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English (Apple TV): Chris Wittyngham (Play-by-Play) and Lori Lindsey (Analyst)
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Toronto FC (2-0-1, 7 pts) head to the Bronx to face 2015 MLS expansion club New York City FC (0-3-0, 0 pts) at the iconic Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening. The Matchday 5 tilt kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for free and on TSN4 in Canada.
Toronto FC continued their 2024 MLS campaign with a 1-0 victory against Charlotte FC in their home opener at BMO Field last Saturday. The Reds have now recorded three consecutive clean sheets to begin an MLS campaign for the first time in club history and are the only team in MLS yet to concede a goal in 2024. After picking up two victories and a tie from the club’s opening three matches, the Reds currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference, tied with five other clubs on seven points. The Reds hold a 6W-7L-7T record through their first twenty regular-season meetings with the Boys in Blue.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Toronto FC’s 2024 campaign continues with their third road match of the MLS regular season this Saturday evening. Following a goalless draw in Cincinnati and a 1-0 win in New England to begin the new season, the Reds hold a 51W-156L-69T all-time record (222 points) in MLS regular season matches played on the road.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
Toronto FC visit 2015 MLS expansion club New York City FC for the 21st regular season encounter in the all-time series between the two clubs. TFC hold a 6W-7L-7T record through their first twenty meetings with the Boys in Blue in regular season play, while TFC remain unbeaten in postseason play after recording three MLS Cup Playoffs wins (3W-0L-0T) against New York City. The two Eastern Conference clubs have previously faced off at Yankee Stadium on six different occasions, with the Reds scoring 10 goals through four ties and a pair of losses at the iconic home of the New York Yankees (Major League Baseball). TFC will be looking for their first road victory against New York City FC since recording a 1-0 win, courtesy of a late Alejandro Pozuelo goal from the penalty spot, at Red Bull Arena on September 23, 2020.
THE CLIMB CONTINUES
Last Saturday, Toronto FC defeated Charlotte FC by a 1-0 scoreline to secure all three points in their 2024 MLS home opener at BMO Field. English midfielder Matty Longstaff made his TFC debut and registered his first assist for the Reds, when he set up the hosts’ No. 24 on the game-winning goal. Goalkeeper Luka Gavran recorded his first clean sheet for TFC and helped the Reds record a third consecutive clean sheet to begin an MLS campaign for the first time in club history. With two victories and a draw from the club’s opening three matches, the Reds are the only team in MLS yet to concede a goal in 2024 and currently sit top of the Eastern Conference, tied with five other clubs on seven points.
TEAM & GOAL OF THE MATCHDAY
With the game deadlocked at 0-0 in the second half, Lorenzo Insigne received a pass from debutant Matty Longstaff and unleashed an unstoppable effort past Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina in the 80th minute to lead the Reds to victory. For his efforts, the Italian winger was named to for the second time this season and first as a starter. Insigne’s game-winner also earned league recognition for the second week running, as the top-corner screamer was also chosen as the AT&T Goal of the Matchday winner with 32.2% of the fan vote this week.
THE NINTH OF MARCH
On March 9, 2024, Jonathan Osorio led his hometown club as captain at BMO Field for the very first time, exactly eleven years since making his Toronto FC debut against Sporting Kansas City on March 9, 2013. The 2024 MLS home opener last Saturday also marked the midfielder’s 300th MLS appearance (MLS Regular Season and MLS Cup Playoffs) as the Toronto, Ontario native became the first player in club history to reach the milestone.
ONCE A RED
In Sean Johnson and Tomás Romero, the two club rosters share a familiar face in between the sticks heading into Saturday. Prior to joining the Reds in January 2023, goalkeeper Sean Johnson spent six seasons with New York City FC, where he recorded 60 clean sheets in 206 appearances (2017 – 2022) for the Boys in Blue. The Lilburn, Georgia native also led the club to their first MLS Cup championship in club history and was named the 2021 MLS Cup Finals MVP, after saving two spot-kicks in a penalty shootout to beat Portland Timbers. On the other side, Tomás Romero spent the 2023 MLS season with Toronto FC and is awaiting his NYCFC debut after signing with the club on February 8, 2024. The El Salvador international made his TFC debut against St. Louis City SC on July 8 and recorded a total of 23 saves through six appearances for the Reds in 2023.
DEBUT WATCH
TFC’s first overall selection in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Tyrese Spicer, could follow in the footsteps of Kevin Long, Deybi Flores, Nicksoen Gomis and Matty Longstaff and potentially make his club debut during Saturday’s battle in the Bronx.
