Toronto FC vs. Orlando City SC | MLS Match Preview

#TORvORL: TFC, OCSC scrap for much-needed points (4 ET; TSN, MLS LIVE)

Toronto FC vs. Orlando City SC, August 22, 2015

TORONTO FC vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
BMO FIELD, Toronto, Ontario

August 22, 2015 (WEEK 25, MLS Game #248)
4 p.m. ET (TSN, MLS LIVE)

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Itís a critical match in the hunt for playoff places in the Eastern Conference as Toronto FC entertain Orlando City SC on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. Toronto FC come into the game in fifth place in the East – just three points ahead of the drop zone – following a 3-0 defeat the New York Red Bulls last weekend for a second consecutive reversal. Orlando City are tied for that last playoff position with two other teams, their winless run now at three games following a 4-0 defeat at Seattle Sounders FC last Sunday.


  • Toronto FC have lost back-to-back games for the first time in league play since losing four in a row March 14-April 18, falling 3-0 at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening. TFC have allowed three goals or more in five of their last seven games.
  • Orlando City were shut out for a second consecutive match and saw their winless run stretched to three games, losing 4-0 at Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday afternoon. OCSC has allowed four or more goals three times in the last five games.
  • The teams are meeting for the third time this season, the second in a three-week span. Toronto FC have won both encounters in Orlando City’s expansion season: Jozy Altidore scored a pair of goals in the second half to lead TFC to a 2-0 win April 26 at the Citrus Bowl, and Sebastian Giovinco netted a hat trick to lead TFC to a 4-1 win Aug. 5 at BMO Field.


DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)

REFEREE: Jose Carlos Rivero. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Richard Gamache; 4th: Mathieu Bourdeau
MLS Career: 52 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 12; pens: 25


SUSPENDED: ORL: Darwin Ceren (through August 23); Tyler Turner (through August 23)


WARNINGS
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: TOR: Nick Hagglund • ORL: Darwin Ceren, Carlos Rivas
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: TOR: Collen Warner • ORL: Kevin Molino, Brek Shea, Rafael Ramos, Seb Hines, Luke Boden
DISABLED LIST: TOR: Mark Bloom (season-ending injury) • ORL: Kevin Molino (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none


HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Toronto FC 2 wins, 6 goals • Orlando City SC 0 wins, 1 goal • Ties 0
AT TORONTO (1 meeting): Toronto FC 1 win, 4 goals • Orlando City SC 0 wins, 1 goal • Ties 0


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