Toronto FC faces defensive crisis in crucial playoff push against Red Bulls
The club will be without three key defenders for a must-win game against New York as it fights for a playoff spot.
Toronto FC faces a defensive crisis in a crucial road game against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, needing a win to keep its fading MLS playoff hopes alive.
The club will be without three key members of its starting back four due to suspension and injury, making an already difficult task even harder.
Centre back Benjamin Kuscevic and fullback Richie Laryea are suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while veteran centre back Walker Zimmerman remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
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"I feel like because of the injuries we've had this year, we have so many guys who have played along the backline that we have lots of choices," coach Robin Fraser said.
Fraser mentioned players such as Nicksoen Gomis, Zane Monlouis, Jackson Gilman, Kobe Franklin and Lazar Stefanovic as options to step in.
"So, I think it's not so much like we're backed into a corner, and we can only do this or that. We still have options, and it just depends on how we feel particular groups or particular individuals match up against the Red Bulls," Fraser said.
Toronto sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 7-10-12 record, four points behind ninth-place FC Cincinnati for the final playoff berth with five matches remaining.
Four of those final five games are on the road, where TFC has won only twice in 13 outings this season.
The team's defence has struggled, going 13 consecutive matches without a clean sheet while conceding 26 goals during that span.
The Reds have coughed up three goals in a match on five occasions during this 13-game run.
Toronto squandered two separate leads in a 3-3 draw with Orlando City SC on Wednesday, needing a 90th-minute goal from Matheus Pereira to earn a point.
Winger Theo Corbeanu said the result felt like a loss.
"I think there's a lot of things that need to happen in order for that because that's ultimately a big thing to reach the playoffs. But we can do it," Corbeanu said.
"We can absolutely do it, and on another day, we can come away with more. It's a draw. It's not a loss, but it really does feel like a loss. So, very disappointing. But I think that if our belief is as high as it's been recently, we can definitely do something special and get this team into the playoffs where we belong."
Both Cincinnati and 12th-place D.C. United have a game in hand on Toronto.
Up next: Toronto FC continues its road trip after the match in New York.
With files from Sportsnet