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Toronto FC Vs New York City FC: 3 things to watch for – Jozy Altidore’s return?

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Toronto FC, Ayo Akinola (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Toronto FC, Ayo Akinola (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 21: Ayo Akinola #20 of Toronto FC warms up prior to a Group C match against the New England Revolution as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 21, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 21: Ayo Akinola #20 of Toronto FC warms up prior to a Group C match against the New England Revolution as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 21, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

On Sunday night, Toronto FC face New York City FC in an enticing MLS is Back Round of 16 tie. Here are three things to watch for.

After very different group stage experiences, Toronto FC and New York City FC face one another in the Round of 16 MLS is Back Tournament on Sunday night. TFC went unbeaten through the group stages and were unfortunate not to win all three of their matches. NYCFC, meanwhile, won just their last game, securing their only win of the 2020 season thus far.

Entering the competition, both were viewed among the very favourites. They were both elite teams in 2019 and entered 2020 with high hopes indeed. However, with NYCFC struggling in the group, this intriguing match-up comes earlier in the knockout stages than first expected.

Here are three things to watch for.

REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 21: Jozy Altidore #17 of Toronto FC fist bumps Matt Turner #30 of New England Revolution after their 0-0 draw in a Group C match as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 21, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 21: Jozy Altidore #17 of Toronto FC fist bumps Matt Turner #30 of New England Revolution after their 0-0 draw in a Group C match as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 21, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3. Will Jozy Altidore return?

Jozy Altidore made his first appearance of the MLS is Back Tournament from off the bench in Toronto FC’s draw with the New England Revolution last week. The American had missed the first two matches as he built up his fitness. TFC, though, did not miss him one bit thanks to the outstanding work of homegrown centre-forward, Ayo Akinola.

Akinola is a more mobile, stouter option through the middle, though he also provides the same brutish force as Altidore, especially when running into the channels. Defenders are scared to get too tight to him as he will roll past, while if they stand off, he can shoot from distance or combine with the plethora of attacking players in the team.

Altidore, you would expect, would slot straight into the team, but Akinola and his competition-leading five goals is almost impossible to drop. The pair played together when Altidore came on against the Revolution, but the 4-2-3-1 formation has been kind to Greg Vanney. As such, it presents a conundrum that does not have an ideal solution.

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