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Toronto FC heads into Saturday’s match against Charlotte FC riding a wave, though not exactly a tsunami.
Admirable nevertheless, given the roster situation in the past weeks.
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The Reds (W1 L1 D3) are unbeaten in four straight matches (W1 D3) following a season-opening defeat at DC United on Feb .25 at Audi Field. Toronto has also kept consecutive clean sheets after recording just three in its previous 45 MLS matches dating back to September 2021.
TFC winger Lorenzo Insigne has not played since opening day at DC United, when he hurt his groin. He was seen training on his own on Wednesday at the BMO Training Ground, which is usually an indication that he is getting better, but not quite ready for match action on Saturday at BMO Field. First-year TFC forward Adama Diomande will also likely be unavailable for Saturday’s match (lower body).
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty was named to the MLS Team of the Week after his solid performance in a 0-0 draw at San Jose last Saturday night. The 18-year-old, playing in his first MLS game this season, filled in at right-back for Richie Laryea, who was with Canada for Concacaf Nations League. The Reds were without Laryea and four others (Jonathan Osorio, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ayo Akinola and Tomas Romero) for the San Jose game as a result of being called up for international duty.
Charlotte has one win, one draw and three losses and sit second-last in the MLS Eastern Conference. ‘The Crown’ came back last Saturday in a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls but may be without centre back Guzman Corujo (right knee surgery), goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina (back surgery) and midfielder Ashley Westwood (right thigh) for the TFC match. Charlotte will also be without midfielder Brandt Bronico. Bronico was issued a one-match suspension and an undisclosed fine for serious foul play that occurred during Charlotte’s match against the Red Bulls.
TFC won both meetings with Charlotte last season, recording a 4-0 victory at BMO Field and a 2-0 win on the road in August. Charlotte was the only team that Toronto defeated twice last season. Federico Bernardeschi scored in both of Toronto’s wins against Charlotte. Beginning with the second of those games, on Aug. 22, Bernardeschi had a hand (or goal or assist) in nine of TFC’s last 15 goals. He has two goals and two assists in five games this season.
Charlotte picked up a win in its last away match, a 2-1 victory at Orlando on March 18. The win was Charlotte’s fourth road victory in MLS to go along with two draws and 13 defeats. Charlotte has never managed to avoid defeat in back-to-back games. Enzo Copetti has scored in both of Charlotte’s away matches this season, the second player in club history to score in two straight road games (A Shinyashiki did it in June-July 2022). Copetti could become the third player in MLS history to score in his first three road games in the league, after Cucho Hernandez (2022) and Juan Pablo Angel (2007).
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