Toronto FC chasing critical points against visiting Crew

Toronto FC look to continue their push for their first playoff appearance since 2020 when they host the Columbus Crew on Wednesday.

A 2-1 victory over Austin FC last Saturday has Toronto (11-15-3, 36 points) thinking big even though the Crew (14-5-8, 50 points) have their own aspirations.

Toronto sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, which would put the Reds in the play-in match against D.C. United for the final spot in Round One. Toronto is two points back of Charlotte FC and four behind Orlando City SC and New York City FC for fifth.

With four wins in the past six matches, Toronto coach John Herdman is confident heading into the midweek match against the defending MLS Cup champions.

"We've got to embrace the challenge," he said. "It's an exciting opportunity to have Columbus at home. Not many people give you much chance against that team, the quality they have."

Toronto will go for the win without defender Shane O'Neill because of a yellow-card accumulation suspension.

The Crew know overtaking Inter Miami for the Supporters' Shield is unlikely with a 12-point deficit and seven matches left, but making up the two points needed to pass second-place FC Cincinnati is a possibility considering Columbus has played one fewer match.

That's why the scoreless draw at Cincinnati last Saturday was such a disappointment.

Still, the Crew clinched a playoff spot. While it was a foregone conclusion, head coach Wilfried Nancy was pleased, nonetheless.

"We cannot take everything for granted because it's been a long season, this is not done and the players are real competitors," he said. "They deserve it. ... Now we're going to be able to go all in and to push a little bit more."

Crew midfielder Alexandru Matan agreed.

"Being there is the first step," he said. "Now the sky is the limit. We're going to go like we went last season with the same amount of belief. Hopefully, we're going to go win it again."

--Field Level Media