Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
TORONTO – With just two regular season games remaining, Toronto FC sits on the MLS playoff bubble with no room for error. Even two wins may not be enough to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
“It’s practical,” said England midfielder Matty Longstaff. “We definitely have a good chance. We have to focus on it (Wednesday) and make sure we win.”
Toronto (11-17-4, 37 points) hosts the New York Red Bulls (10-7-14, 44 points) on Wednesday before entertaining league-leading Inter Miami on Saturday (19-4- 8, 65 points). ).
TFC is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, which offers a door to the post-season.
The eighth and ninth place teams meet in a playoff wild card game, with the winner moving on to face the first seed – likely Miami – in the best-of-three first round.
However, Toronto has teams nipping at its heels.
Tied on points with Philadelphia and CF Montreal (both 9-12-10), Toronto is ahead in the standings due to more wins (the first game to break the tiebreaker). Atlanta and DC United are another three points behind.
All four chasing teams have a game in hand on Toronto.
Coach John Herdman prefers to see TFC’s glass half full while focusing on the things that can be controlled.
“Two great chances at home,” he said after training on Tuesday. “That’s what we’ve been telling the players. Put (out) everything here. Don’t waste any energy on anything other than what you (can) influence.”
“Then it’s about the intensity and the effort we’re willing to show up with,” he added. “I keep saying about the teams we play against, these games mean more to us than they do.”
Toronto’s last trip to the postseason was a short one, upset 1-0 by expansion Nashville at the first hurdle.
TFC’s regular season record since then is a dismal 30-73-31. But 11 of those wins have come this season under Herdman, who took over the team last October.
Whatever happens this week, it’s a step forward for a club that went 4-20-10 while finishing last in the East in 2023.
While Toronto can’t be eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday, it will be in a world of trouble if it loses. Even if he then beats Miami, one would have to hope that Philadelphia and Montreal would lose two of their remaining three games.
Miami can claim the Fan Shield, which goes to the team with the best regular season record, by winning in Columbus on Wednesday. Toronto will no doubt be rooting for a Miami win in midweek in the hope that coach Tata Martino, who already has top spot secured, could leave Lionel Messi and other stars behind for the trip to Toronto.
Then TFC will have to watch the season play out from the sidelines. Luckily, this is the only side to have a deciding day bye, which is the regular season finale on October 19th.
A season that started very promisingly – TFC got off to a 3-1-1 start and didn’t concede until the fourth game of the season – has turned into a harsh, unpredictable campaign.
Unable to deliver consistently in recent weeks, Toronto has gone 4-4-1 in league play since coming off a nine-game, seven-week winless streak (0-7-2). TFC is winless in its last three league games (0-2-1), scoring 5-1.
Offense has been a major problem, with Toronto averaging 1.22 goals per game. TFC are 23rd in goals, 25th in shots, 23rd in shots on target and 27th in corner kicks.
With eight goals each, Federico Bernardeschi and Prince Owusu are tied for the team lead. Lorenzo Insigne is next with four goals, poor earnings for the league’s second highest salary at $15.4 million.
Bernardeschi missed a penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chicago and has not scored in his last 16 games in all competitions dating back to the end of June. The Italian had 13 goal contributions (eight goals, five assists) in his previous nine league appearances.
Insigne has three goals in his last 18 games dating back to mid-June and has been shut out in his last five games. While he has suffered through a list of health issues – he is doubtful on Wednesday with a calf injury – the 33-year-old Italian has appeared uncomfortable for much of the season.
On Saturday, after coming on in the 88th minute, he inexplicably passed and took a close shot with only the Chicago goalkeeper to beat. Instead, he sent a ticket to traffic and snuffed out the threat. Then, in stoppage time with the degree of difficulty raised, he hammered a spectacular long-range free-kick off the post.
Another chapter in the conundrum that is Insign. And with the former Napoli star misfiring, opponents have been able to shut Bernardeschi down.
Following a 5-1 loss to rival New York City CPD, the Red Bulls are winless in six (0-3-3) and have just one win in their last 11 (1-3-7) since a 3-0 win. over Toronto on June 22. Despite the irreparable loss by NYCFC, other results meant the Red Bulls earned a playoff berth, becoming the first club in league history to make the postseason in 15 consecutive seasons .
The New Yorkers are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Toronto (7-0-3) – not counting a shootout loss in July in League Cup play that followed a scoreless draw in regulation.
TFC have failed to score in the last five meetings and have not beaten the Red Bulls since July 2019, a 3-1 decision at BMO Field.
–
Follow @NeilMDavidson on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on October 1, 2024
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://canadanewsmedia.ca/canadiens-winger-patrik-laine-expected-out-2-3-months-with-knee-sprain/
