Toronto will pay a first-ever visit to Allianz Field this Saturday as they kick off the month of June by battling Minnesota United.
The Loons are winless in back-to-back MLS fixtures, dropping a 2-1 decision to Austin FC earlier this week, while the Reds played to a 0-0 draw at home versus the Chicago Fire.
Match preview
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Another close game for the taking did not go the Loons' way on Wednesday, as they lost by a single goal for the fifth time domestically this year.
Adrian Heath's men have now conceded the opening goal in their last three matches in all competitions and have only claimed one point when conceding first in 2023.
They have created their share of opportunities, particularly in the Austin match this week, but their finishing has let them down, scoring a goal or fewer now in 13 MLS fixtures this season.
When scoring first, as you might imagine, they are a much stronger team, winning three of their last four regular-season encounters when going up 1-0.
Saturday will be their fourth meeting against the Eastern Conference this season, with Minnesota claiming just one point from those opening three games, while they have not won a regular season contest against the East since beating the New York Red Bulls in March 2022 (1-0), as Nashville SC were a part of the Western Conference when the Loons defeated them last year (2-1).
Their form has been up and down of late, but it has been enough to keep them above the playoff line with this team currently seventh in the Western Conference, three points above that mark.
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With seven shots on target and 58% of the possession, Toronto had control of their previous match against the Fire but failed to take advantage.
That was the fifth time in their last six regular season fixtures this year that TFC had failed to find the back of the net throughout the 90 minutes.
Bob Bradley's side were fairly fluid in their ball movements and looked dangerous with their short passing, as they had much better link-up play than we have seen in previous games this season.
Given how poor their form has been of late, winning just one of their previous seven encounters in all competitions, the Reds will take some solace in knowing that they have improved defensively over the past few games, conceding a goal or fewer in each of their last four matches.
When they have played Minnesota on those rare occasions, containing their attack has proven to be excessively difficult, with Toronto conceding nine goals in just three games against them, four of which came in their only road contest versus the Loons in 2019 at TCF Bank Stadium when they lost 4-3.
The Reds have failed to find the back of the net in four of their last five away contests, while they are winless in their previous nine regular season away fixtures dating back to 2022.
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Team News
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Mikael Marques will be questionable for Minnesota because of a sore ankle, Robin Lod and Ryen Jiba are dealing with knee issues and Bakaye Dibassy is unlikely to feature as he is suffering from a thigh injury.
Joseph Rosales had the only Loons strike versus Austin on Wednesday, while Emanuel Reynoso is nearing a return, having trained with the team before their last game after being suspended earlier in the season for not showing up at training camp.
An own goal from Real Salt Lake's Justen Glad helped them to a 1-1 draw in their previous fixture at Allianz Field, while Dayne St. Clair has conceded just once in his last three MLS home games.
For Toronto, on Wednesday, the usual suspects who have been missing for weeks did not see the field against Chicago as Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio, Shane O'Neill, Adama Diomande, Alonso Coello Camarero and Michael Bradley are all still dealing with lower body injuries.
Sean Johnson only had to make one save versus the Fire for his sixth clean sheet of the regular season, two fewer than league leader Stefan Frei and one behind Roman Celentano in second.
Federico Bernardeschi was back in the Toronto lineup after being benched following his unflattering remarks about the team, while the last goals for the Reds came courtesy of Kosi Thompson and Deandre Kerr in a 2-1 win over DC United, on a night when Lorenzo Insigne set up both goals.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Valentin, Boxall, Tapias, Lawrence; Dotson, Trapp; Hlongwane, Arriaga, Rosales; Jeong
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Hedges, Mabika, Franklin; Servania, Kaye, Marshall-Rutty; Bernardeschi, Perruzza, Insigne
We say: Minnesota United 1-0 Toronto
Minnesota do not give you a lot of clear-cut opportunities, but when they do, St. Clair is often there to come up big, and with Reynoso expected to return soon, we expect to see a highly motivated and imaginative Loons side this weekend.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
