FT: Austin FC 1-0 Toronto FC – Game thread, preview, how to watch
Live Thread
FT. – Austin FC 1-0 Toronto FC.
90 +1′ – GOAL AUSTIN. Gyasi Zardes heads the ball home after a scramble in the box.
88′ – Adam Lundqvist’s left footed rocket did not miss the net by much. It remains scoreless.
73′ – Emiliano Rigoni’s curling free kick is just wide of Sean Johnson’s net.
66′ – Federico Bernardeschi is substituted for Jordan Faria.
63′ – Mabika with a big block on a shot from Urruti.
59′ – Sean Johnson is called to action and makes a strong save on a shot from Daniel Pereira.
46′ – The second half begins. Bob Bradley makes two substitutions: Kosi Thompson and Hugo Mbongue enter the match for Brandon Servania and Themi Antonoglou.
HT – Austin FC 0-0 Toronto FC
37′ – Austin’s Ethan Finlay is issued a yellow card for a rough challenge on Petretta.
21′ – Another warning sign for the visitors. A cross from the hosts hits the top of the crossbar as Sean Johnson stretches out in desperation.
15′ – Urruti’s shot is inches away from opening the scoring. His attempt hits the post and bounces away.
8′ – A good intervention from Kobe Franklin to interrupt Jon Gallagher’s threatening run.
1′ – And we are underway in Austin! It looks like a 3-4-3 from Bob Bradley’s side with Petretta, Hedges and Mabika forming the backline. Richie Laryea is playing higher up on the right side.
8:00 pm ET – Drop your guesses in our prediction league!
7:45 pm ET – Texas is a state where Toronto FC has not seen much success over the years. Tonight, they face (somewhat) new MLS side Austin FC for the first time in MLS action. Will the Reds finally get on the scoresheet in MLS action this month? Your guess is as good as mine.
Starting XI’s
No Lorenzo Insigne in TFC’s matchday squad, Themi Antonoglou gets the start at left wing. Matt Hedges and Mark-Anthony Kaye return to the starting lineup. Richie Laryea dons the armband for his hometown club.
Long-time TFC fans will recognise Maxi Urruti who starts up top for Austin. Former NYCFC captain and MLS Cup champion Alex Ring is the midfield general for Los Verdes. Watch out for MLS veteran winger Ethan Finlay, he contributed to both of Austin’s goals in their midweek victory against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
Match Preview, by Adam Palermo
After a scoreless draw at home against the lowly New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Toronto FC will hit the road to face Austin FC, in the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides, in hopes of finding a result that can change the course of a desperately poor start to the season.
Making do with an injury ravaged squad in the last matchup, TFC head coach Bob Bradley will hope to have a couple of first-team players back and available for selection after experiencing two more setbacks midweek. Mark-Anthony Kaye was deemed unfit to start Wednesday’s match against RBNY, and midfielder Deandre Kerr was pulled from the contest in the first half.
TFC insider Michael Singh reports that Kaye and veteran defender Matt Hedges are in the running to return to the pitch in the Lone Star State, while forward Jordan Perruzza has also been deemed questionable to participate.
Hedges could prove to be an important reinstatement with Bradley left with only one fit natural centre-back in the form of Aimé Mabika. Though he and Richie Laryea performed well in the heart of defence last time out, the return of Hedges would allow for greater use of Laryea’s prowess as a goal threat down the right flank.
With the halfway point of the MLS regular season just over two weeks away — yes, really — TFC will need to put points on the board no matter the injury situation. Looking past injuries, the team has struggled to find consistent goalscoring, and the form of Italian wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi has not matched expectations with the two stars in their first full MLS season.
“As a team I think we create a fair number of advantages, I said that after many games so far this year,” Bradley said following the 0-0 result against the Red Bulls.
“How sharp are we when we get those advantages, I think that has to improve. I think in some moments that includes them (Insigne and Bernardeschi).”
Bradley might need to rethink his team’s approach to avoid another lost season in Toronto. For a side that averages the ninth-highest possession in the league (50.6 percent), only two clubs average fewer shots taken per game (10). Something must change in order to make the Reds a more threatening attacking unit, especially given the profiles Bradley has at his disposal.
The good news for Toronto fans? New York City FC are only three points away in ninth place. It wouldn’t take much to vault back into playoff contention, but the product on the pitch mixed with the lack of scoring touch is making a frustrated fanbase lose faith that their team can have a sudden change in form.
Playing host to TFC on Saturday will be Austin, another side that has so far failed to meet expectations in 2023.
After a stellar sophomore season in which they finished second in the West, the Verde and Black are currently one point out of the playoff picture and endured an eight-match winless run before beating the Seattle Sounders away in their most recent outing.
2022 MLS All-Star Sebastián Driussi will miss Saturday’s game as he deals with a groin injury, while young midfielder Owen Wolff is with the United States under-20 team at the World Cup in Argentina. Other than those two absences, Austin are very healthy when compared to their Toronto counterpart.
Like TFC though, Austin have struggled to find the back of the net. The club has scored a dozen times in as many league matches, with wing-back Jon Gallagher leading the team in scoring with four goals.
Match Details
Opponent: Austin FC
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Watch: MLS Season Pass
Stadium: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Tex.
Apparently no Insigne tonight. You know there is something wrong with the team when I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Allows the attack to flow through Laryea and Bernardeschi as it did earlier in the season.
No Insigne…lol…the weight of expectations must be getting to him. When things get hard, Insigne appears to give up. Perhaps, like at Napoli, the team will be better without him. I mean, perhaps the whinning, the sulking and the half-effort won’t be missed.
Just look at our record with him on the pitch vs with him not on the pitch.
I would not be surprised if Fede plays better as well.
It will be interesting to see how Sapong links up with Fede and Laryea without Insigne on the other side.
I wouldn’t get your hopes up. There’s a real possibility than someone like Shaffelburg will end the season with more goals than Sapong.
Sure if we get a coach like spaletti and the world class Georgian lad to replace insigne since we have neither we will be glued to last.
.this isn’t on insigne this is on bob bill and our clueless ownership group.
Zero shots on goal . No sustained ball possession in the opponents end, Bob for F sake sign a classy midfielder as our 3rd DP, and I do not want to watch another game this team plays unless Insigne is in the line up. I know there are many DP haters out there but guys what did you think about tonights team without Lorenzo?
Glad to see Hedges and MAK are back.
Oh, and I see my wish about Layea wearing the armband came true!
Kobe replacing Richie so he can move forward is a great change. Not sure what will happen on the left side today but the defensive focus will be on Fede so lots of space to create.
Antonoglou has shown he can put in decent crosses from the left so hopefully if the focus is on Bernardeschi/Laryea on the right it will give him opportunities to put dangerous balls in. I agree about moving Laryea into midfield, given players available that’s a smart choice.
I’m only looking forward to see Laryea on the wing and the B team guys getting some minutes. This team is in the gutter, so it will be a nice test to see which of guys on the B team can actually perform when the shit hits the fan.
Austin FC wearing green at home??? Don’t they know away jersey’s are for home games?
Why is bob still playing 3 up top with the players we have does he honestly think this is gonna work…
I’m enjoying the music being performed by the band. Seems like a great atmosphere there.
Zero zero at the half I’ll take it hedges helps alot having said that we need a moment of brilliance from berna or laryea or we will probably lose again
The constant turnovers are so low budget. The inability to advance the ball and maintain possession is stunning.
Abysmal first half. Sapong is running, not receiving the right types of passes but even still, he can’t do anything with the ball either way. The only striker who can dribble is out hurt with a head injury because Bob wanted to play him in midfield.
Kaye, if he isn’t playing in defence then he shouldn’t play at all. I’d much rather him back in defence instead of Petretta. The idea that Kaye, in a two person midfield, is going to play good passes let alone dictate a game is laughable. He should be gone next season.
Bob telling Mabika that he can go up with ball when in possession…great stuff. That’s how poor the offence is, a centre back is allowed to go forward as long as Franklin covers.
Petretta’s not defensively good enough to be played as a central defender. Urruti should have scored off the corner. Is the B team defender that bad where he can’t play in the MLS?
