Orlando City will hope to solidify a spot in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs against host Toronto FC in the final matchday of the regular season this Saturday night.
The Lions (14-8-11, 53 points) surrendered a four-match unbeaten run last time out in a 2-1 setback to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Thomas Muller blasted home a long-range strike in the fixture’s dying seconds to throw a wrench into Orlando’s final stretch of the season.
“It felt like we were defending for a very long time,” Orlando defender Dagur Thorhallsson said after that match. “That’s something we need to look at. I don’t know why we score and then we just drop down and defend for almost the rest of the game.”
Though they have clinched a playoff spot, Orlando may need to secure their first league away win since July 25 to guarantee themselves a spot above wild card position. A draw would almost certainly suffice should the Chicago Fire fail to defeat the New England Revolution. A defeat would allow both the Fire and the Columbus Crew to overtake them.
They might take some solace in Toronto FC’s (5-14-14, 29 points) even lengthier winless run at home, which extends all the way back to June 28. TFC are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC, which snapped their league record streak of eight consecutive draws. Second-worst in MLS in goals for, Toronto have failed to collect three points in eleven straight matches.
“We’re still experimenting,” head coach Robin Fraser said after that match. “We’re definitely in the building phase of this project and we’ve seen really good progress throughout the year.”
Orlando will be replenished by a host of players returning from international duty, including Marco Pasalic, David Brekalo and Alex Freeman. Defender Robin Jansson may be unavailable after subbing off in the 18th minute last match with an undisclosed injury. He wasn’t present during media availability Thursday.
Joran Gerbet is a scratch after undergoing season-ending ACL surgery. Cesar Araujo remains a question mark after missing the Vancouver match. Toronto midfielder Alonso Coello will be suspended after a late sending off against LAFC.
–Field Level Media
