Toronto FC take on DC United in MLS battle for survival

In soccer, as in life, the numbers not always tell the story. But the closer we have been to Toronto FC through this MLS season, the surer we can be: we are looking at a team standing at an interesting moment. This Saturday, BMO Field will host one of the thrilling encounters between Toronto FC and DC United-two teams vastly different in goal but alike: survive and advance.

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BMO Field-Canadian Fortress

BMO Field has always been a strong ally for Toronto FC. With six home wins this season, the Canadian side remains competitive, at least in their own backyard. In fact, since the founding of Major League Soccer in 1996, TFC has compiled a respectable record of 121 wins in regular-season home matches. This Saturday will be no different, and Toronto will have to make their stadium a true fortress to beat DC United.

Historically, this has been a pretty even affair, with TFC winning 12, losing 17, and drawing 12 of 41 meetings. In recent encounters in Toronto, though, the Reds have come out on top, winning the last two at BMO Field. The most recent, in May 2023, was decided by goals from Deandre Kerr and Kosi Thompson, sealing a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Toronto FC’s Rollercoaster Season

While Toronto FC has shown strength at home, this season has continued to see ups and downs. With the guidance of head coach Jon Herdman, there have been instances of instability with the team. An attack led by Federico Bernardeschi isn't the most efficient, with just 35 goals scored this season. In the last five games, the Reds have found the net a mere four times, raising concerns among fans.

But Toronto has been resilient. Their 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo in the previous round perfectly attested to that fact. From a Bernardeschi corner, Prince Owusu gave TFC three important away points. That victory also marked their sixth clean sheet of the season, a welcome relief for a backline that has often leaked in pressure situations.

DC United: Desperate to Survive

Meanwhile, DC United heads into Toronto in an even more precarious situation. Stuck dead last in the Eastern Conference standings with a paltry 26 points this season, the two opponents couldn't have entered the matchup with a much different taste in their mouths. The 4-3 loss to FC Dallas in the last round was a gut buster, one that left them in a four-way tie for last place in the conference.

Saturday's encounter is one of survival for DC United. Head coach Troy Lesesne will know that, with urgency needed to keep playoff hopes alive, his side needs a win. In that mission, much will be expected from the team's assist leader, midfielder Jared Stroud. With nine assists this season, Stroud has tried to keep the team afloat while the defense tries to find once-regular consistency that has been missing lately in the campaign.

Anticipation

This fixture between Toronto FC and DC United does indeed shape up as one of those clashes of styles: while TFC rely on the strength of their home field and the skill of key players to nudge them towards building a win, DC United will be relying on resilience and relentless pursuit of points to lift them off the bottom of the table.

Both teams have met this season, with the game finishing 2-2. DC United was able to miraculously turn it around in the last minutes through the goals of Mateusz Klich and Ted Ku-DiPietro, canceling out the early lead by Toronto. This result told something: how dangerous an opponent DC United is, even in almost impossible situations.

What's at Stake?

With the MLS season entering its final stretch, every point becomes invaluable. A win on Saturday will solidify a position in the standings for Toronto FC and keep their playoff hopes alive. Three points for DC United mean so much more than a win; they would keep the dream of seeing postseason action alive.

Both sides will be under pressure, but Toronto FC clearly comes into this as the favourite match, not only by virtue of home-field advantage but also due to the atmosphere BMO Field provides. However, with their fighting spirit, DC United can easily cause an upset and make things hard for the Canadians.