Toronto FC faces must-win road test with three defenders suspended
The club sits 11th in the East and must overcome a poor road record and defensive absences to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Toronto FC faces a near must-win road game against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday as it clings to fading playoff hopes.
"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," winger Theo Corbeanu said after a midweek draw.
Toronto sits 11th in the Eastern Conference, four points behind ninth-place FC Cincinnati for the final playoff berth with five matches remaining.
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Both Cincinnati and 12th-place D.C. United have a game in hand on Toronto.
The club squandered two separate leads in a 3-3 draw with Orlando City SC on Wednesday, a result that felt like a loss.
"It's a draw. It's not a loss, but it really does feel like a loss. So, very disappointing," Corbeanu said.
The club will be without three starting defenders: Benjamin Kuscevic and Richie Laryea are suspended for yellow card accumulation, and Walker Zimmerman remains out with an ankle injury.
Coach Robin Fraser said Zimmerman is not expected to return until next week.
"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. To be honest, we have Nicksoen, we have Zane, we have Jackson (Gilman), we have Kobe (Franklin) and Laz (Lazar Stefanovic)," Fraser said.
Toronto has won just twice in 13 road games this season and has conceded 26 goals during a 13-match run without a clean sheet.
The Reds have allowed three goals in a match on five occasions during that 13-game span.
Four of its final five regular-season games are away from home.
In other MLS action Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps visit Austin FC looking to solidify their hold on first place in the West.
Vancouver has already clinched a playoff spot but is winless in four games, with three draws.
St. Louis City SC and FC Dallas are within two points of the conference-leading Whitecaps.
CF Montreal, in last place in the East, visits the Seattle Sounders and could be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss.
The club is coming off a 3-0 home loss to Atlanta United where angry supporters held up a banner that read "Shame on you."
Inter Miami, which has clinched a playoff berth, visits Atlanta United.
Lionel Messi leads MLS with 37 goal contributions (23 goals and 14 assists).
St. Louis City SC, on a 19-game MLS unbeaten run, visits Minnesota United with a chance to overtake Vancouver for top spot in the West.
FC Cincinnati hosts the Columbus Crew on Sunday in a crucial Ohio derby with major playoff implications.
Columbus sits four points behind Cincinnati in 13th place.
The Houston Dynamo host FC Dallas on Saturday in a Texas derby that will impact playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
Dallas sits third in the West, two points behind Vancouver, while Houston is trying to move from fifth into fourth to secure home-field advantage in the first playoff round.
With files from Sportsnet