Toronto FC will look to revive their fading playoff hopes when they host CF Montreal in a crucial 401 Derby on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds (6-10-11, 29 points) find themselves 13th in the Eastern Conference, four points removed from New York City FC for the final playoff spot. A lackluster 2-0 outing against league leaders Nashville SC on Sept. 26 marked their third straight defeat. Toronto has scored just a single goal in its last three fixtures.
A date with their flailing archrivals might be just what the Reds need as they return from the international break, having experienced something of a resurgence after the much lengthier World Cup break this summer. Toronto had lost just a single game since the July return before entering the recent losing skid.
“It’s already like a playoff game,” Toronto midfielder Niklas Dorsch said of Saturday’s showdown. “If you don’t win that game, I think it’s almost clear that it’s done for us coming into the playoffs. We know there’s no time to waste, there’s no points to lose. We have to win this game. There’s no excuses anymore.”
All but mathematically guaranteed to miss their second straight postseason, last-place CF Montreal (6-15-6, 24 points) will hope their previous outing generated enough momentum to withstand a two-week hiatus.
Prince Owusu scored two goals as Montreal stunned playoff hopefuls FC Cincinnati 3-1 on Sept. 26 — a feat it managed with just three outfield substitutes available off the bench.
Montreal will be rejoined by nine players returning from international duty in Saturday’s bid to spoil its rival’s season.
“It’s a date we’ve circled on the calendar all year,” said defender Luca Petrasso, who earned his first international cap for Canada over the break.
Toronto will field its starting backline with Walker Zimmerman back from suspension and Richie Laryea and Benjamin Kuscevic returning from their national teams. Former Montreal midfielder Djordje Mihailovic may return after a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for a month.
Montreal defender Brayan Vera may also return from a lower-body injury.
–Field Level Media
