Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
TORONTO – With the Eastern Conference’s final postseason berth hanging on by its fingernails, Toronto FC needs a win over league-leading Inter Miami at BMO Field in its regular season finale on Saturday to keep its hopes alive for the playoffs live.
“We’re still in the fight, by hook or by crook,” Toronto coach John Herdman said Friday. “We will give everything this weekend to do something to get a result for this fan base, for the club.”
But even that may not be enough.
Toronto (11-18-4) is currently in ninth place in the East, three points behind CF Montreal who have played one game less. Philadelphia and DC United (both 9-13-10) are also on 37 points – trailing TFC on a tie (most wins) – but they also have a game in hand.
The eighth and ninth place clubs meet in an exciting game with the winner advancing to face the conference’s top seed – Miami in the East – in a best-of-three first round matchup.
The best Toronto can do is win Saturday and hope others stumble in the final stretch. But there are more bad than good scenarios.
A loss at Toronto on Saturday combined with a DC United win or a tie at New England or a Philadelphia win or tie at Columbus will eliminate TFC from playoff contention. So would a TFC draw if combined with a DC United win or a Philadelphia win.
With a bye on October 19, Toronto will have to watch the league’s final series of regular season games from the sidelines.
Toronto could win on Saturday and still be caught by 14th-ranked New England (9-18-4) on the final day of the season if the Revs – who have a better goal difference, which is the next game after wins – win all three. of their remaining games.
Miami, Columbus, Cincinnati, Orlando City, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and Charlotte have already clinched playoff berths in the East. Only Chicago has already been eliminated.
Toronto, who finished last in the league last season at 4-20-10, face Miami without the suspended Federico Bernardeschi and with fellow Italian star Lorenzo Insigne likely to be limited to a cameo at best.
An undisciplined Bernardeschi was shown a red card for the third time this season when he was sent off in the 4-1 midweek defeat to the visiting Red Bulls, while Insigne saw just two minutes of action in the last two games because of a calf strain.
“I would never question his desire to play for this club,” Herdman said of Insigne, whose $15.4 million salary this season is second only to Lionel Messi’s $20.5 million.
“If you put him on, you might have to bring him out after two, three minutes … He’s in pain. It can’t do the things you need it to do. So again if we need a Hail Mary ticket, we may have to put it in but there is a lot of risk involved.”
Toronto will also be without defensemen Kevin Long (concussion) and Kosi Thompson (knee). Defender/winger Raoul Petretta is dealing with a hip problem and will see limited minutes at best.
Miami (20-4-8, 68 points) is coming off a high, coming off a 3-2 midweek win at Columbus to claim the Fan Shield that goes to the team with the best regular season record in the alliance.
Coach Tata Martino said he celebrated by having “two beers.”
It marked Messi’s 46th career trophy for club and country. The 37-year-old Argentine scored twice in Columbus, one on a trademark free kick, and earned player of the match honors for the fifth time this season.
Asked about Messi’s involvement on Saturday, Martino was noncommittal.
“Regarding Leo and the rest of the players who have been playing and have taken part in two very tough games against Charlotte and Columbus, we have to look into the minutes they have played,” said the Argentine through an interpreter. “And with Leo, we know that playing more minutes puts him in a better rhythm.
“We have been able to see that on the pitch, but we have to continue to look at it in the next few hours — and the rest of the group — in order to assess and decide (Saturday’s team).”
With wins in its two remaining games, Miami could set the single-season points record with 74 (New England set the current mark of 73 in 2021).
“They’re going to be motivated, they’re going to be hungry. They’re in a good rhythm,” Herdman said. “But for us, maybe we have a little bit more to play for.”
In addition to topping the table, Miami sports the league’s best offense with 72 goals, while conceding 47. Messi has 32 goal contributions (17 goals and 15 assists) in just 17 league appearances.
Meanwhile, Toronto has been outscored 60-40 this season.
Miami is unbeaten in its last nine league outings (6-0-3), a streak that began on July 17 with a 3-1 win against Toronto. His last league loss was July 6, a 6-1 loss at Cincinnati.
Toronto also lost 4-3 at Miami on August 8 in League Cup play
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This report was first published by The Canadian Press on October 4, 2024.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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