In game three of their four-match MLS homestand, Toronto welcome DC United to BMO Field on Saturday in the second meeting between both sides this year.
The Reds began this month by losing 2-0 at home to the New England Revolution, putting them second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference with five fewer points than DC in 12th, with the latter defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-1 last week.
Match preview
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Another rough opening 45 minutes for TFC last weekend saw them fall behind early and fail to recover, putting them nine points below the Eastern Conference playoff line.
After 11 matches played in the competition this season, Toronto have given up 16 goals domestically, 10 of which have come in the first half.
Robin Fraser continues to search for his first victory at BMO Field this year, with his team failing to score in their last four league contests at home.
Toronto have only been in front in one of their last eight Major League Soccer affairs played at home, claiming just two points during that run.
They have picked up at least a point in their last four domestic fixtures when being ahead at the interval, winning on three of those occasions.
TFC have won two of their previous three outings at BMO Field versus the Black and Red, with their last victory against them occurring in 2023 (2-1).
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There is still a long way to go, but DC United have taken a few baby steps forward over the past few weeks of their domestic campaign.
Troy Lesesne's men have won three of their previous four matches played across all competitions, advancing to the next stage of the US Open Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 triumph over Charleston Battery.
DC are unbeaten in their last 10 domestic encounters when netting multiple times, doing so on five occasions in MLS this year.
Two of their three league wins in 2025 have come after conceding the opening goal, while they have dropped seven points when drawing first blood this year.
While more results have gone their way lately, there is plenty of room for improvement defensively, with DC allowing a league-high 23 goals this season, 16 away from home.
The Black and Red have points in five of their previous six meetings with Toronto, winning this exact fixture last season by a 3-1 score.
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Team News
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Plenty of Toronto players were on the mend last weekend, including Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea, Deandre Kerr, Derrick Etienne and Markus Cimermancic, all of whom were dealing with lower-body injuries.
A lower back issue kept Luka Gavran out of the lineup against the Revs, while captain Jonathan Osorio was sidelined with an upper body injury.
There were four new faces in their starting 11 between matchday 10 and 11 of the MLS season, with Nicksoen Gomis, Matty Longstaff, Alonso Coello and Ola Brynhildsen entering the fray last Saturday.
In their victory versus the Rapids, DC were missing Gabriel Pirani due to a knee strain, Jackson Hopkins had a sore ankle and Lucas Bartlett was sidelined because of a calf injury.
Also out of the lineup for the Black and Red were Kristian Fletcher, who was sick, while Joao Peglow was missing with a thigh injury.
Christian Benteke scored his team-leading sixth goal of the MLS campaign last week, with the winner coming courtesy of Hosei Kijima, his second of 2025.
Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Thompson, Long, Gomis, Petretta; Flores; Bernardeschi, Longstaff, Coello, Corbeanu; Spicer
DC United possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Antley, MacNaughton, Peltola; Herrera, Servania, Enow, Schnegg; Badji, Benteke, Kijima
We say: Toronto 1-2 DC United
With Benteke back in the fold for the visitors, DC have their scoring spark back, while Toronto are lacking inspiration in the attacking third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
