The game

Toronto FC return to BMO Field for their penultimate midweek fixture of the regular season. After this, only another Wednesday night home date against the Montreal Impact will put the Reds on short rest.

The Philadelphia Union are the opponents on this occasion. TFC drew 2-2 with the Union at Talen Energy Stadium back in March and that has proven a difficult stadium to win at this year. Unfortunately for coach Jim Curtin, his side has just one victory in 12 attempts on the road and the playoffs are looking increasingly unlikely as a result.

Kick-off: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: BMO Field, Toronto

The question

Philadelphia made the long trip to San Jose on Saturday and put in a solid 90-minute effort only to cough up a 2-1 lead in the dying moments, so Curtin will have a task on his hands picking his players up for this one.

With that in mind, we may see a game similar to the ones against Colorado and at D.C. United. Can Toronto find a way through a deep defence this time?

The matchup

Roland Alberg is a gifted player and a particularly good finisher - he has scored 14 goals since joining the Union despite just 21 of his 46 appearances being starts.

The reason the No. 10 has not been a permanent fixture in the lineup is that he can be a bit of a defensive and tactical liability. You would think he starts tonight having scored in San Jose, but if he’s not engaged on both sides of the ball Michael Bradley is going to take advantage.

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The opposition view

It sometimes seems as if Victor Vazquez does not get the credit he deserves around MLS, but Curtin is well aware of his talents.

“They create incredible width with their outside wingers. If you focus too much on a Jozy [Altidore] or too much on chasing [Sebastian] Giovinco, Vazquez is a very intelligent player - incredible passer of the ball.

“So if you overcompensate for one thing, he’s the one that really finds space the best, especially on that left-hand side. You’ll see a lot of clips that we just showed our guys where he drifts into that area and creates a lot of two-v-ones, and he gave Chicago fits.

“He’s been scoring goals, he’s one of those undervalued players in the league that they kind of nailed in terms of signing him.”

Pre-match reading

Predicting Toronto FC’s lineup against the Philadelphia Union

Time is running out for Toronto FC’s in-demand depth players

TV channel & live stream

TV: TSN 1, 3, 4 & 5 (Canada), The Comcast Network (USA)

Stream: TSN Go (Canada), MLS Live (out of market)

Radio: TSN 1050 (Toronto)

Team news

Benoit Cheyrou and Nick Hagglund are Toronto’s only long-term absentees. Steven Beitashour could make his first start after injury having come off the bench against Chicago on Saturday.

Andre Blake will make his comeback in goal for Philadelphia and Oguchi Onyewu and Ilsinho are also ready to play. Maurice Edu is healthy again but building up his fitness in the USL, while Fabian Herbers remains out.

Projected lineups

Toronto: Bono; Zavaleta, Moor, Mavinga; Hasler, Delgado, Bradley, Vazquez, Morrow; Altidore, Giovinco.

Philadelphia: Blake; Gaddis, Onyewu, Elliott, Wijnaldum; Bedoya, Medunjanin; Pontius, Alberg, Picault; Sapong.