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Impact-Toronto FC Preview

Having yet to earn a point this month, Toronto FC is now forced to win its final two games and get some help to have any hope of capturing the franchise's first playoff berth.

If the odds against the club weren't already stacked high enough, Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe won't be available for Saturday's home game against the Montreal Impact.

Toronto (11-14-7) has lost all three of its games in October, getting outscored 7-1, and is on the verge of extending its postseason drought to an eighth year.

TFC fell 3-1 at New York last Saturday, giving up all three goals in the first half. Jonathan Osorio snapped his team's 235-minute scoreless drought in the 55th.

With 40 points, Toronto trails Columbus by six for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot. To catch the Crew, TFC needs to beat Montreal (6-18-8) and New England on Oct. 25 while New York and Philadelphia defeat Columbus in each of the next two Sundays.

"It's out of our hands, but the door is not completely closed," coach Greg Vanney said. "For us, we need to continue to build, continue to work hard, continue to fight and put on a proper match for our fans in the last home game."

Vanney's team won't have Bradley on the field because he drew his sixth yellow card of the season in last week's loss. The U.S. World Cup team midfielder has scored or assisted on four of Toronto's last seven goals.

Defoe, who leads the club with 11 goals, has been ruled out after recently aggravating a groin injury. TFC is 6-0-2 when he scores.

Additionally, defender Nick Hagglund is out after getting a red card last week.

Toronto has won the last two MLS meetings with league-worst Montreal, including a 2-0 road victory Aug. 2, but lost the Canadian championship series to the Impact with a 1-0 defeat in the second leg June 4. The teams played to a 1-all tie at BMO Field in the first leg, and TFC is 1-0-2 in three all-time MLS matchups there.

Montreal is facing its final chance to avoid becoming the sixth team to go winless on the road in a season. The Impact are 0-12-4 away from home this year and winless in 20 consecutive regular-season road games, tied for the second-longest streak in league history.

Montreal hasn't been a pushover lately, though, with a 2-1-2 record in its last five games which includes a CONCACAF Champions League win over New York. The Impact played to a 2-all draw with playoff-bound New England last Saturday as Marco Di Vaio scored twice in his penultimate home game for Montreal.

He's expected to ready for this game despite making a trip back to his native Italy to attend a press conference announcing Impact president Joey Saputo as one of the new co-owners of Bologna FC.

"No matter what happens, I know he'll be with us in Toronto and available to help the team," coach Frank Klopas told the league's official website.

Di Vaio, who has a team-best eight goals this season after finishing third in the league last year with 20, is retiring after Montreal faces D.C. United on Oct. 25.

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