Nashville SC travel to face Toronto FC at a crucial moment in the season. Toronto FC are coming off a 4-1 home defeat to the Chicago Fire, and have won just two MLS matches since May 4. With eight defeats, they have the second-highest number of losses in the Eastern Conference. Nashville SC, on the other hand, have emerged victorious in their last three meetings with Toronto, securing at least a point in each match.
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Italian forward Federico Bernardeschi, who was suspended for the last match against Nashville, will be back. A starter in all 15 MLS matches he has played this season, Bernardeschi has been an attacking force with seven goals and four assists. On the Nashville side, goalkeeper Joe Willis has been a wall, going five games without conceding a goal this season, his second shutout against the New York Red Bulls this season.
Nashville SC are ninth in the Eastern Conference with 20 points, while Toronto FC are seventh with 24 points, a position that gives them direct access to the playoffs. If the season ended today, Nashville SC would be in the playoffs, highlighting the importance of this direct clash.
The match promises to be interesting, with Bernardeschi trying to overcome Nashville's solid defense and Willis looking for another shutout. This game could define the course of the season for both teams, with Toronto trying to recover from a difficult run and Nashville looking to consolidate their position among the best in the conference. It will be a duel of strategy and skill, with both teams desperately needing all three points.