Nashville SC can win an MLS encounter at BMO Field for the first time as their campaign continues on Wednesday when they face Toronto.
Over the weekend, the Reds conceded three second-half strikes, losing 4-1 to the Chicago Fire, while Nashville played to a 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
Match preview
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A two-week layoff and the absence of several starters seemed to take a toll on TFC in the latter stages of their weekend affair, as they struggled to keep up with the Fire in the second half.
Since an emphatic 8-1 victory over Saint-Laurent in the Canadian Championship last month, Toronto have gone through a rough patch, going winless in four successive league contests.
However, John Herdman's side are still in a playoff position with 24 points, five above the post-season line in the Eastern Conference.
Over the past month and a half, they have been leaky defensively at BMO Field, losing three of their previous four domestic encounters played there, conceding three or more goals in each of those defeats.
While they have not won an MLS fixture since May (5-1 versus CF Montreal), Toronto have been even or in front at the half in every encounter on their current winless run but have conceded nine goals in the final 45 minutes over that stretch.
TFC have not come away with three points versus the Boys in Gold since the 2022 campaign (4-3), and their previous home triumph against them came in 2021 (1-0).
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We have not seen a massive momentum shift in the Music City since their managerial change, but Nashville are taking baby steps in the right direction.
Since replacing Gary Smith, Rumba Munthali has only lost one of his five matches in charge, but he has triumphed in only one of those instances (2-0 over FC Cincinnati).
Defensively under Munthali, they look like the Nashville SC of old, conceding a goal or fewer in four of their previous five fixtures, while posting three successive clean sheets away from home.
As things stand at the midway point of the domestic campaign, the Boys in Gold are holding down the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, though they are only a point above DC United.
Uncharacteristically, Nashville have struggled to maintain advantages throughout the regular season, dropping 14 points from six league fixtures when scoring first or leading after 45 minutes.
They have not won an MLS encounter on Canadian soil since August 2022, when they triumphed 3-0 at BC Place Stadium against the Vancouver Whitecaps, though they won their previous meeting versus the Reds earlier this year (2-0).
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Team News
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On Saturday, the Reds were without Tyrese Spicer, who had a lower back issue, Shane O'Neill was sidelined with a sore quad and Brandon Servania will not be back this season due to a ruptured ACL.
Federico Bernardeschi and Nicksoen Gomis will be eligible to return from their suspensions, Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio are away on international duty with Canada at the Copa America, while first-choice goalkeeper Sean Johnson was called up to the American squad.
In his return to the lineup, Lorenzo Insigne had the only Toronto strike versus the Fire, the fourth for the Italian in MLS this season.
The Boys in Gold did not have Randall Leal on the field over the weekend because of a sore hip, while Lukas MacNaughton is still recovering from ankle surgery.
Anibal Godoy was named to the Panamanian squad for the Copa America, while former Toronto winger Jacob Shaffelburg was added to the Canadian team and Shaq Moore will be a part of the American side.
This past weekend, Teal Bunbury collected his 400th career MLS cap in the regular season and playoffs, while Joe Willis made six stops for his third clean sheet in his last four league appearances between the sticks.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Gavran; Rosted, Long, Gomis, Petretta; Coello, Longstaff, Etienne; Bernardeschi, Insigne; Owusu
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Bauer, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Yearwood, Davis; Anunga, Mukhtar, Bunbury; Surridge
We say: Toronto 2-0 Nashville SC
The return of Bernardeschi and Insigne should provide a much-needed boost to the Toronto attack, which we believe will make them more dynamic in this encounter and turn their recent rough fortunes around.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
