The Fire will conclude their three-game road swing this Saturday as they take on the first head coach in Fire history, Bob Bradley, and Toronto FC north of the border.
TFC are coming off a 2-2 draw at D.C. United, in addition to a midweek Canadian Championship game against the Halifax Wanderers in which they won 2-1.
Here’s what to look for in the Gerber Collision and Glass Scouting Report…
YOUNG, TALENTED, BUT STRUGGLING
It’s no secret that Toronto have been struggling as of late, as they haven’t won a league match in their last six.
They’ve also been dealing with some key injuries to the likes of centerback Chris Mavinga, 2020 MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo, and talented winger Jacob Shaffelburg.
In addition, this is a very young Toronto squad as well. There are a number of teenagers who have been getting a lot of minutes recently, like Ralph Priso, Kosi Thompson, Jayden Nelson, and Deandre Kerr just to name a few.
This is all to say nothing of the inevitable arrival of Italian superstar Lorenzo Insigne, who is supposed to make his MLS debut – potentially - at Soldier Field when Toronto travel to Chicago on July 13.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
TFC have been setting up in a 4-3-3 as of late with Carlos Salcedo and Lukas Macnaughton as the centerbacks with Chris Mavinga sidelined due to injury. Michael Bradley will drop deep to start the buildup, and loves to combine with Canadian international Jonathan Osorio, who scored an 89th minute equalizer in D.C. last weekend.
Ralph Priso and Deandre Kerr have also been sharing the load in the middle of the field.
Jesus Jiménez has been one of the lone bright spots for TFC in the No. 9 position. He has already posted seven goals, but he does so much more than score. He is great in hold up play, can link up, and obviously can finish. I remember him being very involved in everything Toronto did when these two teams played during preseason a few months ago, and I could tell then that he was going to be a proper striker in this league.
Ayo Akinola has returned from his ACL injury last summer, made his first start of the season in D.C., and scored as well. He is typically a No. 9 as well, but played to Jiménez’s right while the 19 year-old Jayden Nelson was to the Spaniard’s left.
Insigne will make that front three really tick when he gets to Canada this summer, but - for now - with Akinola healthy and scoring, it is still a dangerous look.
TFC have the capability and skill to break you down in a low block and get out in transition, but it has obviously been their defending that has hurt them.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Given the fact Bradley’s crew played a midweek game with some of their typical starters in a cup competition, I expect Chicago to come out and try to smother the home side.
An early goal for Ezra’s boys could prove to be vital, and with a full week’s rest after playing three games in eight days, Chicago should be buzzing and ready to go.
Toronto’s defense has proved to be porous so far this season, but - as we know - scoring goals hasn’t come all that easy to the Fire. With that said, we are starting to see more of Jairo Torres, Chris Mueller and Xherdan Shaqiri on the field at the same time, which will yield more chances.
These three will find themselves with time, space, and chances, and it will simply come down to finishing.
Toronto has been struggling like Chicago in league play and both teams are looking to put an end to a poor run of form. Something will have to give at BMO Field on Saturday. Tony and I will have you covered on WGN and CF97 Live at kickoff at 6 p.m. CT.
