Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC Preview
Toronto FC posted a rousing victory in its home opener and wants to keep the momentum going.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be battling fatigue and a cross-country flight although one of their bright young stars is eager for this matchup.
Toronto seeks to hand the Whitecaps a fourth straight road loss Saturday night in what figures to be an emotional contest for Vancouver's Fraser Aird.
Toronto FC (4-3-2) was forced to play its first eight games on the road due to the second part of a $150-million effort to refurbish its home field. The club finally showcased why it is considered a leading contender to its own fans with last Saturday's 1-0 victory over FC Dallas.
Japanese rookie Tsubasa Endoh scored his first MLS goal in front of a sellout crowd.
"It was amazing. It's indescribable," Endoh said. "All the fans are crazy – in a good way."
TFC fans have the reputation of being among the best in MLS, and that's something Aird knows all about. The rookie is an Ontario native whose family were inaugural Toronto season-ticket holders back in 2007.
Now he's a midfielder and MLS rookie for the Whitecaps out to spoil the party for the Toronto fans.
"Looking forward to it, first time as a professional playing in Toronto," Aird said. "It'll be a big game for my family but at the end of the day, it's just another game."
It won't just be another game for two other Whitecaps with Toronto ties in former TFC midfielder Matias Laba and coach Carl Robinson, who also played for the club. Robinson is anticipating a difficult atmosphere.
"I more than anybody know about Toronto, inside the club and they've got fantastic support, they've got great ownership, the resources are very strong as well," Robinson said. "They've got the best player in the league last year, a fantastic player and rightfully so."
The coach is referring to reigning league MVP Sebastian Giovinco, who has six goals. Giovinco assisted on Endoh's tally last week and has scored or assisted on all of TFC's 10 goals.
Toronto is hoping Jozy Altidore gets untracked, with the United States national team forward still searching for his first goal. He scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Vancouver in the clubs' only meeting of 2015.
The Whitecaps (5-5-2) will be without Octavio Rivero, who scored last year versus TFC but is out with a left ankle sprain. Defender Kendall Waston is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Vancouver makes the long journey east after Wednesday's 2-1 home victory over Chicago. Blas Perez scored both goals including a spectacular winning overhead kick in the 88th minute.
"It's one of those things as a player, Blas, you want to score a goal in the last minute and win a game and you want to score a wonder goal and that was certainly a wonder goal," Robinson said.