Preview: Toronto FC hoping to build off momentum vs. Columbus Crew at BMO Field

There’s a buzz around Toronto FC that hasn’t been felt for years, and the Reds will have a prime opportunity to build on that momentum Wednesday night when they host the stumbling Columbus Crew at BMO Field.

Toronto has won two straight games and are unbeaten in six of their last seven in all competitions. They’ve won their last three at home – and impending arrivals Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito are in town.

“It’s a good time to get going,” Jonathan Osorio told reporters after Saturday’s match. “I think the guys that have been [here] for a while, the core guys, we know how important these summer months are in this league – especially this stretch with the amount of home games that we have. We understand the importance.”

“Now with the summer window coming, I know the club is going to be making moves as you’ve already seen and you’re hearing, and so it’s exciting," Osorio added. "It’s exciting that everything is coming together as it should all at the right time it feels like.”

Columbus have been struggling to pick up points as they await the arrival of a club-record signing of their own: Cucho Hernandez. They’re unbeaten in their last three games but have just one win in their last six. Over that span, the Crew have scored just four times, and since April 15, Columbus are last in MLS in goals, last in expected goals, and second-worst in big chances created.

They’re also being hit hard on the injury front, with the status of several players up in the air, including star Lucas Zelarayan, Derrick Etienne, Erik Hurtado, who are game-time decisions.

“Yes, Columbus has had a stretch without some important players. It’s a credit to Caleb [Porter] and the way they play that you can still see football ideas in their team all the time,” said TFC manager Bob Bradley. “They still have ways of playing from the back. Darlington Nagbe is still an important player in terms of helping them control games. They’ve got some dangerous attacking players, so you wait to see what the lineup will be, but you certainly still understand some of the things that they’re trying to do.”

For Toronto, the statuses of designated player Carlos Salcedo and goalkeeper Quentin Westberg are up in the air after the duo were absent from training on Tuesday.

When asked about the duo on Tuesday, Bradley told reporters that there was nothing major, but with the abundance of games in quick succession, the team needed to evaluate where ‘a few guys’ were, alluding to the possibility that some may be kept out of Wednesday’s match with an eye towards the weekend.

It's worth noting that the only name on Toronto’s injury report is Noble Okello, who still has no set timetable for a return following a lower-body injury.

Columbus hosted Toronto earlier this year, with Jesús Jiménez opening the scoring in the minute. However, the Crew responded in the second half with two goals – from Zelarayan and Etienne Jr. – resulting in a 2-1 victory. All-time, Columbus leads the regular-season series with a record of 16-11-12 dating back to 2007.

The game is Toronto’s third of a five-match homestand which the team has opened with a pair of wins. At BMO Field, the club has found a ton of success this season, with all five of their league wins – and 15 of 18 points – this season coming by the lakeshore.  

Dating back to last September, their last eight wins in MLS have all come at home, meaning this next stretch of matches could be pivotal for the club to position themselves in an ideal position ahead of Insigne’s potential debut next Saturday.

Predicted Starting XI

(4-4-2) Westberg; Thompson, O’Neill, Mavinga, Petrasso; Pozuelo, Bradley, Osorio, Nelson; Jiménez, Akinola

Injury Report

Toronto FC: Noble Okello (OUT)

Columbus Crew: Artur (OUT), Lucas Zelarayan (QUESTIONABLE), Marlon Hairston (QUESTIONABLE), Yaw Yeboah (QUESTIONABLE), Erik Hurtado (QUESTIONABLE), Derrick Etienne Jr. (QUESTIONABLE)

Betting Lines

Toronto FC (+150) | Columbus Crew (+155) | Draw (+265)