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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer
Sep 15, 2024 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Austin FC

Toronto
2 - 1
Austin

Osorio (7'), Kerr (30')
Laryea (63'), O'Neill (70'), Johnson (74'), Thompson (77'), Mabika (83')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Wolff (75')
Hines-Ike (5'), Driussi (22'), Valencia (54')

Preview: Toronto vs. Austin FC - prediction, team news, lineups

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

Two sides in the thick of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff race will square off on Saturday as Austin FC visit BMO Field for the first time to face Toronto.

At the end of August, the Reds were beaten 3-1 by DC United, putting them just two points above the Eastern Conference post-season line, while the Verde and Black are two points below the playoff line out West following a 1-0 defeat at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps.


Match preview

Richie Laryea of Toronto pictured on May 31, 2024© Imago

Six matches remain in their regular season, and Toronto continue to find ways to stay above the playoff line despite numerous key absentees and inconsistencies defensively.

John Herdman's men, who are currently eighth in the East, saw their two-match MLS winning run end against DC, conceding in this competition for the first time since a 3-1 defeat versus Inter Miami in July.

While they have, at times, put together some solid defensive performances in 2024, this team have still looked unstable in that area of the field, conceding three or more goals in 10 league contests this year.

Four of their remaining regular-season affairs occur at BMO Field, where TFC have lost five of their previous six games in this competition.

If they can win their final four home matches, this team will reach the double-digit mark for domestic victories at BMO Field for the first time since capturing the MLS Cup in 2017.

Saturday will be their third domestic encounter with an MLS club from Texas in the 2024 regular season, with the Reds winning the previous two meetings versus Dallas (3-1) at home and claiming a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo in August.

Austin FC manager Josh Wolff pictured on September 2, 2023© Imago

At this stage of the season, any minor slip-up can be costly, and Austin suffered one at home to Vancouver the last time out, keeping them below the post-season line.

That ended a two-match unbeaten run for Josh Wolff's side in this competition and extended their domestic winless streak to three games.

A victory this weekend would boost their playoff chances this season and equal their total victories in the league from a year ago (10).

They have not lost consecutive league contests since mid-July, while they can win consecutive MLS away matches on Saturday for the first time all year.

Inconsistencies in the attacking third have plagued this team domestically in 2024, scoring the joint-fewest goals in MLS so far (30).

Austin have not beaten a Canadian club in the regular season since defeating Toronto 1-0 at home a season ago, while they are winless in two meetings versus sides from Canada this year, without a single goal scored.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:


Toronto form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L


Austin FC Major League Soccer form:


Austin FC form (all competitions):



Team News

Toronto manager John Herdman pictured on August 29, 2023© Imago

TFC could be without Alonso Coello for at least another week as he is slowly recovering from a thigh injury, while Federico Bernardeschi is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension.

Richie Laryea, Deybi Flores and Jonathan Osorio were all away during the international break, though they should all be back by Saturday.

Deandre Kerr had the only goal in their defeat to DC United which temporarily put them on level terms, his second of the 2024 domestic campaign.

The Verde and Black had three players away for the international break, including Bobosi Byaruhanga with Uganda, Leo Vaisanen was a part of Finland at the UEFA Nations League and Julio Cascante was called up to the Costa Rican squad for the CONCACAF Nations League, with all three players expected to return in time for this game.

We saw the same starting 11 for them against Nashville SC that began their match versus Vancouver, with Cascante, Gyasi Zardes and Ethan Finlay being the only newcomers to feature as substitutes.

Zardes had the only previous goal when they met Toronto in 2023, as Brad Stuver did not have to make a single stop to preserve a clean sheet.

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Rosted, Long, Gomis; Laryea, Flores, Longstaff, Spicer; Insigne, Bernardeschi; Owusu

Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Desler, Hines-Ike, Hedges, Biro; Ring, Pereira, Wolff; Bukari, Driussi, Obrian


SM words green background

We say: Toronto 1-0 Austin FC

It has not always been pretty to watch, but Toronto always seem to find a way to remain in a playoff position, and we believe they will continue that trend against a side that have been rather poor in the attacking third all year.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Austin

Toronto
80.0%
Draw
10.0%
Austin FC
10.0%
10
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami33218473472671
2Columbus Crew33189669383163
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati33175115647956
4Orlando City331571158481052
5New York City FCNY City33148115447750
6Charlotte FCCharlotte FC33139114337648
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls33111485347647
8DC United331010135267-1540
9CF MontrealMontreal331010134664-1840
10Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia33910146153837
11Atlanta UnitedAtlanta33910144448-437
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3389163554-1933
14New England RevolutionNew England3394203568-3331
15Chicago Fire3379174059-1930

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy33197768482064
2Los Angeles FCLos Angeles33187860421861
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake331511763471656
4Seattle SoundersSeattle33168950341656
5Houston DynamoHouston33149104538751
6Colorado RapidsColorado33155135957250
7Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd33147125448649
8Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver33138125147447
9Portland TimbersPortland331210116455946
10Austin FCAustin33109143646-1039
11Dallas33108155255-338
12St Louis City33813124959-1037
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3387185064-1431
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3363244075-3521


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