Daniel Lovitz has recovered from the concussion suffered on opening day in New York. Jonathan Osorio will likely be available for selection after picking up a knee strain prior to the defeat against Sporting Kansas City last time out. If so, Grey Vanney will have a full squad to pick from for the first this season.
Colorado is also 1-1-1 after three games. In that time, Toronto have four goals to the Rapid’s two but Colorado has still registered more shots on target (40 to 34). This is largely due to the pragmatic approach TFC have taken on the road so expect them to line up sitting deep, look to take advantage on the counter.
Despite the satisfactory points tally from the first three of the eight road games the Reds will play before the home opener at BMO Field on May 7, it’s been a question of what might have been. If contentious refereeing decisions in each game had gone the other way, Greg Vanney’s side could be sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Division.
Particularly grating to TFC fans, Brad Davis’s winner for Kansas City came on the back of what many saw as a foul on Reds defender Justin Morrow, not called by referee Baldomero Toledo. Ismail Elfath will take change of the whistle this weekend.
Colorado will be without their Designated Player Kevin Doyle. The Republic of Ireland striker suffered a gruesome leg injury on international duty against Switzerland that could keep him out for up to seven matches.
Fellow DP Shkelzen Gashi is also a doubt for the Rapids with a minor calf injury picked up in training with the Albanian national team.
Marco Pappa and Michael Bradley will face off in midfield for the third time in nine days after the United States and Guatemala split a two game World Cup qualifier series.
In last year’s only meeting between the sides, Toronto came out on top, winning 3-1 at BMO Field in September.
Projected Line-ups
Toronto: C.Irwin, D.Moor, D.Perquis, S.Beitashour, J.Morrow, M.Delgado, M.Bradley, W.Johnson, T.Endoh, S.Giovinco, J.Altidore
Colorado Rapids: Z.MacMath, M,Williams, J.Watts, A.Sjöberg, M.Burch; M.Azira, S.Cronin, D.Badji, D.Powers, M.Pappa L.Solignac
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Broadcast: TSN2