Laryea’s a right back and he’s not even allowed to play on the same side as a winger…Is Bernardeschi allergic to the left side?
Mabika seems to be a decent pick up. Defence is good and he seems willing to carry the ball/ make some passes. Definitely still a bench player but I have been pleasantly surprised.
Last year’s home game against Miami and he was head and shoulders the best player on the field. A back three of him, Hedges & Rosted might be a very solid option in future.
I was disappointed that Bernardeschi didn’t have the same impact today as he did earlier in the season. I was hoping he could shine tonight.
There is a lot going on we are not privy to. He barely put any effort in, came off right after Richie had to rush half way up the field to press while Fede stood there watching.
The only good thing about this season is that the games aren’t on TV so hardly anyone is watching this shit.
No! Zardes is always trouble.
Ok is it just me or are all of Lima’s throw in foul? Foot seems to be over the line every time.
You are correct, every one.
Season’s over.
Those throw-ins were all over the line. Surprised the linesman can’t even flag the foul throw when it’s obvious, but it’s MLS
Another game another loss nothing changes extended bob till 2030. Michael singh thinks he’s doing a good job why not
Bernardeschi should seriously be embarassed by that performance because he is capable of so much more. He didn’t get service but wasn’t in good positions. And he was wasteful and off all night.
Centre midfield was horrible but improved in second half with Laryea and Franklin moving to midfield. They were the best two, and Sapong for me was a little disappointing leading the line. But the space between lines was massive today, and a better team would have exploited TFC’s terrible 1st half tactics. At least Bradley made a good adjustment at half time.
Might catch some flak for this but I don’t want to see any of the senior players play any more. The league is over, Canada Cup is over. Only the Leagues Cup is left. Save them for that. Spare the first team from excessive minutes & injury and save them for that.
Bring as many of the B team’s guys onto the roster as you can, and actually play them, the one’s who suck, don’t send them back to the B team just get rid of them, don’t care how just do it.
Then at least we can see which of them are good enough for the MLS because that will be the ONLY positive takeaway from this season.
It’s a little early in season to be giving up, but I do see better play from some of the younger players than some of the overpaid ones. The top players need to show much more commitment.
We could use Osorio soon. We seem lost without him.
They need to win like half of the remaining games to maybe get that last playoff spot. That ain’t happening. This team hasn’t won more than 2 games in row since Vanney was here. It’s over.
Last game the DP’s faced pressure to step up and produce and failed. The Insigne stays home and Fede mails in a 60 minute half effort.
They didn’t just become bad football talents. Getting mad at the other players is not helping, they all want to win and play off the best on the team. The issue is the tactics being used, the practice routines and the personality clash with Italian DP’s and Bob.
It’s not just Bob either. Right before Fede was taken off, after watching him stand around, Richie had to rush half way up the pitch to press on the right side. Richie was frustrated at the lack of effort from a guy being paid 6 times what Richie is, and Richie is very well paid.
People saying a coach change won’t do anything are misguided. A decent coach will have the talented group believing in themselves and better able to work together. A change in tactics to take advantage of player strengths will improve options for defending and attacking. It’s the constant repetitive failure that is killing spirits and not changing the environment will mean a complete change of roster to fix things.
Very interesting to read the post game comments from Fede after I wrote that post.
He is crediting the effort of the players and saying they can’t win without tactics. Your DP’s staying home and trash talking the coach…
If Bob has a job Monday it means MLSE doesn’t care.
Praying for the day that someone takes this club off of MLSE’s hands. One MLS Cup in 20 years, raptors have one championship in 30 years, leafs haven’t won anything since the 60’s. These guys have zero interest in winning trophies. If anything fleecing the fans every year is their trophy.
I noticed they were selling hot dogs at BMO for 13 dollars , 13 f in dollars for a hot dog, I think Blue Jays have a promotion where they are selling them for a buck.
Not going to happen. Not when they can price an upper level seat in the NHL playoffs the same price I pay for an entire season of four lower level midfield seats at BMO.
They know fans will continue to come to their big money-makers…win or lose. TFC succeeding is only gravy.
Agree Coach you literally could not have done a worse job in this last year and a half that Boob Bradley has done.