Toronto FC remain home to take on the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. TFC endured an abandoned match at midweek in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship after 60 minutes and two rain delays; they drew their last league match in Colorado. Union ended a winless run at three games and reclaimed the top spot in the West last weekend in a 2-1 win against Chicago.
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TORONTO FC
Toronto FC recorded a draw for a second consecutive match in league play, reaching a scoreless result with the Colorado Rapids on Sunday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. TFC has 12 points from 12 games on the season, in a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference to open the week.
LAST MATCH
Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens was the busier of the two on the night, making three saves, including one on a close-range effort from Nick Soolsma just before halftime. Mikael Yourassowsky also blasted a shot off the crossbar in the 62nd minute.
TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei made two saves for his third shutout, his second this season in a scoreless draw.
TFC head coach Aron Winter made four changes to the team that played to a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire at BMO Field. It was an all-change midfield, with Alen Stevanovic, Nathan Sturgis and Mikael Yourassowsky coming in for - Julian de Guzman, Jacob Peterson and Tony Tchani, and Javier Martina started up top for Maicon Santos.
TORONTO FC (4-3-3): Stefan Frei - Richard Eckersley, Dicoy Williams, Adrian Cann (Ty Harden 76), Dan Gargan - Alen Stevanovic, Nathan Sturgis (Nana Attakora 84), Mikael Yourassowsky - Nick Soolsma, Javier Martina, Joao Plata (Maicon Santos 60).
PHILADELPHIA UNION
Philadelphia Union put an end to their winless run at three games, getting a late goal for a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening at PPL Park. Union have 17 points from 10 matches on the year leading the Eastern Conference to start the week.
LAST MATCH
Union took the lead in the 64th minute when Michael Farfan took a pass from Kyle Nakazawa on a free kick from the left flank, and struck a low, driving shot from outside the box that deflected past the Fire’s Jon Conway.
Just four minutes later, however, Fire winger Dominic Oduro rounded Farfan on the right side of the area and poked a shot past Union ’keeper Faryd Mondragón from a tight angle.
Yet Union regained the lead in the 75th minute. After Carlos Ruiz saw his free kick blocked, he chased down the deflection and looped a high-arching shot from about 40 yards out that sailed over Conway’s head, hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced straight down over the goal line.
Union manager Peter Nowak made two changes to the team that fell 2-0 to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park. Michael Farfan came into the midfield for Roger Torres and Carlos Ruiz started up top for Danny Mwanga.
PHILADELPHIA UNION (4-4-2): Faryd Mondragon - Sheanon Williams, Carlos Valdes, Danny Califf, Jordan Harvey (Roger Torres 58) - Michael Farfan, Brian Carroll, Amobi Okugo (Kyle Nakazawa 5), Justin Mapp - Sebastien Le Toux, Carlos Ruiz (Gabriel Farfan 81).
REFEREE: Niko Bratsis. SAR (bench): Claudio Badea; JAR (opposite): Jason Cullum; 4th: Ricardo Salazar
Bratsis career: 1 game; Fouls called/game: 21.0; Yellow cards/game: 5.0; Red cards: 0; Penalties: 0
INJURY REPORT:
TORONTO – OUT: MF Elbekay Bouchiba (R knee surgery recovery); MF Jacob Peterson (L hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: FW Alan Gordon (adductor strain); MF Gianluca Zavarise (adductor strain); MF Tony Tchani (R hamstring)
PHILADELPHIA – OUT: GK Thorne Holder (concussion); MF Amobi Okugo (L ankle sprain); MF Zach Pfeffer (appendectomy); QUESTIONABLE: MF Stefani Miglioranzi (R groin strain); PROBABLE: FW Danny Mwanga (L hamstring strain); FW Carlos Ruiz (R hip flexor strain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: PHI: Danny Mwanga. SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: TOR: Dan Gargan, Javier Martina … PHI: Sheanon Williams, Danny Califf
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Toronto FC 1 win, 3 goals … Union 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
AT TORONTO (1 meeting): Toronto FC 1 win, 2 goals … Union 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
RETURN MATCH: October 15: Philadelphia Union v. Toronto FC, 4 p.m. ET (TSN)
LAST YEAR (MLS):
April 15: Toronto 2-1 Philadelphia (De Rosario 35, 81PK – Harvey 45)
July 17: Philadelphia 2-1 Toronto (Orozco Fiscal 61; Le Toux 90 – Barrett 81)
Each team won at home last year in the two meetings Union’s inaugural season by a 2-1 scoreline.
Coaches record: Peter Nowak v. TOR: P2 W1 L1 D0 … Aron Winter v. PHI: first game
