Points record at stake for Toronto FC in regular season finale

Toronto-FC-forward-Sebastian-Giovinco-(10)-celebrates-his-game-winning-goal-in-second-half-Canadian-Championship-soccer-action-against-the-Montreal-Impact,-in-Toronto-on-Tuesday,-June-27,-2017.-(Nathan-Denette/CP)

Former Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco. (Nathan Denette/CP)

TORONTO – Sunday could be a record-setting day in more ways than one for Toronto FC if all goes according to plan.

The Reds head into their regular-season finale against Atlanta United FC with a chance to make history, including establishing a new record for most points in a single MLS campaign. First-place Toronto (20-5-8) moved up to 68 points with last week’s home win over the Montreal Impact, tying the mark held by the 1998 LA Galaxy side. A win or a draw by TFC in Atlanta will allow them to set the new league benchmark.

It should be noted LA accumulated its 68 points in the shootout era of MLS and played two fewer games in the 1998 regular season, although the standard of play and competition is much higher in MLS now than it was back then.

TFC can also set a new record for most wins in a season during the non-shootout era, since 2000. Toronto is currently tied with the 2014 Seattle Sounders, at 20 wins.

But none of that appears to matter much to Michael Bradley. Instead of thinking about records and milestones, and TFC’s place in MLS history, the Reds’ captain is firmly focused on Atlanta, and then getting down to the nitty-gritty of the playoffs.

“Everything we’ve done up until now, on Sunday at 6 o’clock, it won’t mean a thing. The new season [the playoffs] starts. Everybody plays all year to get to this point. Some teams won’t be playing anymore, and we have no right to think that just because we won the Supporters’ Shield, just because we’ve had a good season that anything is going to be given to us from here on in,” Bradley warned.

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TFC has already wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team that finishes the MLS regular season in first place, and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Likewise, Atlanta (15-9-9) has already clinched a post-season berth, but it’s fighting for playoff positioning.

The expansion club currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with 54 points, one point ahead of the Columbus Crew, and just behind the Chicago Fire (55 points) and New York City FC (56 points).

The top two teams receive first-round byes, while the third- and fourth-placed sides receive home-field advantage in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, so Atlanta has plenty of motivation to beat TFC.

Atlanta could also be a playoff opponent for Toronto, so this is an important chance for the Reds to get one final look at them.

It’s also an opportunity for TFC to acclimate themselves to what is a hostile atmosphere. Atlanta could set a new league-record for the highest attendance in a single MLS game, with a crowd of 72,000 spectators expected at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Sunday’s contest.

“To see that environment, it’s [a place] we’ve never been to before, so to play there and have that experience before going into the playoffs is important. You never know, our paths could cross again in the playoffs, and it’s always better to know where you’re going than having never been there before,” Vanney said.

Bradley feels the fact that Atlanta has something to play for in this game will help TFC fight off against complacency ahead of the post-season.

“They have a lot to pay for, and so in situation where otherwise it could be easy to think this is the last game of the season and it doesn’t mean a whole lot, I don’t think we’ll feel any of that. That won’t be our mentality,” Bradley stated.

“It’s a really good opportunity to go on the road against a good team, in front of a big crowd to a place where, who knows, we could be back there in a few weeks, and make sure we’re using the game in the right way so we’re ready to go when they playoffs start.”

NOTES: Vanney said TFC has no injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s game in Atlanta. He also explained we’re past the point in the season where the surface (Atlanta plays on artificial turf) would play a part in his line-up selections. In the past, Vanney has rested certain players for games played on turf, but that won’t be the case this time, so expect Toronto’s coach to field a full-strength line-up on Sunday… This weekend’s match in Georgia is the second meeting between Toronto and Atlanta of 2017. The teams played to a 2-2 draw at BMO Field on April 8, with Sebastian Giovinco and Justin Morrow scoring for the Reds.

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