Rookie Tsubasa Endoh was the standout performer for the Reds, winning the penalty for Sebastian Giovinco’s go ahead goal and putting in an impressively energetic shift on the right hand side of Toronto’s attack.
He will almost certainly start against new coach Patrick Vieira’s troops, with Jozy Altidore unlikely to recover from the hamstring injury picked up in pre-season.
The opening day win wasn’t pretty but all of Toronto’s off-season signings, including Will Johnson, Drew Moor, Steven Beitashour and Clint Irwin were solid in the defensive display.
TFC coach Grey Vanney is unlikely to make changes, with Marky Delgado for Daniel Lovitz the only potential switch, the latter having a low-key game before being replaced by Delgado, who sealed maximum points with a last minute goal in Harrison.
The victory over the Red Bulls, last season’s Supporters Shield winners, will send TFC into Sunday’s game at Yankee stadium with confidence they can repeat the trick against a team that hasn’t addressed its defensive weaknesses from last season.
While dangerous going forward against the Chicago Fire on MLS opening day, New York City FC conceded sloppy goals but came out on the right side of a 4-3 thriller.
Andrea Pirlo continues to suffer from a similar issue as Steven Gerrard at LA Galaxy - playing in a deep lying creative midfield role but lacking the legs to provide adequate defensive cover.
Sunday’s game will be the first at home for Vieira, the former Arsenal midfield general, who must juggle his desire to play attractive football in the way he was schooled under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger and the physical and high paced demands of MLS.
Captain David Villa will continue to lead the line for the New Yorkers in front of the long-haired pairing of Thomas McNamara and Mix Diskerud, both of whom had strong showings in the curtain raiser in Chicago.
DP Frank Lampard remains sidelined with a calf injury.
Projected Line-ups
Toronto: C.Irwin, D.Moor, D.Perquis, S.Beitashour, J.Morrow, W.Johnson, M.Bradley, D.Lovitz, J.Osorio, S.Giovinco, T.Endoh
New York City FC: J.Saunders, E.White, F.Brilliant, J.Hernandez, R.Matarrita, T.McNamara, M.Diskerud, A.Pirlo, T.Taylor, K.Shelton, D.Villa
Referee: Alan Kelly