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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer
Sep 19, 2024 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Columbus Crew

Toronto
0 - 2
Columbus Crew


Laryea (78'), Bernardeschi (79')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Camilo Hernandez (51'), Herrera (70')
Jones (85'), Matan (90')

Preview: Toronto vs. Columbus Crew - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Major League Soccer clash between Toronto and Columbus Crew, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

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

Toronto manager John Herdman pictured on August 29, 2023© Imago

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.

Diego Rossi celebrates a goal for the Columbus Crew on August 20, 2024© Imago

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.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:


Toronto form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W


Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:


Columbus Crew form (all competitions):



Team News

Richie Laryea of Toronto pictured on May 31, 2024© Imago

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


SM words green background

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.


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Columbus Crew

Toronto
24.2%
Draw
6.1%
Columbus Crew
69.7%
33
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Tables header RHS

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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