Toronto can win back-to-back MLS games for the first time all year when they begin the month of May by welcoming the Eastern Conference leading New England Revolution to BMO Field on Saturday.
Last weekend, the Reds remained unbeaten at home this season thanks to a 1-0 triumph versus New York City FC, while the Revs came back to draw FC Cincinnati 1-1.
Match preview
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A week after being second to almost every ball and a step behind the Philadelphia Union, we saw a completely different TFC squad at BMO Field against the Pigeons in what was probably their best performance from start to finish all season.
That match began 20 minutes late because of a fire alarm inside the stadium, but it did not seem to impact Bob Bradley's team, who spent most of the match in the New York third of the field, holding their opponents to just a single effort on target when the final whistle blew, the fewest they have conceded in 2023.
We are only 10 games into the regular season, but already the Reds look miles better defensively in 2023, posting four clean sheets, one fewer than they managed in their two previous campaigns combined.
With points in all five of their league fixtures at home, it equals their longest unbeaten run at BMO Field from last season, while a win or draw this weekend would be their longest streak without a defeat in Toronto since their title-winning season in 2017, when they earned points in 14 successive home fixtures.
The Reds have not lost to a team currently above them in the Eastern Conference table and are still holding down the final playoff position, sitting a point above the Union.
Over the past seven regular seasons, TFC have only suffered one home defeat against New England, scoring multiple goals on five occasions.
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The Revolution side that we all expected to see in 2022 appear to have come out of hibernation after missing the playoffs last year, and so far in 2023 they have often been a force to be reckoned with.
With a draw at home to Cincy, this team are now unbeaten in seven straight league fixtures with 21 points after 10 encounters, 10 more than they had at this stage of 2022.
So far in 2023, this team have been much sharper on the defensive side, conceding just nine goals thus far, tied for the fewest-ever in club history at this point of a season (2005 and 2013).
Bruce Arena has seen his side earn four points from losing positions thus far, including last Saturday at home to Cincinnati, while they are unbeaten in nine successive regular-season affairs in the Eastern Conference.
When this team set a regular-season points record in 2021 (73), they relied heavily on individual skill in the midfield while often attacking down the wings, tactics which they have executed brilliantly so far this year.
New England have not won a regular season encounter in Canada since September 2021, when they defeated CF Montreal 4-1 at Saputo Stadium, though they have earned at least a point in three straight trips to BMO Field.
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Team News
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Michael Bradley, Victor Vazquez and Jonathan Osorio sat out of the previous match for Toronto because of lower body issues, Cristian Gutierrez missed another game with an illness, Matt Hedges reclaimed his place at centre-back after being previously sidelined due to concussion protocol, while Adama Diomande was back on the field, coming on as a second-half substitute last week.
CJ Sapong knows how to make an early impact with new teams, as he scored on his debut for the Reds last Saturday, the third time in his MLS career that the 34-year-old has netted in his opening match for a new club, while Sean Johnson only had to make one stop to shut out his former team.
Federico Bernardeschi had the opening goal in their draw at home to New England last season, with Michael Bradley setting up the equaliser from former defender Domenico Criscito in a 2-2 draw.
The Revs were missing Henry Kessler versus Cincinnati last week as he is recovering from a right hamstring strain, Jacob Jackson is dealing with a left ACL issue, Maciel has a problem with his left Achilles, Tommy McNamara is unlikely to feature as he has a left leg injury, while Nacho Gil has an injured right leg and Dylan Borrero hurt his left knee in their previous encounter.
Emmanuel Boateng notched his first of the season for New England at home to the Orange and Blue, Justin Rennicks started for the first time in 2023, Gustavo Bou made his first appearance since April 8, while Noel Buck played 90 minutes for the third time in eight days (including the US Open Cup), registering team highs in successful dribbles (four) and duels won (nine).
Djordje Petrovic stopped a Luciano Acosta penalty after a half hour, becoming the fastest goalkeeper to save five spot-kicks in MLS history in what was his 31st league fixture and the 14th attempt against him.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Hedges, Rosted, Petretta; Servania, Coello Camarero, Kaye; Bernardeschi, Sapong, Insigne
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Bye, Farrell, Romney, Jones; Polster, Buck; Wood, C. Gil, Boateng; Bou
We say: Toronto 1-1 New England Revolution
TFC should carry plenty of momentum into this encounter, as should the Revs, and though there is an eight-point difference between these sides, New England have not been quite as strong defensively away from home, allowing six of their nine goals on the road, and without Borrero their scoring quality could suffer a setback.
How to watch
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