Here they are again. For the fourth time this season – the second in MLS action –, the Impact takes on rivals Toronto FC. Here are 10 things to know about the opponent that will face the Bleu-blanc-noir at BMO Field this Saturday at 7:30pm (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690).
Context
The Reds are in remarkable form, with only one loss in their last 11 games. The recent 2-1 win in Orlando lifted TFC to first place in the Eastern Conference, with 43 points from 26 games. Sebastian Giovinco and the 16 goals that he has scored remain a catalyst for the team’s attack, of course, but Jozy Altidore has found his groove with five tallies in his last six games.
Current form
W-W-W-D-W-W
Head coach
Greg Vanney (29-28-13 all-time as Toronto FC head coach) became TFC head coach on August 31, 2014. He is also the club’s technical director. A professional player for 13 seasons in the United States and in France, Vanney then worked on youth development, most notably at Real Salt Lake and at Chivas USA, before joining TFC in December 2013. After taking on jobs as assistant general manager and TFC Academy director, he became the ninth head coach in club history, replacing Ryan Nelsen
Current top scorer
Sebastian Giovinco (16)
Players to watch
1. Justin Morrow (#2) – Ever-present on the left of the defence, Morrow pushes forward but can also cut inside to finish a play or three.
2. Drew Moor (#3) – Probably TFC’s best acquisition this past offseason. Moor quickly became the boss at the back for TFC and represents a threat on set plays.
3. Michael Bradley (#4) – The Reds’ midfield leader has been providing some great service on set pieces of late.
Team profile
An eight-game road stretch to start the season gave TFC an opportunity to focus on its defence, and the team has kept on reaping the benefits of that work. The Reds have posted the best defensive record (just over one goal per game) and the best goal differential (plus-12) in the Eastern Conference. They are organized in a relatively low block – slightly higher at BMO Field –, with a dense midfield populated with players able to recover the ball and play it forward quickly – the Johnsons, Osorios, Delgados and, most of all, Bradleys. TFC has tried to play deeper into the opposition’s half of late, after relying on its speed and transition abilities for some time, but quickness and spaces between the lines remain its bread and butter. With Altidore’s hold-up play creating gaps for Giovinco to exploit, passing combinations down the middle punish opponents. TFC is also one of the teams that shoots the most in MLS, especially through the Italian forward, and shots come from pretty much everywhere – meaning that Toronto scores its fair share of goals from outside the box, including a pair of wonderful Giovinco free kicks against D.C. United. Set plays are generally useful for TFC, especially in recent games (6 of 11 goals this month). Defensively, opponents often try to move around TFC’s compact block and cross the ball. While the Reds did better to manage those situations earlier this season than in recent months, the backline has mostly held strong, forcing the opponent to look for gaps instead of leaving itself open to a plethora of shots.
Tactical formation
Greg Vanney has played different systems this season, but given the recent efficiency of the Altidore-Giovinco partnership, a two-man front line is to be expected. Lineup v. Orlando City SC (August 24): Bono; Williams, Moor, Hagglund; Delgado, Chapman, Bradley, Osorio, Lovitz; Ricketts, Giovinco.
Most recent games against the Impact
The Impact will be itching to set the record straight this Saturday at BMO Field after a 2-0 home loss on April 23 and a 4-2 aggregate loss in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against the Reds. But the Montreal players can also draw inspiration with their meetings with TFC in 2015. First, they knocked their rivals out of the Canadian Championship. They then lost twice at BMO Field in MLS play, but the Impact made amends on Decision Day, defeating Toronto 2-1 and ensuring that it would get home-field advantage in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs against… TFC. The ensuing 3-0 win, and the fact that the team pushed TFC out of a second competition that season, will remain in the fan base’s memories for a long time.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of August 25)
GK Clint Irwin (quad – back in training)
D Mark Bloom (ankle)
M Benoît Cheyrou (hamstring – back in training)
Next games
Chicago Fire v. Toronto FC (MLS, September 10)
Toronto FC v. New York Red Bulls (MLS, September 18)
Toronto FC v Philadelphia Union (MLS, September 24)
