Toronto FC will begin their 10th season in club history quite similar to last, while wishful thinking hopes for similar results.
The Reds managed nine points during their seven-game road trip to open the 2015 campaign due to BMO Field renovations. Now that BMO Field is receiving another make-over that includes roofing over the west, east and south sections, an eight-game road trip looms for a Toronto club who captured their franchise’s first playoff berth last season.
The mandate is clear. Team president Bill Manning is expecting simply eight points in eight games.
History suggests that opening the season in New York doesn’t spell good news for Toronto. The defensive prowess of newly-acquired Will Johnson, Steven Beitashour and the off-season’s most sought-after free-agent Drew Moor will look to slow down the New York Red Bulls offence that has simply dominated the Reds in the Big Apple.
The addition of Will Johnson should bolster the Reds
Denise McCooey/Prost Amerika
It’s scary enough that they haven’t won there since 2008 and with a 1-1-9 all-time record in New York – along with being on the wrong side of 31:7 goals for and against ratio – Toronto is desperately trying to, as Frank Sinatra says; make a brand new start of it in old New York. So you’re telling me there’s chance.
Fast-forward two months and matches against the New York City FC, Sporting Kansas FC, Colorado Rapids, New England Revolution, D.C. United, a playoff rematch with the Montreal Impact and finally the Portland Timbers, the Reds will finally get a chance to play in front of their home crowd. FC Dallas will be the designated dance partner May 7.
Following the season-opening road trip, BMO Field will play host to the next four for Toronto, highlighted by former Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo’s first game in Toronto when New York City FC come to visit May 18.
Despite entering their inaugural season in the MLS, New York City FC was able to keep the Reds out of the win column last year (0-1-2) after David Villa secured the season series with both goals in a 2-0 June victory.
The Canadian Soccer Association also announced Friday that the two-leg semi-final matchup between Toronto and the Impact will take place on June 1 in Toronto, while the second leg will be the following week in Montreal on the 8th.
As brutal as the opening stretch of the season will be, the schedule makers do in fact have a heart. TFC closes out five of their last six games at BMO Field, finishing off with a Sunday date against the Chicago Fire on October 23. Three of the six will also be against teams that didn’t qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs last season.
