In Saturday’s game at Bobby Kennedy Memorial Stadium (5:00 p.m. ET), Grey Vanney will be expected to start with the same line-up two games running for the first time this season. After serving his suspension last week, Benoit Cheyrou is considered a doubt for the fixture in the U.S. capital after he left training this week with a thigh problem.
There remains a possibility that Justin Morrow could be suspended after his challenge on Revolution midfielder Gershon Koffie, for which Morrow received a yellow card, was taken under review by Major League Soccer’s disciplinary committee. Daniel Lovitz or Ashtone Morgan would most likely start in the left-back berth if a penalty did come down.
The Reds (1-2-2) have five points from five games on a road-swing that will also see them visit Montreal and Portland before finally getting their home season under way on May 7 against FC Dallas.
D.C. (1-3-2) are one point and one place above Toronto in the Eastern Conference but have played a game more. They doubled their goals record against Vancouver, having scored only four in five winless games to open the season.
Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola scored a pair of goals apiece and the new look TFC back line, which has impressed to date, will also have their hands full this weekend with Boca Juniors loanee Luciano Acosta, who provided two assists against the Whitecaps.
TFC had only one shot on target against New England and have a paltry total of 16 on frame five games into the season. Striker Jozy Altidore made a welcome return against the Revolution in a 4-4-2 formation and combined with Sebastian Giovinco for the late equalizer. TFC’s forward line will hope to test the inexperienced Travis Worra more than the Whitecaps did, with United’s star goalkeeper Bill Hamid out injured for four to six months.
Saturday’s match-up is the second of a four-game home stretch for D.C. United. The last time these sides met, on June 27 last year, they played out a 0-0 draw at BMO Field.
Projected Line-ups
Toronto: C.Irwin, D.Moor, D.Perquis, S.Beitashour, J.Morrow, M.Delgado, M.Bradley, W.Johnson, J.Osorio, S.Giovinco, J.Altidore
D.C. United: T.Worra, S.Franklin, S.Birnbaum, B. Boswell, T.Kemp, P.Nyarko, N. DeLeon, M.Sarvas, L.Neagle, F.Espindola, C.Rolfe
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau
Broadcast: TSN4
Follow Ciarán @keep_score