The New York Red Bulls will look to continue their longstanding dominance over Toronto FC on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.
New York is 8-0-3 in the last 11 regular-season matches against Toronto, dating to the 2019 season. All-time, the Red Bulls are 17-2-2 in home games against the Canadian side.
The Red Bulls enter Saturday’s game on a three-match (1-0-2) unbeaten streak, though they had to twice score equalizers in last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Orlando City FC. After Dennis Gjengaar scored New York’s second goal in the 47th minute, teammate Peter Stroud said he thought the Red Bulls could’ve applied more pressure in the rest of the second half.
“I think these games, especially late, especially at home, we can use the energy of the crowd more and push to get the three points,” Stroud said.
Toronto FC has an 0-3-1 record in their first four matches. Last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire saw Toronto take its first lead of the season, but the Fire went ahead for good before the end of the first half.
Toronto has allowed 10 goals, tied for the most in the league. New York is tied for the fewest goals allowed of any Easter Conference club, with only three concessions in four games.
“[The Red Bulls] want you to play in certain areas, and they make it difficult for you when you do,” Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser said. “And I think as much as possible, we have to be really clean on the ball. We have to be very mindful of the passes that we play to each other, certainly in the middle of the field.”
Key players on both teams will miss the match due to international call-ups. New York will be without starting goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, defender Omar Valencia and midfielder Gjengaar. Toronto will miss team captain Jonathan Osorio, midfielder Deybi Flores and striker Tyrese Spicer.
Forward Ola Brynhildsen also won’t play, Fraser said. Brynhildsen was a late scratch from last Saturday’s lineup due to a lower-body injury that continues to linger.
–Field Level Media
