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3:00 PM Eastern Toyota Park
Sportsnet 1
It's early in the season, but this is the most important game that Toronto FC have played all year. After losing two matches in a row, Toronto are quickly falling down the Major League Soccer standings. While it isn't surprising considering the massive road swing they are currently on, it is still important that they get at the very least nine points on the trip. If they are unable to do this they will be at a major disadvantage before they even play their first home game at BMO Field in May.
Chicago are one of those teams who have had a poor start to the Major League Soccer season, and therefore are somewhat ripe for the picking as they try to figure out a roster turnover that would be impressive even by Toronto FC standards. Taking advantage of these sort of circumstances is something that Toronto will have to do in order to make the playoffs this year.
Toronto were never able to beat the Chicago Fire last season, with three separate draws. All were sadly vital to Toronto missing the playoffs, as two of them saw TFC relinquish their lead, while the other was the infamous disallowed Gilberto goal by David Gantar. Those six lost points would have gone a long way in the Eastern conference standings.
The @BacardiCanada Starting XI: Bendik, Morgan, Morrow, Hagglund, Creavalle, Bradley, Cheyrou, Osorio, Giovinco, Findley, Altidore #TFCLive
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) April 4, 2015
Toronto FC will essentially have the same lineup that started the season today, minus the backline which is makeshift at best. Justin Morrow will play in the middle beside Nick Hagglund while Ashtone Morgan and Warren Creavalle will continue to play on the flanks.
#TFCLive Bench: Konopka, Simonin, Jackson, Lovitz, Warner, Delgado and Dike.
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) April 4, 2015
On the bench Toronto FC will be rather thin considering the suspension of Luke Moore and injuries to Damien Perquis and Steven Caldwell. However, in Daniel Lovitz and Bright Dike they still have some dangerous options off the bench should they need them late in the match.
You can follow along with the match in the comments section below. If you consider yourself to be smarter than Ryan Nelsen, you can see if that's actually true here. For a look at today's opponent the Chicago Fire, read James Grossi's part one and two of Know Your Enemy. We also got a Chicago Fire perspective on the game, which can be found in How You Doin'. Finally, Michael Veenstra has a full preview of the match.