Toronto FC will look to build on a seven-week undefeated stretch when they host offensively challenged Austin FC Saturday afternoon.
The Reds (3-2-2, 11 points) reside in sixth place in the Eastern Conference despite conceding more goals (11) and they have scored (10).
Toronto earned points in its past five matches, winning three of those before recording a 1-1 draw at home with FC Cincinnati on April 11. In that match, the Reds were the beneficiary of a red card that gave them a man advantage for the final 19-plus minutes and an own goal by the visitors in the 83rd minute.
Toronto carried that margin into added time when it conceded a goal.
“We’ve given up three goals being up a man in the last two weeks, and that should never happen,” Reds coach Robin Fraser said. “It’s always a positive at least that you’re picking up points.”
Toronto has not lost since falling at Vancouver 3-0 on Feb. 28 and is unbeaten in its past 11 home matches (4-0-7) since June 25, 2025.
“We’re gaining points, and it’s better than last year (when) we weren’t doing that,” Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran said.
Austin FC (1-3-3, 6 points), meanwhile, will look to escape a swoon that’s seen them go winless since March 1. The team’s most recent league setback was a 2-1 loss at home to the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 11. Austin’s skid was exacerbated by a 2-1 loss at Louisville City on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 32.
Austin FC trailed 2-0 in both of those contests and only managed to halve their deficits in each — with the goals in both of the losses coming in the second half on set pieces. Austin has scored five of its nine goals this season (which includes an own goal) from corner kicks or free kicks.
“Even though we didn’t have a good first half, we could score two or three goals [before halftime],” Austin coach Nico Estevez said after the most recent setback. “I think in the second half, we could score like three, four goals also, and it’s unlucky that we didn’t.”
Playmaking midfielder Owen Wolff could return on Saturday for Austin after missing the first seven MLS matches and the U.S. Open contest following sports hernia surgery.
–Field Level Media
