Home advantage can help Toronto make amends

MLS
Sky Sports Football, 7pm Sunday

Eastern Conference leaders Toronto were held to a 2-2 draw on their trip to third-placed New York City ten days ago, but the Canadian outfit are a formidable force on home soil and should make amends with victory over the Bronx Blues at the BMO Field.

A Victor Vasquez penalty in injury-time yielded Toronto a share of the spoils at the Yankee Stadium but they are a different proposition on their own patch, where they have won seven and drawn three of their ten league matches this term.

Greg Vanney’s troops also dropped points against struggling Colorado Rapids (1-1) on their latest home outing but they barely broke sweat to win their nine home matches in all competitions prior to that – where they conceded a total of just five goals – and it’s unlikely City are in a position to spring a surprise.

The Bronx Blues have won just two of their last seven road trips and recent defeats at Vancouver (3-2) and Atlanta United (3-1) clearly indicate their problems are in defence.

Despite sitting third, Patrick Vieira’s City have lost five of their ten away MLS matches this term. They have shipped six goals in their last four games and any defensive mishaps should be punished by the free-scoring conference leaders.

Veteran David Villa, who has notched 14 league goals for City this term, remains one of the hottest properties in the MLS. However, only Chicago have conceded fewer than high-flying Toronto in the Eastern Conference and the hosts could have the tools to nullify his threat.

Toronto will be weakened by the absences of Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio but leading scorer Sebastian Giovinco is their star man and he could get plenty of chances to add to his tally against the defensively-fragile guests.

Recommendation
Toronto
1pt 4-5 general

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