Preview: Toronto FC vs. DC United | MLS is Back Tournament, Group C

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group C, Matchday 3
Toronto FC vs. D.C. United
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Mon., July 13 – 9:00 AM ET

TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; TSN and TVA Sports in Canada

STREAMING: ESPN App in USA; TSN App in Canada

UPDATE: This match was rescheduled from Sunday, July 12.

Matchday 5 of the MLS is Back Tournament will get underway on July 12 with a Group C clash between Toronto FC and D.C. United, a rematch of the 2019 MLS Cup playoff match that saw the Reds romp to a 5-1 win in extra time.

Toronto FC come into the tournament at 1W-0L-1D after a 2-2 road draw against the San Jose Earthquakes in their season opener that saw them relinquish the lead in second-half stoppage time. They also registered a 1-0 home victory over New York City FC on March 7. 

Both those matches were played without the services of midfield linchpin Michael Bradley, who was recovering from an ankle injury. Bradley used the league's hiatus to heal up, however, so Greg Vanney's side should be at full strength and ready to resume their status as one of the league's top teams.

D.C. United stumbled in their first match of the season, falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids at home. But they were able to bounce back and take a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over expansion side Inter Miami CF in their following match that was also played at Audi Field. In both those early season matches, it was evident that D.C. were still working on their on-field identity while they integrated new players following the departure of Wayne Rooney. 

Toronto FC

The Reds are a well-oiled machine under manager Greg Vanney, with a handful of starters featuring for several seasons. Added to that core is a new star in Pablo Piatti, who arrived from Spain's La Liga and took advantage of the COVID-induced layoff to recover from an injury. His play has caught Vanney's eye: "Pablo looks great," he said recently.

It remains to be seen what role star forward Jozy Altidore will assume after he needed a two-week isolation period in the wake of his return to Toronto from his Florida home.

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Achara (M) - ACL surgery
  • OUT: Jonathan Osorio (F) - quad strain
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:  None
• International duty:  None

D.C. United

The team coached by Ben Olsen hasn't been shy about its desire to exact some revenge for their 2019 postseason elimination at the hands of Toronto FC. In that game, the Reds scored four unanswered goals in extra time to oust D.C. 5-1 in Wayne Rooney's final match in MLS.

The club sought to replace Rooney in 2020 with the arrival of a few fresh faces, including new starters Julian Gressel and Peruvian international Edison Flores. Another newcomer, 35-year-old Federico Higuain, used the four-month layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic to regain full fitness after the ACL tear he suffered last year. And recent arrival Erik Sorga, an Estonian goal scorer, might be ready for.a bigger role in the Orlando tournament now that he's had time to acclimate. 

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - ACL surgery
  • OUT: Chris Seitz (GK) - calf injury
  • OUT: Emmanuel Boateng (M) - hamstring injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup

• Toronto FC: 10 wins, 43 goals
• D.C. United: 14 wins, 51 goals
• 8 draws

Officials

• Referee: Fotis Bazakos
• Assistant Referees: Felisha Mariscal, Apolinar Mariscal
• 4th Official: Guido Gonzales Jr.
• VAR: Rosendo Mendoza

Jerseys