Toronto FC will try to extend their unbeaten run to four games when they take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
Here are a few things you need to know…
Saturday programming alert: Watch New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC on Sportsnet 360 at 7:30 pm ET. || Sportsnet NOW || Broadcast schedule
Giovinco’s status
Top scorer Sebastian Giovinco, who’s played in all 19 of Toronto’s league games, has been dealing with a heel injury for a few weeks, and was subbed out late in last Saturday’s 3-3 draw with the Columbus Crew. The injury prevented the Italian from playing in Wednesday’s MLS All Star Game in Denver.
Giovinco travelled with the team to Boston, and indications are that he is fit to play against the Revolution. But with TFC slated to play on Wednesday and again next Saturday, coach Greg Vanney might give his star scorer the day off.
“It’s definitely in consideration,” Vanney admitted. “He’s an incredibly efficient player. He knows when to put it out, and when he doesn’t need to make a ridiculous sprint. He manages himself appropriately through the course of matches.
“I trust him and (deciding if he plays) is usually in collaboration—it’s not just me saying ‘you’re going to take the day off.’ He’s a part of that (decision-making) process.”
Giovinco has 13 goals and 10 assists this campaign. Amazingly, he has 13 goals and nine assists on TFC’s last 27 goals dating back to April 4.
Important battle
Toronto (8-7-4) and New England (7-9-7) are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. TFC has four games in hand on the Revs, so a win would give them even more of a cushion.
“It’s like a cup final for us … We have to go into it as if we don’t win, we’re not making the playoffs,” New England striker Charlie Davies told reporters this week.
The Revs are unbeaten in two (1-0-1) after ending a five-game losing streak—four of those losses came on the road.
Vanney expects Jermaine Jones to return to action for New England. The U.S. international midfielder was on the bench last week for the first time since undergoing hernia surgery in June.
“He’s a big part of their mentality and a big part of their team,” Vanney said. “So I suspect and we’re prepared for him to be back on the field.
“To me they’re just a no-nonsense team. They’re coming at you and they’re coming at you fast, both from a defensive pressure standpoint and from an attacking standpoint.”
Kantari likely to debut
French-born Moroccan international Ahmed Kantri could make his TFC debut on Saturday. The Reds signed the veteran defender as a free agent last Friday. If he starts against the Revs it’ll be in centre of defence next to Damien Perquis.
“He looks solid. Given his experience and given the fact we have three games this week, I’m not sure if he can get through all three. But if we need him he’s available for us,” Vanney said.
Toronto could use his help after conceding 11 goals in their last three road matches.
“If you look at our goals and kind of source them back, they come from little silly things that should be dealt with before we get ourselves into a reactive state,” Vanney admitted.
Lots of absences for TFC
The Reds are missing captain Michael Bradley who has been diagnosed with a calf strain and is expected to be out of action for the next seven to 10 days. Bradley picked up the injury while on national team duty for the United States at last month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. He returned to Toronto, and had a scan on Tuesday that revealed the strain.
TFC will also be without suspended midfielder Collen Warner, as well as injured left fullback Astone Morgan (abductor strain).
Forward Luke Moore (ankle), and defenders Nick Hagglund (recovery from appendectomy) and Clement Simonin (knee) remain sidelined.
Head to head
New England leads the all-time series between these clubs with eight wins and eight draws in 20 meetings.
The Revs have dominated TFC at home, winning six of 11 meetings with only two losses. One of the three draws between the two clubs came on May 16 when they battled to a 1-1 stalemate. The Revolution have won the last two meetings in Boston.
These teams will meet for the third and final time this season on Sept. 13 in Toronto.
Paul Dolan’s take
Every Friday, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet soccer commentator Paul Dolan—a former Canadian national team goalkeeper—about the big stories and issues in Major League Soccer.
In this week’s Q&A, we asked Dolan what he thinks about the team’s defensive woes.
Here’s what he said:
“I think the Columbus game needs to be taken into separate consideration with the change in formation Greg Vanney employed. There were definitely some struggles getting everyone on the same page with the 3-5-2, especially in the first 50 minutes of that match where the Crew exposed Toronto’s left side for all three goals. It’s understandable that a change like that would take some adjusting to with communication being the key, when to go forward as a wing-back and when to drop off in defensive transition.
“I think communication will be very important the rest of the season in defence and is one of the reasons the club is so high on newcomer Ahmed Kantari. He brings a wealth of experience, speaks several languages and is a very intelligent defender who can communicate well with his teammates which is so important in any back four. Vanney stressed the importance of defensive organization at half-time in Columbus and that will be the single most important thing they can do to improve the back line and the rest of the team’s defensive shape going forward
Next up for TFC
Toronto FC hosts Orlando City on Aug. 5 and Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 8.
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