TFC, however, may have caught Sporting at just the right time. Not only is the match versus RSL looming, KC have lost two important starters in the lead-up to their visit to Toronto. Midfielder Roger Espinoza fractured his foot in SKC’s match versus Houston and co-leading-scorer Dom Dwyer will be out for yellow card accumulation.
Admittedly, Toronto’s already wobbly defence will be down regular veteran starter Damien Perquis, who has also been ruled out due to yellow card accumulation. On the other hand, with the return of Jozy Altidore from suspension and Michael Bradley from injury, the Reds will have their full complement of designated players available for the first time in over a month. The last time the American duo lined-up with Sebastian Giovinco was on June 27th versus D.C. United.
Another superlative laden performance from Giovinco in midweek has more than cemented the Italian’s status amongst TFC supporters as the best player to pull on the club’s colours. Three more goals mean that he has taken over first place in scoring in the league, with 16 goals, while also reaching double digits in assists with 10.
Ahead of Giovinco on the assists list, however, is a player that the Reds would do well to remember on Saturday. American Benny Feilhaber is having an MVP-calibre season of his own at the centre of KC’s midfield. He’s added seven goals – more than one of them just as spectacular as anything Giovinco has produced in MLS – to his eleven assists, while not shirking defensive responsibility.
In Espinoza’s absent Paolo Nagamura will have to fill in and it will be interesting to see whether this switch limits Feilhaber’s ability to influence the game. With the threat of Michael Bradley making runs in support of Giovinco and Altidore, one would suspect that Nagamura will have his hands full. As we are so often told, it is easy to overlook the contribution a solid defensive midfielder makes to both defense and offense.
Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney stuck with Jackson at right back for the match against New York City, even with Ashtone Morgan’s return from injury and availability at left back. The Brazilian had a second straight good performace and, forced into a change due to Perquis’ suspension, Vanney may seek what continuity he can keep along the rest of the backline by persisting with the approach. Warren Creavalle’s trade to Philadelphia means that that experiment is finally definitively over, but it’s not clear whether Josh Williams is meant to be cover or a first choice option now that it has been confirmed that Mark Bloom will not play in 2015. Regardless, one way or another, TFC will be trying a brand new line-up for the first stime as their other newcomer Ahmed Kantari is yet to start without Perquis beside him.
The last time Toronto FC beat Sporting Kansas City was back in Ryan Nelsen’s first match in charge. There has been heartbreak and agony since then, with wins turning into draws, and draws into losses. Meanwhile, Toronto have yet to find consistency since spring turned into summer. Ending both those trends is well within the Reds control this weekend. If TFC want to be considered actual contenders, rather than just another team who’ll benefit from a weak Eastern Conference, this is precisely the sort of match they need to win.