MLS Orlando City SC

Know Your Opponent: Toronto FC

Published on May 18, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


Orlando City (2-0-3, 9 pts) will welcome in temporary neighbors Toronto FC (1-2-2, 5 pts) this Saturday night at Exploria Stadium. Set to kick off at 7 p.m. EST, the game will be televised locally with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV. Radio coverage will be available from 6:30 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and Acción 97.9 FM and 810 AM in Spanish.

Here's everything you need to know about Toronto FC:

Key Transactions and Player News

Key Additions - Head Coach Chris Armas (New York Red Bulls), LW Yeferson Soteldo (Santos), LB Kemar Lawrence (Anderlecht), CF Dom Dwyer (Orlando City)

Key Departures - LW Pablo Piatti (Elche), CB Laurent Ciman (retirement)

Player News - 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo has yet to play this season, but Chris Armas says the DP No. 10 is "close" to making a return to the pitch. In his absence, Armas has played around with different formations and solutions, including using target forward Jozy Altidore as an attacking midfielder at Yankee Stadium last weekend.

Winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who scored the equalizer in that game to earn TFC a point, was named to the MLS Team of the Week bench. Former Lion Dom Dwyer made his Toronto debut in the match, coming off the bench to play 21 minutes.

Take a look at Toronto FC's full roster here.

Team Form

Toronto FC struggled to just one point in their first three matches of the regular season, dealing with a lengthy injury list and the strain of mid-week CONCACAF Champions League action. Since falling in the quarterfinals of that competition to Cruz Azul, the Reds' league form has improved, with a win over Columbus and the aforementioned draw against NYCFC in the past week.

Head-to-Head

Toronto has been something of a boogeyman over the years for Orlando City. The Reds have won eight of the 12 all-time meetings between the sides, with the Lions taking just two wins and two draws in the series. The two clubs last met all the way back in August 2019, when Benji Michel scored to help Orlando City earn a 1-1 away draw at BMO Field in Toronto.

Rasmussen University Fact

While Toronto has had the upper hand on Orlando over the years, Oscar Pareja has had the upper hand on Toronto. Papi is 5-2-0 in his career against Toronto, including a 4-1-0 mark against the Reds while at FC Dallas. Saturday will be the first time Pareja coaches against Toronto with Orlando City and his first meeting with the Reds since 2018.

Check out the Orlando City SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 18, 2021


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