The final Canadian Classique of the 2022 MLS regular season could have significant playoff implications for Toronto, who host CF Montreal on Sunday at BMO Field.
Toronto have points in seven of their previous eight league fixtures, sitting two points back of Inter Miami for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while Montreal saw their unbeaten run halted at eight games this week, losing 1-0 at home to the New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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Slowly but surely, the Reds have inched their way into the postseason conversation, though they are running short on time, having played the most games in the league (29) with three teams still to overtake.
Despite another solid effort from his group in midweek, Bob Bradley was left disappointed with the result, as his team led the Los Angeles Galaxy with fewer than 10 minutes remaining, only to concede an 89th-minute strike to Riqui Puig, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw.
That was the third time in 2022 that TFC had failed to hang onto a second-half advantage, and those seven points dropped are looming large at the moment.
They come into this encounter unbeaten in five consecutive domestic games at BMO Field, scoring multiple goals in each of those outings.
Four of their remaining five matches will be against teams above the Eastern Conference playoff line right now, with only one more game still to be played at home after Sunday.
It has taken them a little longer to settle into their matches of late, without a first-half tally in three consecutive domestic encounters.
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An impressive string of results for Montreal ended on Wednesday, as the home side were largely ineffective against the Red Bulls, firing just a single shot on target despite having 68% of the possession.
Wilfried Nancy admitted afterwards that he put together a team who were less offensive to guard against the Red Bulls' counter-attacking play, and while that proved to be pretty effective, his players lacked fluidity in the final third.
That was their first regular-season defeat since early July, as they have now conceded 42 goals this year, the most among the top-seven Eastern Conference sides heading into this weekend.
Despite having the majority of the possession in two of their previous three games, this team tend to squander the ball in their own half of the field, often leaving them susceptible to a counter.
Montreal have played with a lot more structure and poise along the backline in recent games, posting two clean sheets in their previous three outings.
Two more wins and a draw is all they need to secure a postseason berth, as they currently sit second in the Eastern Conference, winning their last four MLS fixtures played away from home.
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Team News
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On Wednesday, Jesus Jimenez scored his first goal for Toronto since the end of June, Federico Bernardeschi tallied for the fifth time in his last six matches, Ifunanyachi Achara notched his first assist of the year and Lorenzo Insigne has goals in two of his previous three games.
Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio are tied for the team lead with four assists each, while Richie Laryea has set up three goals since rejoining the Reds on loan from Nottingham Forest.
Deandre Kerr and Mark-Anthony Kaye are nursing lower body injuries, while Osorio is listed as questionable because of a problem in his upper body.
An own goal from Lukas MacNaughton was all Montreal would need to earn a victory against Toronto in their previous domestic encounter, as James Pantemis made four stops to collect a clean sheet.
Romell Quioto has six goals in his last five games, putting him well ahead of Djordje Mihailovic for the team lead with 15, while Kei Kamara has five goals to go along with five assists, with Lassi Lappalainen also setting up five goals to this point of the campaign.
Kamal Miller played in his 50th match for Montreal on Wednesday, while Rudy Camacho (right shoulder), Ahmed Hamdy (right leg), Tomas Giraldo (foot) and Zorhan Bassong (health and safety protocols) were all omitted from the lineup because of injuries or illnesses.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Laryea, O'Neill, Mavinga, Criscito; Okello, Bradley, Nelson; Bernardeschi, Jimenez, Insigne
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Brault-Guillard, Waterman, Miller; Johnston, Piette, Wanyama, Mihailovic, Lappalainen; Toye, Quioto
We say: Toronto 1-1 CF Montreal
TFC should be the desperate team heading into this encounter, but despite how far they have come over the past couple of months, their backline still lacks consistency and structure, two flaws which have cost them some valuable points.
Montreal's backline have been equally poor, though this team have proven that they can be a potent attacking unit away from home, and we expect them to create their share of opportunities and eventually find the back of the net in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
