Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire | 2016 MLS Match Preview

TORONTO FC. vs. CHICAGO FIRE
BMO Field | Toronto, Ontario
Sunday, Oct. 23 | Week #34 | MLS Game #332
4 pm ET (TSN/RDS in Canada; MLS LIVE, CSN-Chicago in the US)

Playoff seeding and momentum heading into the postseason are the focus for Toronto FC as they host the Chicago Fire on Decision Day. With a win over the last-place Fire, the Reds could climb past New York City FC into second place in the Eastern Conference and thus earn a Knockout Round bye – although to do so, they'll need Columbus Crew SC to win or draw at NYCFC. Perhaps just as importantly, TFC want to taste victory again before the "second season" begins; they are winless in their last five and seeking their first win since a road defeat of the Fire on Sept. 10. Chicago, meanwhile, will eagerly attempt to assume the spoiler role they played so well in sabotaging New England's playoff hopes last week. 

• Jozy Altidore scored for a second consecutive game – his 10th goal of the season, all over his last 13 matches – and Sebastian Giovinco recorded his 14th assist of the season in his first game back after a five-game absence, as Toronto FC reached a 2-2 draw with the Montréal Impact on Sunday afternoon. TFC is winless in its last five outings.
• The Fire put an end to a six-game winless run in their Toyota Park home finale for the season, getting goals from Michael de Leeuw and David Accam for a 2-1 win against the New England Revolution on Sunday afternoon.
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and Toronto FC have won the first two, once at each ground. Justin Morrow scored the game’s only goal after nine minutes and TFC held out the rest of the way for the victory July 9 at BMO Field; on Sept. 10, Jozy Altidore scored one goal and set up another in a 2-1 win at Toyota Park.
• When Toronto FC won at home last Sept. 26, it was their first win against the Fire since the 2010 season. The Fire had won six of the 12 meetings in between, with six draws.
• TFC have won the last two meetings at BMO Field. The last meeting was TFC’s first victory ever at Toyota Park. The Fire had come away with five wins and five draws in the first 10 meetings all-time in Bridgeview.

REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Daniel Belleau; 4th:Silviu Petrescu
MLS Career: 59 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 14; pens: 18

SUSPENDED: CHI: Luis Solignac (through Oct. 23)
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: TOR: Michael Bradley • CHI: Razvan Cocis
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (23 meetings): Toronto FC 6 wins, 33 goals • Fire 9 wins, 37 goals • Ties 8
AT TORONTO (12 meetings): Toronto FC 5 wins, 22 goals • Fire 4 wins, 21 goals • Ties 3

2016 (MLS):
7/9: TOR 1, CHI 0 (Morrow 9)
9//10: CHI 1, TOR 2 (de Leeuw 58 • Altidore 33; Osorio 52)

Coaches record: Greg Vanney vs. CHI: P5 W3 L1 T1 • Veljko Paunovic vs. TOR: P2 W0 L2 T0