FT: Orlando City SC 4-0 Toronto FC – Game thread, preview and how to watch
live game thread
FT – Orlando City SC – Toronto FC 4-0.
90′ – Insigne’s close-range free-kick leaves Gallese unimpressed.
84′ – DESTINATION ORLANDO CITY. Tesho Akindele makes it to four. TFC have now conceded four goals in their last three MLS games. Awful.
83′ – Final change for the Reds as Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty comes on for Richie Laryea.
81′ – MacNaughton receives a yellow card meaning he is now suspended for the Reds’ next MLS game for a yellow card pile-up.
71′ – Two more TFC changes with Jonathan Osorio and Luca Petrasso replacing Mark-Anthony Kaye and Criscito.
61′ – Another shortly after when Insigne’s header falls straight into Gallese’s gloves.
60′ – TFC finally with their first shot on goal! Jiménez hits you with power but it goes straight to Pedro Gallese.
52′ – TFC’s first two substitutions as Deandre Kerr and Jesús Jiménez come on for Kosi Thompson and Ayo Akinola.
49′ – The Reds have now conceded 60 goals in MLS this season. In 2021 they conceded 66.
47′ – DESTINATION ORLANDO CITY. An unfortunate own goal for Lukas MacNaughton. That could just be the nail in the coffin.
46′ – Let’s hope for a fight in the second 45.
HT – Orlando City SC – Toronto FC 2-0. A sad half of Bob Bradley’s men. Orlando deservedly led two goals.
41′ – Torres hits the post. Westberg was rested again.
35′ – A nice connection game between Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, but the No. 10 curler drifts far away. Given the space he had, it should have at least been a shot on target.
32′ – Booked Domenico Criscito.
30′ – Once again, TFC reaches the half-hour without a shot on target…
22′ – DESTINATION ORLANDO CITY. An emphatic finish from Ercan Kara doubles the lead for the Lions. Mauricio Pereyra’s ball was delicious.
16′ – A lack of urgency again proves costly for the Reds. Orlando wasn’t outstanding but they look hungrier than the visitors.
9′ – DESTINATION ORLANDO CITY. The dominant side deservedly takes the lead. Facundo Torres hits a helpless Westberg from just outside the box. Good finish from the Uruguayan.
4′ – Several bad chances for the hosts. Westberg blushes after spilling a low cross.
1′ – Show time in Orlando.
7:00 p.m. EST – Regarding the recent history of this clash, Toronto FC is without a win in the last five meetings with Orlando since August 2019. The Reds will surely be hungry for a long overdue win against their Eastern Conference rivals after two draws and three losses in their last five games.
6:55 p.m. EST – Nice to see Lorenzo Insigne back in the starting XI, along with Jonathan Osorio on the bench. No Hugo Mbongue on game day, probably due to the fact that tomorrow is MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day for Toronto FC II.
6:37 p.m. EST – Don’t forget to give us your score predictions before kick-off!
6:35 p.m. EST – Bob Bradley’s side have only four points from their last five MLS games. Also, the Reds have conceded 10 goals in their last three games. Hardly the form of an MLS Cup playoff team.
6:30 p.m. EST – Toronto FC’s playoff fate could be officially sealed tonight at Exploria Stadium should the Reds fail to beat newly-crowned US Open Cup champions Orlando City SC. Additionally, Bob Bradley’s men will have their sights set on a morale-boosting win ahead of the international break.
start XI
Just two changes since last weekend’s 4-2 defeat by Atlanta United, with Lorenzo Insigne and Kosi Thompson replacing Jayden Nelson and Noble Okello in the starting XI. Jonathan Osorio has come on after missing the Reds’ last four games with a head injury, while Quentin Westberg keeps his place between the posts.
This is how the hosts line up. Top scorer Ercan Kara is leading one of the shyer teams in the Eastern Conference this season.
Game Preview about Adam Palermo
Toronto FC meet Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, knowing that a loss and perhaps even a draw could see the club knocked out of the playoffs.
A postseason point had seemed a long way off for weeks now, but hope remained. Toronto FC have entered dangerous territory with back-to-back defeats and need to beat Orlando to stand a chance.
Recent results have helped Toronto get this far without being left out of a playoff position. The Columbus Crew is three times without a win and the New England Revolution has lost twice in a row.
While a TFC win will likely delay the inevitable, it will be important to head coach Bob Bradley and the fans that the team give their all in every game, especially when there’s still a mathematical chance.
It was an ordeal when Toronto FC and Orlando City last met in May. The Reds were lost 1-0 at home thanks to an injury-time header from Kyle Smith.
TFC travel to Orlando hoping to avoid their first win of the season to the Lions.
Toronto will be without defenders Chris Mavinga and Doneil Henry for the away game. Jonathan Osorio could return to the squad with the midfielder recovering from his head injury.
A new player will also join the Reds late in the season. Hugo Mbongue was signed to the senior team by Toronto FC II last week and the forward has a chance to make his name in Orlando.
The younger brother of former local talent Ralph Priso signed his contract with Toronto FC on Tuesday and could be given an immediate chance to impress. Mbongue has scored four goals from time and provided six assists in MLS NEXT Pro this season.
With Jesus Jimenez and Ayo Akinola only scoring twice in Toronto’s last 14 MLS games, Bradley will want to introduce more competition early in the games. Toronto FC’s last three regular-season games may give Mbongue a chance to stake his claim to a regular first-team role for next season.
Orlando City enters fifth in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, but nothing is guaranteed just yet. The Lions are just three points clear of their Floridian rivals Inter Miami in eighth place and are looking to bounce back after falling at home to Atlanta United last time out.
The 2022 US Open Cup champions have lost back-to-back in the league after winning their previous four games.
Coach Oscar Pareja wants his side to return to form ahead of their last four games. His side have struggled to consistently find the back of the net, scoring the fewest goals (36) of the 14 teams currently in the playoffs.
game details
Opponent: Orlando City SC
Kick-off time: 7:30 p.m. EST
See: TSN
Stadium: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida.