Toronto FC-Union Preview
The Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC have had trouble keeping the ball out of their own goals this season, and for one, the problem seems to only be getting worse.
The Union have allowed a league-high 17 goals, including four in their last match, and Toronto visits Saturday with Jozy Altidore coming off his second multigoal effort since returning to MLS.
Toronto (2-4-0) ended a four-match losing streak with Sunday's 2-0 win at Orlando City, with Altidore scoring twice for his second two-goal game in his five matches this season.
Prior to his debut with Toronto, he hadn't had a brace in club or international competition since April 26, 2013 - his fourth-to-last match with AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. Altidore went 62 matches in all competitions with eight goals, including a calamitous two seasons with English Premier League side Sunderland.
With four goals for Toronto, he's not making much of individual success with his new club, just as he didn't make much of individual scoring struggles with his last.
"I think we've played some good soccer and we're a team that's going to create a lot of chances, so I think a lot of guys are going to get goals," Altidore said.
The shutout might have been more encouraging. Toronto had conceded 10 goals in the previous four games, including three apiece in the latest two.
"For us, it was a professional performance," Altidore said. "Really, we gave them nothing. ... We were tough, we were aggressive and that's the standard that we have to have."
Toronto is playing its seventh of eight matches on the road to open the season as BMO Field undergoes renovations. Philadelphia (1-5-3) has no such excuse, having played four of nine at home while conceding 2.13 goals per game over the last eight.
Last Saturday's 4-1 loss in Columbus was the most lopsided, but coach Jim Curtin isn't yet in panic mode.
"It's too early for must-wins," Curtin told the club's official website. "We need good performances at this stage. We're at a stage where we have to be able to look at each other in the locker room after the 90 minutes and say, 'We're getting better.' Last game we couldn't do that."
The Union have had no such troubles against Toronto with three straight shutout wins and a 4-0-3 record in the past seven. TFC has scored three goals in going 0-4-2 all-time in Philadelphia.
Much of that came with a very different Toronto core. Michael Bradley has only faced Philadelphia twice, while TFC newcomer Sebastian Giovinco has three goals in his first six MLS matches.
"Right now for me, Michael Bradley is one of the best players in the league and Jozy and Giovinco are as well," Curtin said. "You want to see how you hold up against the best players. Nothing cures confidence like a victory against good competition. Toronto had a tough run of games. They kind of picked themselves off of the mat against Orlando and we'll look to do the same."
Conor Casey scored in both Philadelphia victories over Toronto last season, but the forward has been limited to five substitute appearances this year.
Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik is questionable with a foot injury suffered against Orlando. He's played all six matches and every minute of 33 straight for the club since filling in for Julio Cesar during last summer's World Cup, which turned into a full-time job when the Brazilian left for Benfica after the tournament.