NYCFC vs Toronto FC preview: Three points or nothing | OneFootball

Everyone knows the idea of all or nothing.  In the case of soccer, teams either have to earn all three points, win a trophy, etc, or anything else is a failure.  This will be the case for New York City FC when they travel to Canada to battle Toronto FC.  The Pigeons must earn all three points.  Anything less is deemed a failure.

Similar to last season, the Reds are struggling and only won their first game last week.  As such, despite their recent struggles, NYCFC should find a way to edge out a win and get their first road win of the season.  After winning just once in the last five matches, the pressure is on Pascal Jansen and his players to get better results.  They could have won against the New England Revolution last week, but their inability to capitalize on opportunities hurt them.

Hopefully, Jansen made this a major focus in training this week.  He needs his offensive players to step up, for Alonso Martínez cannot carry the weight of the team on his shoulders.  Everyone also hoped he would unlock the talents of Julián Fernández and Agustín Ojeda, which is something Nick Cushing failed to do.  The wingers have been slightly better so far, but they are not playing at the level they should be.

So, with the pressure on, here is a preview of NYCFC’s game on the road against Toronto FC.

NYCFC vs Toronto FC preview

Date

NYCFC and Toronto FC will play on Saturday, April 26.

Time

The match will start at 2:30 PM ET

Location

The game will take place at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario in Canada.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the battle on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

Weather

It will be a chilly spring day up in Toronto.  It will be around 48 degrees and windy, with the winds blowing over 20 mph throughout the game.  This could influence the flow of the match.  It will also be cloudy, but it should not rain with the chance being around 3%.

Injury report

Jacob Arroyave (knee), Mitja Ilenič (leg), and Malachi Jones (leg) are out against the Reds.

Players to watch

With Ilenič out, Tayvon Gray should find himself back in the Starting XI.  Therefore, he is the player to watch.  Clearly, NYCFC needs the help defensively, and Gray is more defensive compared to his fellow right-back.  Will he play at the level he was playing before missing some time due to injury?  Will he make life difficult for Toronto attackers?  This is something to pay attention to.

Fans should also watch former captain Sean Johnson.  The goalkeeper has been the starter for the Reds since he joined the team in 2023.  While it has been a difficult period for the club, Johnson still performs well to the best of his ability with a shaky team in front of him.  It will be interesting to see whether he can keep his former team out of the goal, which he has struggled to do since departing the Pigeons.

Sometimes, it is good to be positive.  That is why the prediction is that NYCFC will win 3-1 and put on a show in Canada.  They will play at a level that is sufficient for Jansen, but of course there will be room for improvement.