Toronto seek victory over lowly Fire to improve playoff chances

Field Level Media|published: Fri 27th September, 17:57 2024

Sep 25, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi (10) dribbles the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe (3) during the second half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images

Toronto FC aren't making things easy down the stretch in a quest for the playoffs.

The Chicago Fire, meanwhile, are seemingly limping to the finish of another disappointing season.

Each side looks to avoid a third straight defeat when they meet Saturday night in Bridgeview, Ill.

Entering this matchday, Toronto (11-17-3, 36 points) sits eighth in the Eastern Conference, still in playoff position with three matches to play. However, there are five clubs in position to pass TFC in the standings.

It hasn't helped that Toronto followed a 3-1-0 stretch by suffering consecutive 2-0 league losses versus Columbus and Colorado. Toronto also fell to rival Vancouver -- via penalty kicks -- during Wednesday's Canadian Championship.

"Whether it's the accuracy of our shots top of the box, whether it's the crosses getting picked off front post or just not being there in the right moment, it's been a consistent theme across the two games now," Toronto coach John Herdman said.

"We just can't find our way to win a football match."

Toronto has been held to two or fewer goals in 16 straight MLS matches. That includes a 4-1 home loss to Chicago on June 15. Lorenzo Insigne (four goals in 2024) scored Toronto's lone goal but has not tallied in his 11 league contests since.

Teammate Federico Bernardeschi has a team-leading eight goals but none in his last nine. He did not feature in the season's first meeting with Chicago (7-16-8, 29 points), which sits second-to-last in the East.

The Fire have earned four points from their last seven matches and also have been blanked while losing two in a row against Nashville SC and CF Montreal.

The Fire are slated to miss the playoffs for a seventh straight campaign.

"The guys and I are not happy with the situation we find ourselves in," midfielder Gaston Gimenez said. "So, we have to go out there every game and give it everything we have, leave it on the field."

The Fire's budding star Brian Gutierrez (six goals, three assists) recorded an assist at Toronto this season.

--Field Level Media

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