, it was enough for Columbus to officially clinch a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs on consecutive occasions for the first time since 2017 and 2018.
Their seven away wins in MLS this year are the most for this club in a single 34-match domestic campaign and three more than they had a season ago.
Should they win at least three of their final seven league fixtures, the Crew would set a new single-season franchise record for points, surpassing the mark of 57 set in 2008 and 2023.
Columbus have won their last two MLS affairs against Toronto and are undefeated in their previous two visits to BMO Field.
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Team News
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On Saturday, Derrick Etienne was an unused substitute for Toronto, having previously sustained a minor knock, while Alonso Coello returned to the field for the first time since picking up a thigh injury weeks ago, playing nearly an hour before being replaced by Kosi Thompson.
Shane O'Neill came on late in the opening half for Henry Wingo and collected a yellow card with 20 minutes remaining and thus will be suspended for this encounter.
Jonathan Osorio returned from international duty and scored the opening goal seven minutes into their match with Austin, while Deandre Kerr notched the winner after a half-hour, his second in successive games.
Over the weekend, the Crew were once again without reserve goalkeeper Evan Bush, who remains sidelined due to an arm injury.
Abraham Romero is eligible to return after serving a red card suspension in the draw versus their state rivals, Cincinnati.
Patrick Schulte was back in goal for the Crew this past Saturday, as he, Steven Moreira, Mohamed Farsi, Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez were the newcomers in the starting 11.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Mabika, Gomis, Petretta; Bernardeschi, Coello, Longstaff, Laryea; Osorio, Insigne; Kerr
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi, Matan, Nagbe, Chambost; Ramirez, Rossi; Hernandez
We say: Toronto 1-4 Columbus Crew
The Crew are rarely held in check, as we saw on Saturday, but they always seem to come back determined after a rough outing or two, and we expect them to take out their scoring frustrations on a leaky Toronto backline.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
