Toronto FC-Red Bulls Preview
The New York Red Bulls will be very close to gaining a postseason berth with a victory this weekend.
The playoffs again seem very far away for Toronto FC, and that will especially be the case with a loss Saturday night.
The Red Bulls have won a franchise-record six straight at home but will be short-handed as they try for their first victory this year over Toronto.
New York (11-9-11) is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 44 points. The Red Bulls can clinch a postseason spot this weekend with a victory Saturday as long as Houston, which has 39 points, does not beat D.C. United this Sunday.
The Red Bulls are 7-0-2 in their last nine at home, winning 1-0 there over the Dynamo last Saturday on Thierry Henry's second-half goal.
Coach Mike Petke wasn't happy with being questioned about his decision not to start Australian star Tim Cahill, who entered as a substitute in the 85th minute and was sent off three minutes later. There were reports that New York was upset since Cahill will leave the club this week for friendlies for his country.
"It's become a big story but it's not," an angry Petke said. "It's not a big story. It's a story that started from reporting that was inaccurate, assumptions made."
Cahill is one of several Red Bulls missing this weekend due to international duty. Ambroise Oyongo is with Cameroon and fellow defender Roy Miller is with Costa Rica.
"Yes, big losses, but at the end of the day, we've dealt with big losses many times this year and we need to come through it somehow," Petke told the league's official website.
He will have MLS top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, who is three goals shy of the league record of 27 set by Roy Lassiter in 1996 and matched by Chris Wondolowski two years ago. Henry, who has 10 goals and 13 assists, is also available.
Toronto (11-13-7) is in sixth place in the East with 40 points after falling 1-0 at home to Houston on Wednesday. The eighth-year club, which has never made the playoffs, lost despite playing with a man advantage over the last 35 minutes and finishing with a 26-9 edge in total shots.
"For me, we've got to be almost perfect from here on out which means if we play like tonight and we finish our chances, then maybe that's enough," coach Greg Vanney said. "But we've gotta be more clinical when we get our opportunities, we've gotta be a little bit tighter in just some areas around the field."
Gilberto sat out with a hamstring injury, though Vanney believes the forward will be available Saturday.
Jermain Defoe made his first start since Aug. 23. The English star had a team-high seven shots though he missed a penalty.
"I was pleased with him," Vanney insisted. "I think the partnership with him and Luke (Moore) had some interesting moments of them combining off each other."
Defoe has scored twice this year against New York, with Toronto posting a win and a draw. The 2-2 result June 27 ended TFC's five-game road slide in the series.
Red Bulls forward Peguy Luyindula was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by MLS on Thursday for a serious foul committed against the Dynamo.