Toronto continue to search for their first victory of the 2025 MLS campaign when they travel to America First Field for a date with Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
A late penalty goal conceded last weekend dropped Claret and Cobalt to 10th in the Western Conference with a 2-1 defeat at Nashville SC, while the Reds picked up a third successive draw, 0-0, at home to Minnesota United.
Match preview
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In the early stages of the 2025 regular season, RSL have lost their composure at the most inopportune moments of a match.
Pablo Mastroeni's men have conceded four goals in either first or second-half stoppage time this year, putting them one point back of the San Jose Earthquakes for the final wild-card playoff berth out West.
So far this year, Salt Lake have given up the third-most goals in the Western Conference (13), nine of which have come away from home.
At home this team have conceded a goal or fewer in three of their four matches played at America First Field in this competition, coming away with a 2-0 home triumph against the reigning champions the Los Angeles Galaxy the last time out.
On Saturday, they will try to avoid suffering consecutive regular season defeats for the first time all year, with this club only losing back-to-back MLS encounters 12 times since Mastroeni's appointment in 2021.
RSL have points in their last 11 meetings with Toronto in Salt Lake City, with Claret and Cobalt dropping points in only two of those instances.
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The Reds' defensive structure has improved over the past few weeks, but it has not helped them in the table as they remain one of three winless sides in the league so far, with the others being CF Montreal and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Robin Fraser's men have conceded just one goal in their last three games, though their expected goals is a mere 6.3, the second-lowest rate in MLS behind the New England Revolution (6.0).
A draw or defeat on Saturday would mark the first time since 2012 that this club would have failed to win their opening nine MLS affairs of a campaign.
Since the 2024 campaign, TFC are winless in their previous 13 regular-season contests, with just two points on the road this year.
Toronto have points in two of their previous three domestic away fixtures versus Western Conference opposition, with their last such victory coming at the Houston Dynamo last August (1-0).
Their only regular season triumph in Salt Lake City took place in their inaugural MLS campaign in 2007 when a goal 11 minutes from the end gave them a 2-1 win.
Team News
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In their defeat versus Nashville, Salt Lake were without Philip Quinton, Kobi Henry and Matthew Bell, all of whom are dealing with hamstring strains.
A shoulder issue kept goalkeeper Zac MacMath on the sidelines last week, while defender Javain Brown sat out because of a knee injury.
Dominik Marczuk, one of their off-season signings, scored his first goal with the club 12 minutes into their encounter last week, but it was not enough.
The Reds were missing Ola Brynhildsen, Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea, Deandre Kerr and Nicksoen Gomis against Minnesota with lower body injuries.
Their recent transfer signing Maxime Dominguez is still seeking his first appearance, coming on as a substitute in each of their previous two matches.
Sean Johnson only had to make one stop for his 17th clean sheet with TFC across all competitions, the third most among goalkeepers all-time for this club.
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
Cabral; Hidalgo, Glad, Vera, Katranis; Palacio, Eneli; Marczuk, Luna, Goncalves; Piol
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Thompson, Long, Rosted, Petretta; Flores, Osorio; Bernardeschi, Insigne, Corbeanu; Etienne
We say: Real Salt Lake 1-0 Toronto
Coming so close to winning can motivate you to fight harder, but it can also be demoralising, and we believe the Reds are experiencing the latter and will suffer because of that on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
