Toronto can extend their unbeaten run in MLS to seven matches when they return home to BMO Field for a date with Atlanta United on Saturday.
A week ago, the Reds held Nashville SC to a 0-0 draw, their second successive road result by that scoreline, while the Five Stripes drew New York City FC 1-1.
Match preview
© Reuters
They are doing a nice job at earning points, but seven matches into the new season, TFC still have not found that extra gear enough times to claim victory.
Bob Bradley's team have won just one of their matches to date but have been in a position to claim three points on five separate occasions, including in Atlanta at the beginning of March when they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
That killer instinct has not been there as often as needed this season, but defensively they look much more compact, claiming their third clean sheet of the campaign last weekend, equalling their mark from 2022.
The Reds lead the league in draws this season with five and are currently holding onto the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with eight points, one fewer than last year's conference champions, the Philadelphia Union.
With an entire pre-season to play together, this group look more in sync in 2023 than they did throughout much of the previous campaign, enabling them to remain close in matches and control their games for large portions.
Toronto have only suffered one regular-season defeat at home against the Five Stripes, scoring multiple goals on them in four of their six meetings, winning 2-1 at BMO Field last season.
© Reuters
Two weeks after a lopsided 6-1 loss at the Columbus Crew, we saw a much sharper Atlanta unit throughout the 90 minutes in New York City.
Playing on that narrow pitch at Yankee Stadium is no easy task, especially when you are a possession-based squad, but the Five Stripes were intelligent and quick in their decision-making, creating their share of space and goalscoring opportunities.
Following the match, Gonzalo Pineda was not pleased with the way it was officiated, saying his team needed to earn respect and win more trophies to get calls from referees.
On Saturday his side were reduced to 10 men after an hour of play but still took the lead minutes later, only to give up an immediate equaliser, in what was the first time all year they had failed to win after scoring first.
While displeased with some of the calls last weekend, Pineda has to be satisfied with how his team have begun the campaign following a season of turmoil and disagreements in 2022, as Atlanta find themselves third in the Eastern Conference with 14 points after seven matches, three more than they accumulated at this stage of the previous campaign.
In 2022, the Five Stripes only won two away fixtures in the regular season, tied for the second-fewest in MLS, but they can match that mark with a victory on Saturday.
Team News
© Reuters
Toronto were without Lorenzo Insigne and Adama Diomande once again last week because of lower body injuries, while Cristian Gutierrez did not feature due to an illness.
The Reds signed Alonso Coello Camarero to a first-team contract for the remainder of the season which includes options for 2024 and 2025, with the Spaniard featuring in their last three games, replacing Brandon Servania in the second half against Nashville.
Sean Johnson has three clean sheets in his last four matches with his new club, putting him in a tie for third in MLS, while the former New York City FC keeper has not lost a regular-season encounter versus the Five Stripes since 2019 (2-1).
Atlanta will be without Franco Ibarra after his red card last weekend in a nasty collision with James Sands, Andrew Gutman was on the bench with an adductor strain, Osvaldo Alonso is out with an ACL injury and Brad Guzan could miss 10-12 weeks after tearing his MCL versus NYCFC, leaving the door open for Quentin Westberg to potentially get the start in what would be his first game back in Toronto since leaving during the off-season.
Giorgos Giakoumakis notched his third of the year for Atlanta in the draw against the Pigeons, thanks to a perfect cross by Thiago Almada, who collected his fifth assist, moving him into a tie with Leo Chu of the Seattle Sounders for the most this season, while Derrick Etienne was denied his first goal as a Five Stripe early in the second half after being ruled offside.
In their previous meeting with Toronto this season, Matheus Rossetto equalised eight minutes after Federico Bernardeschi gave the Reds the lead, his only goal for Atlanta to this point of the campaign.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Hedges, Rosted, Petretta; Bradley; Servania, Osorio, Kaye, Camarero; Bernardeschi
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Westberg; Lennon, Robinson, Purata, Wiley; Sosa, Sejdic; Araujo, Almada, Etienne; Giakoumakis
We say: Toronto 0-1 Atlanta United
Since winning the World Cup with Argentina last December, Almada has been a force to the reckoned with in MLS, and we expect he will give the Toronto backline fits with his ability to find space and pick out their attacking players.
As solid as the Reds have been defensively, they do not have a difference-maker like Almada in the middle of the field, and their finished product is still missing.
How to watch
You can watch Toronto vs. Atlanta United and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
