World News – CA – Toronto FC learns rest of revamped MLS schedule, with busy October

Toronto FC learned on Tuesday what lay in store for the rest of the pandemic-reshaped MLS regular season

Seven games in October and two in November Six ‘home’ games in East Hartford, Conn A steady diet of Eastern Conference opponents

On the bright side, coach Greg Vanney praised the facilities at their home in Hartford, speaking about the hotel and team food, as well as the Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, where TFC will play at home games due to border restrictions limiting US teams from the north

« The configuration was excellent No complaints, « Vanney said on Tuesday » Obviously we’re a long way from family and all of that, which we have to deal with and overcome while we’re on the road « 

As Toronto (6-2-4) prepared for their third meeting with New York City FC this year – Wednesday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ – the league released the final piece of the season’s schedule regular

Toronto to play 23 game season instead of par 34 TFC to end regular season at New York Red Bulls on decision day, November 8

Unless something drastically changes with COVID-19, TFC will end the regular season after playing just four of those 23 games at BMO Field

The New Yorkers are undefeated in six games (4-0-2) – a streak that saw them concede just two goals NYCFC ranks second in the league in defense, with 075 goals per game, which helped to cover up the fact that he is tied for 22nd in attack with an average of 083 goals per game

Toronto, on the other hand, is tied for ninth on offense (167 goals per game) and seventh on defense (117)

« They are a good team They have quality players, » said Vanney « They have a good structure that they play from. I think defensively they have become a little more aggressive from the front than they are. were not at the start of the season « 

Toronto beat NYCFC 1-0, on an 81st-minute goal from rookie Ifunanyachi Achara, when the two teams met at BMO Field on March 7 before the pandemic ended. New Yorkers took revenge at the MLS is Back tournament in Florida, sending Toronto 3-1 in the round of 16 on July 26 (a game that didn’t count towards the regular season standings)

« They wanted the game more than we wanted the game We’ve been outclassed in too many situations for too long throughout the game, « said Vanney. » It’s something that needs to change « 

Toronto ended NYCFC playoff hopes last year with a 2-1 victory in the Eastern Conference semifinals, thanks to a late penalty by Alejandro Pozuelo The teams also met at the same stage of the 2016 playoffs, Toronto winning the two-game draw 7-0 overall thanks to a 5-0 bombing at Yankee Stadium

After shooting himself in the foot with two brilliant goals in a 2-2 draw with DC United last time around, Toronto is looking to tighten up its game against NYCFC

« Even if they don’t score a lot of goals, they have good players, » said Vanney « We have to deal with these players. We have to manage their movements and protect our goal and not give a very good nonsense team

« We need to be more reliable to create pieces Make it harder for teams to work to score goals »

« A tough game, a good team, » said Ronny Delia, Norwegian NYCFC coach. « Everyone knows what Toronto is It’s going to be a big test for us »

After Wednesday, Toronto will face Columbus, Philadelphia, Red Bulls, Atlanta, NYCFC and Miami in Hartford with away games against New England, FC Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Red Bulls

« Hotel life… The layout is nice, the hotel is nice It’s just a long road trip, » said goalkeeper Quentin Westberg, like Vanney, father of four.

Vanney says the hope is that Toronto can return for a few days – in quarantine – if the schedule allows The club have a five-day window between the Sept 27 game against Columbus and the Oct 3 fixture against Philadelphia, both in Hartford

« That would be a way of ‘catching your breath, saying hello and then walking away, » Vanney said

SHAPE: Toronto has only collected four of the last 12 points available, losing to Vancouver, sharing two games with Montreal and equaling DC Uni NYCFC is undefeated in six (4-0-2)

INJURY REPORT: Both teams miss key players with Toronto captain Michael Bradley and NYCFC playmaker Maxi Moralez in rehabilitation for knee injuries Toronto forward Jozy Altidore suffers from foot discomfort

We strive to achieve the highest ethical standards in everything we do Our newsroom abides by the RTNDA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and follows the collection of styles of the Canadian press

Toronto FC, MLS, Greg Vanney, New York City FC