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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer | Gameweek 33
Sep 19, 2021 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Nashville

Toronto
2 - 1
Nashville

Shaffelburg (18'), Gonzalez (79')
Bradley (39')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Sapong (74')
Lovitz (32')

Preview: Toronto vs. Nashville SC - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Toronto and Nashville SC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

On course for their worst-ever finish in Major League Soccer, Toronto FC will be desperate for three points when they welcome CONCACAF Champions League-chasing Nashville SC to the BMO Field.

Rock bottom of the Eastern Conference table, Toronto are five points behind FC Cincinnati in 13th, whilst Nashville remain hopeful of catching runaway leaders New England Revolution.


Match preview

Toronto FC players celebrate after a goal by forward Patrick Mullins on June 24, 2021© Reuters

Since their inaugural campaign, Toronto have never finished lower than ninth in the MLS table, yet are set for their lowest-ever finish as a franchise club when MLS concludes in November.

Suffering their 15th defeat of the season in dramatic fashion last time out, Christian Makoun's 95th-minute winner for Inter Miami summed up what has been a torrid year for Javier Perez and his Toronto side.

A mere shadow of the side that won the MLS Cup back in 2017, Toronto could be about to see their troubles worsen, when they face an in-form Nashville side.

Having lost one of their last 15 matches in the league, Nashville have surprised many with their performances this season and Gary Smith's side still hold an outside chance of topping the Eastern Conference.

The former Fulham and Wycombe Wanderers player has transformed the club's fortunes in just their second campaign as an MLS team.

Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith directs his team against the Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on 15 May, 2021© Reuters

After reaching the playoffs in his first season in charge, Nashville have backed up their efforts from the 2020 season, but still sit a lengthy 14 points behind New England Revolution, with an extra two games in hand.

Unbeaten in their two encounters with Toronto, including a victory in last year's playoff quarter-final, Smith's men will be confident of picking up another positive result when they travel across the Canadian border.

One of Toronto's biggest problems this year has been seeing out matches and the seven-time Canadian Championship winners shipped another late goal in their first meeting with Nashville back in June.

Luke Haakenson's 92nd-minute strike secured the win for Nashville, with all signs pointing to another victory for Music City this weekend.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Nashville SC Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W



Team News

Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore celebrates his goal with teammates on May 12, 2021 © Reuters

Part of Toronto's poor form this season could be attributed to their unfortunate luck with injuries and the Canadian side will be without a number of key players for their clash with Nashville.

Since rupturing his cruciate ligament in July, Ayo Akinola has missed 12 of Toronto's fixtures and a return is still some time away.

Fellow forward Jozy Altidore will also miss the visit of Nashville, as the former Sunderland striker is still recovering from foot surgery.

Ralph Priso-Mbongue is another Toronto player recovering after going under the knife, whilst Alejandro Pozuelo is still suffering from a leg injury picked up against Inter Miami.

Noble Okello and Kemar Lawrence will not be available for Ali Curtis, with the pair suspended after picking up red cards against CF Montreal and Inter Miami.

After being called up to the US National Team, Walker Zimmerman has returned to top form, helping guide his Nashville defence to their 10th clean sheet of the season.

Zimmerman will captain Smith's side, who will travel to Canada without any injury concerns.

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Auro, Zavaleta, Mavinga, Laryea; Bradley, Delgado; Osorio, Soteldo, Achara; Endoh

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Romney, Zimmerman, Miller; Washington, Anuga, Mukhtar, LaGrassa, Lovitz; Rios, Sapong


SM words green background

We say: Toronto 0-2 Nashville SC

Whilst it is unlikely Nashville will be able to catch up with New England Revolution at the top of the Eastern Conference, they should still have too much for an out-of-sorts Toronto side.

Looking to extend their unbeaten record against the Canadian side, expect another disappointing result for Toronto.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Toronto win with a probability of 36.44%. A win for Nashville SC had a probability of 35.59% and a draw had a probability of 28%.

The most likely scoreline for a Toronto win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.25%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (7.8%) and 2-0 (6.68%). The likeliest Nashville SC win was 0-1 (11.08%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.15%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 7.8% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Toronto would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Nashville

Toronto
14.8%
Draw
14.8%
Nashville SC
70.4%
27
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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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