Toronto FC will need a win against visitors D.C. United on Wednesday to continue their highly-improbable playoff pursuit.
A series of positive October results saw the Reds (8-11-12, 36 points) claw their way back into the playoff picture only for the team to collapse 4-2 against fellow postseason hopefuls in Columbus on Saturday. TFC were already down by three goals by the time the Crew’s Sekou Bangoura was sent off in the 70th minute.
Now two spots and three points behind the New York Red Bulls for the Eastern Conference’s last playoff berth, Toronto enters the game with a mere 11% chance at a playoff berth, per PlayoffStatus.com.
Toronto FC have gained something of a reputation as comeback specialists this season, having erased deficits to earn a draw or a win on eight occasions. If any team can pull off a late-season surge, it may well be the Reds.
“There’s three games, so our season’s not over,” said winger Theo Corbeanu, who had an assist against Columbus. “I think if we can play our best football in these three games and finish off on a high, continue our belief and fight until the end and replicate some of the good things that we were able to display (against the Crew), I’m pretty sure we can put ourselves in a respectable position.”
All but mathematically guaranteed to miss their seventh straight postseason, D.C. United (7-12-12, 33 points) are coming off consecutive defeats to Cincinnati. The Black and Red managed only two attempts on target in their Saturday match, a 2-0 defeat, and have scored one goal or fewer in four of the last five outings.
Club captain Lucas Bartlett expressed hope the team could put the playoff picture out of their minds and put in a positive showing in their three remaining games.
“I’m not gonna pull up tents and close shop now. I got something to prove for all of us. Everybody does here at the club,” Bartlett said. “So, you can’t expect to roll over and let teams take it to us just because maybe the playoff line’s tight.”
Kobe Franklin (shoulder) remains injured for Toronto, though defender Walker Zimmerman may return. Jackson Hopkins (ankle) may join Hosei Kijima (lower-body injury), Louis Munteanu (leg) and Gabe Segal (leg) on the sidelines for D.C. after subbing off with an injury on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
