Match Preview: Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC
October 29, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release
ATLANTA - Atlanta United returns to action in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Wednesday night when it hosts No. 4 seed Toronto FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Eastern Conference Final. The match, presented by SunTrust and Georgia Power, is set to kick-off at 8 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN and TVAS in the United States and Canada. For all statistics and media information, please visit our Media Resources page and Game Notes.
Atlanta defeated Philadelphia Union 2-0 Oct. 24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium behind goals from Julian Gressel and Josef Martinez. It was Gressel's first career playoff goal and Martinez's fifth. Brad Guzan kept his second consecutive clean sheet of the 2019 postseason and Atlanta's sixth clean sheet in its eight all-time playoff matches. Atlanta defeated New England Revolution 1-0 Oct. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the first round.
Toronto advanced past D.C. United 5-1 Oct. 19 at BMO Field in the first round and most recently defeated top seed New York City FC 2-1 at Citi Field on Oct. 23 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Alejandro Pozuelo scored both goals for Toronto, including the game-winning penalty in the 90th minute. The Spanish midfielder recorded double-digit goals and assists and joins Atlanta's duo of Martinez and Miles Robinson on the MLS Best XI.
This will be the seventh meeting all-time between the two sides and the first in MLS Cup Playoffs. Atlanta is 1-2-3 all-time versus Toronto, including an unbeaten 1-0-2 record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where Atlanta has won each of its last five postseason games. Forward Josef Martinez leads Atlanta with four career goals against Toronto.
The teams met twice during the regular season with each home side taking the three points. Atlanta won 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in May and Toronto took the second match 3-2 at BMO Field in June.
MATCH INFORMATION
Wednesday, Oct. 30 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |8 p.m. (ET)
Atlanta United (18-12-4, 58 points) vs. Toronto FC (13-10-11, 50 points)
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
TV | FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN, TVAS
Spanish Radio | La Mejor 1600 AM
English Radio | 92.9 The Game
Pre-match coverage:
7 p.m.: AT&T Countdown to Kickoff (FB Live/Periscope)
7:30 p.m.: The Pre-Game show (92-9 The Game)
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