New York City FC ends its three-game road stretch on Saturday night at BMO Field against Toronto FC. To learn more about the Reds, New York Soccer Journal spoke with John Molinaro of TFC Republic. Here is your NYCFC vs Toronto FC preview.
• League Form: W-D-W-D-L
• Record: 5W, 9D, 7L | 24 points, 10th place
• Scoring Leader: Dániel Sallói, 5 goals
• Assist Leader: Dániel Sallói, 4 assists
1. Toronto's in good form
New York Soccer Journal: Toronto FC ended its 12-game winless run — which dated back to April 4 — after defeating New England 2-1 on August 15. Since then, the Reds have tied with Charlotte FC and, shockingly, beat Inter Miami CF 2-1 on the road. What’s changed for Toronto this month?
John Molinaro: For starters, the addition of former Bundesliga midfielder Niklas Dorsch. Before getting injured last week, he had two goals and an assist in his three MLS appearances after his transfer, and he just added a great two-way presence in the middle of the park for TFC.
The team was decimated by injuries through the first half of the season — they were missing 13 players for a game in May against Charlotte. But they’re getting guys back, including DP midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, and that’s just led to more competition for playing time.
2. Josh Sargent finally gets going
NYSJ: Josh Sargent's goal against Miami was his first in five matches, putting the American striker up to four total on the season. Is this the start of Sargent’s resurgence?
JM: The DP forward hadn't exactly set MLS alight through his first few months with TFC following his transfer move from English club Norwich City. Before the recent stretch where the Reds played three times in eight days, Sargent had just three goals and an assist in 11 appearances, very modest returns for a player that Toronto spared no expense in bringing aboard.
