TORONTO—More than just playoff positioning will be on the minds of Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew when they meet Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.
Both teams have clinched post-season berths, but Toronto is trying to hold down second place in Eastern Conference and earn a first-round bye. Columbus is two points back and would desperately love to overtake Toronto, or at the very least wrap up a third- or fourth-place finish that would ensure home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
So in terms of the playoff picture, this game could have huge implications. But it could also influence the battle for the Golden Ball, awarded to the top scorer in Major League Soccer, and the league’s MVP honour.
Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco and Kei Kamara of Columbus are tied for first in the league’s scoring race with 22 goals apiece, and are considered the front-runners for the MVP award. With only two games remaining in the season for both of them, Saturday could decide who wins the scoring race. If you think helping their star forwards win a pair of individual accolades doesn’t matter to these teams, you’d be dead wrong.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
“We want Kei to win the Golden Boot,” Columbus coach Greg Berhalter told the team’s official website. “We think it’d be a great accomplishment for the team and for Kei individually. We’re all pulling for him and anything we can do in these next couple games to get him there, we’re going to do.”
Toronto coach Greg Vanney recognizes Kamara is a dangerous forward, and explained the key to stopping the native of Sierra Leone on Saturday is to gang up on him and cut off his service.
“We need to be aware of where he is all times; we need to have presence on him. We can’t allow him the freedom to run into the box and out-jump us. We need to have a good presence, bump him, disrupt his runs, take away as many crosses as we can from the point of the cross, and force them to find ways to beat us other than that, because that’s his bread and butter,” Vanney said.
He later added: “Kei is always going to be lurking around the box, and drifting to the back post and attacking the goal. Whenever they get into wide positions he’s a handful. He’s an incredible athlete, and has really developed his game over the years as a potent striker.”
Giovinco has been exceptional in his debut season with Toronto. Aside from his 22 goals, he also has 15 assists (tied for first in MLS) and he leads the league in shots (175). Not only is he putting together an MVP-type campaign, but his coach thinks he’s enjoying one of the best individual seasons in MLS history.
“It’s one of the most exciting performances over the course of a year that any player has ever had in our league. The things that he’s accomplished—the goals that he’s scored, the goals that he’s set up—it’s been exciting to be part of it,” Vanney said.
Kamara has also been excellent, with 22 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances (30 as a starter). As much as Giovinco is important to TFC, Kamara is vital to the Crew. He deserves to be in the MVP conversation with the Italian.
“It’s something he’s definitely excited about,” Columbus midfielder Ethan Finlay said. “You want to play against the best and you want to compete against the best. So for him [Kamara] to be able to go up and play against him [Giovinco], it’s a battle. I think we, as a team, will try to shut Giovinco down and hope we can reward our big man.”
Altidore and Perquis out, Bradley in
Toronto FC will be without two regular starters—and possibly three—when they host Columbus.
French centre back Damien Perquis will miss out due to a hamstring injury he picked up in Wednesday’s playoff-clinching win over the New York Red Bulls. Perquis was scheduled to have an MRI on Friday to determine the extent of the injury and just how much time he will miss.
Forward Jozy Altidore, the club’s second leading scorer with 12 goals, earned a red card in the first half against New York. He was on the substitute’s bench at the time, but was ejected after exchanging words with the assistant referee. His expulsion means he’s suspended for Saturday.
Jonathan Osorio didn’t train with the team on Friday and is questionable for the Columbus match. The Canadian midfielder was subbed out late against New York with a head injury after being hit by a free kick by teammate Herculez Gomez.
The good news is that captain Michael Bradley will be available for selection after missing the New York game with a minor groin injury.
