TORONTO—Sunday’s match at BMO Field between Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls is one of the biggest games of the Major League Soccer season for both clubs.
At the moment New York (12-9-8) sits second in the Eastern Conference, two points and one place behind leaders Toronto (13-8-7), who has a game in hand on the Red Bulls. We’re in the home stretch of the MLS campaign, so this match could go a long way in deciding who finishes first place in the East at the end of the regular season.
And while the Red Bulls will have the league’s top scorer available in Bradley Wright-Phillips (18 goals in 29 games), TFC could be missing Sebastian Giovinco (third in MLS scoring with 16 goals in 26 matches) for Sunday’s marquee contest.
Giovinco is still dealing with injuries—he suffered strains in his quadriceps and adductor during the Toronto’s 1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact in late August. The Italian has missed one game, last week’s 2-1 win away to the Chicago Fire, and even though he trained with the team on Friday he is being listed as day-to-day ahead of Sunday’s affair vs. the Red Bulls.
“He got through good portions of the session today,” coach Greg Vanney told reporters after Friday’s practice. “Obviously with all of this we just want to see how he responds tomorrow and then we’ll make a decision [Saturday] based on how he feels coming out of today.”
Considering that Giovinco only returned to training late this week, don’t expect Vanney to rush the Italian back into the line-up. The Reds managed to win on the road last week without him, and Vanney has other options at the forward position, including Jozy Altidore who has six goals in his last eight games.
So all things considered there’s no reason why Vanney shouldn’t give Giovinco extra time off—and from the way TFC’s coach was talking, it sounded as though he’s going to let his star striker fully recuperate and won’t select him for duty until he’s 100 percent fit.
“He was good today and very active [in Friday’s practice]. He looked positive, so as long as we don’t get any setbacks between now and tomorrow we’ll make a decision then. But we’re going to make a wise decision, either way it goes,” Vanney said.
One player who for sure won’t play on Sunday is Canadian forward Tosaint Ricketts—he has been ruled with a groin injury he picked up last week in Chicago. Ricketts has been a solid addition since joining Toronto as a free agent singing in mid-July, scoring two goals in eight appearances (three as a starter).
Ricketts didn’t train with the team at all this week. The hope is that the Canadian international will only miss one game.
“We’re hopeful for next week, but until we get him on the field and really get him moving and training then we can make some decisions then,” Vanney said. “We’ll assess him this week. We’ll push him next week and see where we’re at.”
Defender Mark Bloom is dealing with an ankle injury, but he should return to full training next week, and he could be available to play when TFC hosts the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 24 in the second match of their four-game homestand.
Canadian midfielder Jay Chapman is still out due to an MCL tear, and is likely a week away from returning to full training. Canadian defender Ashtone Morgan remains out long-term with a stress fracture in his foot.
Toronto FC can officially clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday. Finishing in the top two in the East is the goal, as that would see Toronto earn a first-round bye and secure home-field advantage in the two-legged Eastern Conference semifinals.
With five of the Reds’ last six games of the season at home, TFC controls its fate in the battle for top spot in the East.
“Things are in our hands playing at home in front of our fans. It’s up to us to make this thing happen and get results. There’s really not any excuses and we know that,” Altidore said.
This is the third and final game of the year between these two clubs. TFC earned a 2-0 win in New York on March 6 on the opening day of the season. The Red Bulls gained some revenge via a 3-0 win at home on May 28.
Check back with Sportsnet.ca on Saturday as I will have a comprehensive preview of Toronto FC’s home game against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
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