Toronto FC will be without two regular starters—and possibly three—when they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday afternoon in an important Eastern Conference showdown.
Coach Greg Vanney confirmed that 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.
“When he went into that challenge lunging for the ball he said he felt ‘a not very good feeling’ in the backside of his leg… He’s [feeling] a little sore,” Vanney told reporters after Friday’s practice.
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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.
Toronto FC talked to MLS about rescinding the red card, but learned that his suspension can’t be overturned.
“We’ve been in discussion with them. It’s actually an un-appealable [red] card, from what I understand; it’s not something they can or will overturn,” Vanney explained.
Vanney called the decision to give Altidore a red card “incredibly soft” because he felt his player didn’t use abusive language or direct a personal insult at the ref. He also pointed out that New York coach Jesse Marsch was jawing with the officials just as much, if not worse, than Altidore.
“When I go back and watch the game at the very moment the ref is jogging over to have a discussion with the linesman and the fourth official, Jesse was having an absolute go at the referee,” Vanney said. “It’s incredibly harsh but we live with it.”
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.
“We’re going to see how he progresses. … As of right now, he’s questionable,” Vanney revealed.
The good news is that captain Michael Bradley will be available for selection after missing the New York game with a minor groin injury.
Toronto sits second in the East with 49 points, ahead of D.C. United (48), and the New England Revolution and Columbus (both on 47). The top two teams in the conference receive a first-round bye in the playoffs. The third- and fourth-place finishers will have home field advantage in the first round, so with things so tight and teams fighting for playoff positioning in the last two weeks of the season Saturday is a critical game for both sides.
This contest pits the league’s top two scorers against one another: TFC’s Sebastian Giovnco and Kei Kamara of Columbus, both with 22 goals. With only two games remaining, the league’s scoring race will likely go down to the final week of the season, and Saturday’s contest could play a big role in deciding who wins the Golden Boot award.
“Kei is a very dangerous forward, especially when they’re able to get balls wide and then whip balls into the box. We need to be aware of where he is all times; we need to have a presence on him. We can’t allow him the freedom to run into the box and out-jump us,” Vanney said.
TFC closes out the regular season on Oct. 25 away to the Montreal Impact.
