This Saturday NYCFC travel to Ontario, Canada, for their first visit to Toronto.

Form

Toronto are in really impressive form. After having recently beaten DC United, Toronto extended their win streak to three games, with star man Giovinco in the form of his career with seven goals five assists. At home against bottom placed NYCFC, Toronto will be heavy favorites.

Oh, and there’s NYCFC. To be fair, NYC are in the form of their season. Despite a gut-busting-let’s-not-talk-about-it penalty loss midweek in the US Open Cup, NYC have won their last two MLS matches. Our most recent, an emphatic 3-1 victory over Toronto’s Canadian neighbors, Montreal, is clearly the highlight of our season thus far. With a full lineup, Poku in blistering form, and David Villa back in the lineup, we’d say NYC have at least a chance to compete in this game.

Lineups

Toronto (4-3-1-2): Konopka (GK), Creavelle (RB), Zavaleta (CB), Hagglund (CB), Morrow (RB), Jackson (RCM), Cheyrou (CM), Findley (LCM), Bradley (CAM), Giovinco (CF), Altidore (ST)

-Simonin, Lovitz, and Bloom are all out for Toronto.

-Former Birmingham and Scottish international Steven Caldwell is out with a right achilles injury.

NYCFC: (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), RJ Allen (RB), Facey (CB), Hernandez (CB), Wingert (LB), Jacobson (CDM), Mix (CM), Poku (CM), Ballouchy (RM), McNamara (LM), Villa (ST)

-After Poku’s midweek heroics, it seems foolish to leave him on the bench for this big game. Yet, after playing nearly 90 minutes, there may be reasonable doubts regarding his match fitness. Grabavoy could deputize, but hopefully not.

-Meara, Brandt, and Shelton are still certainly out.

-Both Williams and Calle have been making steady progress and could make the bench.

Final Thoughts

If NYC were to have a chance in this game, we would’ve needed to be in amazing form. We’re in good form. If Villa can replicate his desire from last game, Poku starts, and Ned Grabavoy missing the team bus while being mercilessly tortured by a gang of Syrian refugees, then maybe we’ve got a shot.

Hopefully NYC go for the win, but as Kreis and everyone in this league seems to say “An away tie is a win.”

No, it’s not. If you’re not first, you’re last. And that’s from a wholesome American film that the suits down at the MLS should be able to appreciate.

Good luck lads.