NYCFC vs Toronto FC preview: Can the Pigeons finally get a road win?

New York City FC ended the long homestand with three wins, a draw, and a loss, collecting 10 points to put them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. This is a much better position than they were at the beginning of the season, having been in the bottom three for at least two months. However, NYCFC will play their first road game since March, where they have struggled to get a win away from the boroughs.

Last week’s loss to the Colorado Rapids was disappointing, having dominated the whole game and still failed to find the back of the net. Questions continue to rise over the leadership of Nick Cushing as he is put under the microscope yet again. They are set to face off against Toronto FC, where they will bump into old foe Sean Johnson after getting their first win of the season against them.   

The rest of the month is set to be a challenge for the Pigeons as they face four Eastern Conference rivals, including the Hudson River derby. NYCFC got some good news this week after Maxi Moralez returned to team training. If all goes well, he should be back to match-day form before the end of the month. Talles Magno is also back, bringing more depth to the attack.   

Here is the preview of the match between NYCFC and Toronto FC.

Date

NYCFC and Toronto will face off on Saturday, May 11.  

Time

The match is set to start at 7:30 PM ET. 

Location

The game will be held at BMO Field in Toronto, ON in Canada.

Weather

It is not supposed to be the best of days on Saturday as there is a 60 percent chance of rain towards the evening. It is predicted to be overcast all day, going as low as 49 degrees at night. Winds are not expected to be too strong with 5 to 10 mph winds expected.

Injury report 

Moralez (right knee) remains on the injury report for NYCFC. He did return to team training, with a chance to play sometime this month. Then, Rio Hope-Gund (right leg) continues to be out.  

Players to watch 

Now that Talles Magno is off the injured list and is an option for the team again, he will be a player to look out for NYCFC. He has been in a slump since last season, with rumors of a possible exit. Magno was one of the team’s top young prospects, leading them to the cup in 2021. It will be interesting to see the role he plays, especially with Julián Fernández, Agustín Ojeda, and Alonso Martínez in top form.  

For Toronto, NYCFC will likely face off against their old keeper and captain Sean Johnson. A hamstring injury forced him to not play the first leg in New York, but he has played the last five games in a row. He has kept a clean sheet while allowing nine goals with just 12 saves in that span. The last time Johnson faced the Boys in Blue in a regular season match was April 2023, securing a clean sheet with just one save.   

Prediction  

NYCFC have the edge as far as form against Toronto, having won four of the last five matches against them, outscoring the side 15-6. However, all four times they won were at home, losing just one match at BMO field. Plus, Toronto has won three in a row and is entering the fixture in top form. It could be a close one, but a 1-1 scoreline seems to suffice with a goal from Keaton Parks, who has been getting more involved in set pieces as of late.