After a tightly contested match in The Bronx, Atlanta United heads to Toronto for their second straight road contest and second match of the season against Toronto FC.
Matchday 8 Preview: Toronto FC
The first meeting of the teams this season, in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, finished in a 1-1 draw on Matchday 2. Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring for the visitors in the 52nd minute before Matheus Rossetto equalized in the 60th.
Since then, Toronto has stuttered to get out of the gates. In the five matches since the teams last met, they have managed just one victory and four draws. Their start to the season sees them placed 9th in the East with 8 points.
Part of Toronto’s struggles is a lack of ability to score. They average 1.1 goals per match having played two scoreless draws in their last three matches. They also average a lowly 3.7 shots on target per match. Contributing to that lack of offense is the absence of Lorenzo Insigne.
Insigne has yet to see action this season following his early exit in Matchday 1 due to injury. He returned to individual training last week and progressed to rejoining full training this week. His status for the match is questionable but Toronto manager Bob Bradley says, “Atlanta is a possibility” for his return.
Toronto could be welcoming a much-needed addition while Atlanta United will be facing some key absences for this match.
It was announced earlier this week that goalkeeper Brad Guzan will miss 10-12 weeks with a torn MCL in his left knee. The injury was suffered in the 17th minute of the match in a collision with NYCFC’s Gabriel Segal.
Quentin Westberg is expected to get the starting nod in Guzan’s absence. Westberg spent four seasons playing for Toronto. In those four years, he managed 10 clean sheets in 68 appearances.
Westberg’s comfortability in Toronto will be an added bonus in addition to his shot-stopping ability and ability to play with his feet, a skill that is necessary for Gonzalo Pineda’s system.
Due to a red card suspension, Franco Ibarra will also miss the match. Santiago Sosa is seen as the like-for-like option, but Amar Sejdić and Matheus Rossetto each made comments this week about their ability and comfortability in playing in the “6” position.
Omissions for the Five Stripes are lessened by a few key returns. Ozzie Alonso rejoined full training Thursday in recovery from his ACL injury. This match may come too soon, but his presence was well-received by the team and he will add even more depth to the midfield. Thiago Almada also returned to training after a few days off.
Andrew Gutman made his return to the squad last weekend in New York. He did not find himself subbed into the game, but he could be seen on the broadcast going through warmups throughout the match, a positive sign of his health.
Also announced this week was the USMNT’s roster for their upcoming “Continental Clásico” against Mexico. Caleb Wiley received his first senior team call-up for that match. The match will take place on Wednesday, April 19th. Wiley will join the national team following this weekend’s match and return in time to be eligible for selection for Matchday 9. Gutman’s return will allow Wiley an opportunity to not be forced into competition.
A week after naming his first unchanged lineup of the season, Pineda will be forced to make at least two changes to the lineup from last week. The form of his available players and the plethora of options will lessen the headache.
New signings Giorgos Giakoumakis and Derrick Etienne Jr. will provide an immediate attacking threat as they will likely begin this match from the beginning rather than coming on as substitutions as in the first match.
Ample cover in the midfield is available to fill the void of Ibarra for this match. An experience backline in good form will give Westberg confidence as he returns to the home of his former club in his first start for the Five Stripes.
Atlanta United (4-2-1, 14 Pts) vs Toronto FC (1-5-1, 8 Pts)
- When: April 15th, 7:30 EST
- Where: BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- How to Watch: MLS Season Pass – Apple TV+
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