Game Thread: Toronto FC 0-0 D.C. United (FT)

FT — Toronto FC will see this as two points dropped rather than one point gained, as they dominated for most of the match. They will be away from home in their next game, a 3 p.m. kickoff on Saturday against Real Salt Lake.

90’ + 4’ — Terrence Boyd gets on the end of a cross, but his effort is saved by Hamid.

90’ — There will be four minutes of added time.

80’ — TFC make their final change. Boyd on for Osorio.

72’ — Jay Chapman comes on for Eriq Zavaleta as TFC look for a goal.

62’ — D.C. make their third change. Paul Arriola comes on for McCann. All of D.C.’s big three forwards are now on the pitch.

53’ — Marky Delgado fires a rocket from distance but Bill Hamid gets over to stop it.

48’ — D.C. make two substitutions. Rooney comes on for Amarikwa and Acosta comes on for Ward. A very attacking change for D.C.

46’ — TFC get the second half underway. Justin Morrow comes on to replace Nick DeLeon.

HT — Toronto FC look the better team through 45 minutes, but they haven’t made the most of their opportunities to score. With a ton of firepower on the bench for D.C., they will definitely want to have a strong start to the second half.

36’ — The crepuscular rays are starting to show for TFC, who have had the majority of the scoring chances. Delgado was is space but headed the ball wide.

33’ — The ball falls to Jordan Hamilton, who fires it off the crossbar.

24’ — Alejandro Pozuelo dances around a couple of defenders but his shot goes wide.

14’ — Jordan Hamilton gets his foot on the end of a cross, but Bill Hamid makes the save.

2’ — TFC concede an early goal off a corner, but it’s called back for an offside.

1’ — After a brief delay, we’re underway here at BMO Field.

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Update: Kickoff has been pushed back 15 minutes.

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Lineups

Toronto FC:

Jozy Altidore misses out with a heel injury, and Jordan Hamilton gets another start up top. Quentin Westberg gets the start, as does Eriq Zavaleta in the absence of Laurent Ciman.

Looks like a 4-4-1-1 with Mavinga at left back.

D.C. United:

Rooney, Arriola and and Acosta all start on the bench for D.C. That could cause TFC problems later in the game if/when they come off the bench.

Preview

In case you haven’t heard, there is another football legend rolling into town on Wednesday night, as Luciano Acosta and D.C. United are at BMO Field to play Toronto FC. Oh yeah, and that other fella Wayne Rooney.

One of the biggest names in Major League Soccer, Manchester United and England legend Rooney is making his first trip to BMO Field as a member of D.C. United.

The Black-and-Red are currently second in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Philadelphia Union on goal difference. Both teams won by a single goal on the weekend, as Philadelphia won 2-1 here in Toronto, and D.C. were victorious 1-0 over Sporting Kansas City.

The aforementioned Wayne Rooney leads D.C. with six goals in 11 games played, good for 4th place in the league. He is also toward the top of the assists leaderboard, with 4. Toronto FC’s Alejandro Pozuelo leads that category with 6 assists in 8 games played.

Toronto FC have lost their last two matches, and will be looking for some points in this one. They are in the middle of a crucial part in their season, and are four games into a 5 games in 15 days stretch, which ends on Saturday in Salt Lake.

Another storyline in this match: Nick DeLeon is playing against his former club for the first time. Before coming to Toronto, he spent his entire professional career with D.C., playing over 200 times between 2012 and 2018.

Last time out I said “at least I spared you from another Old Town Road cover, like I had planned originally.” Well... this time you aren’t as lucky.

I can’t decide which song is best for this game thread, so while you listen to this mashup of Country Roads and Old Town Road, drop some song recommendations for your fellow readers in the comment section below.

Team news: Injuries & suspensions

Toronto FC:

• Doubtful: D - Laurent Ciman (ankle)
• Probable: D - Auro Jr. (back)

D.C. United:

• Out: D - Oniel Fisher (knee)
• Out: M - Antonio Bustamante (knee)
• Out: D - Joseph Mora (broken jaw)
• Out: D - Donovan Pines (knee)

How to watch

Match date/time: Wednesday, May 15th. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET

TV channel: TSN 1/4

Radio: TSN 1050

Live stream: TSN GO, ESPN+