Toronto FC vs Atlanta United: must-win game keeps playoff dream alive
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Toronto FC face Atlanta United on Sunday in a game they must win to stay alive.
- A loss or a draw in Atlanta ends Toronto's MLS playoff chase this season.
- Atlanta are already out of the playoffs but can still spoil Toronto's season.
Toronto FC are playing for their season right now in Atlanta. They meet Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Only a win keeps their MLS playoff dream alive.
What happened
Toronto kept their hopes alive on Wednesday night. They came from behind to beat DC United at home. That win set up a winner-takes-all trip to Atlanta.
The math is simple and cruel: Toronto sit on 39 points with two games left, while Orlando City hold the last playoff spot with 43. Anything less than a win ends the chase.
Saturday made the task even harder, as Columbus beat DC United 3-0. That result closed the last loophole for Toronto. Now only three points will do.
Manager Robin Fraser knows exactly what is at stake. "They know where we are," he told TrueNorthFoot before the game, adding that his job is to have solutions ready.
Fullback Richie Laryea carried the same message. "We are coming off a rollercoaster of a win at BMO Field," he told TFC Republic on Friday, and said the team must bring that second-half fight to Atlanta.
Toronto are not the only team with everything on the line this weekend. Our live explainer on Bills vs Ravens follows another Sunday game with huge stakes.
Why it matters
This is about ending a long wait: Toronto have not reached the MLS playoffs since 2020. Six years is a long time for a club of this size, and Sunday is their last real chance to change that.
History is against them in Atlanta. Toronto have won only once on the road against Atlanta United, and the home side are unbeaten in the last six meetings there.
Atlanta have nothing left to play for after a 2-1 loss to New York City FC in midweek. That sealed a second straight year missing the playoffs. They sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with 30 points.
But a team with nothing to lose is still dangerous. Atlanta have lost four of their last five games, with the only win a 3-0 victory over CF Montreal on October 14.
Atlanta still have real talent in attack. Breel Embolo has four goals and one assist in ten games since joining in the summer, while Aleksei Miranchuk and Miguel Almiron have six goals and six assists each. Toronto's defense cannot switch off for 90 minutes.
Toronto's own attack has found form at the right time. Djordje Mihailovic, Josh Sargent, Daniel Salloi, and Theo Corbeanu lead the line, with Niklas Dorsch holding the middle together. Three wins and a draw in the last five games show real progress.
One young name to watch is Jackson Gilman. The 22-year-old rookie has played 12 MLS games this season, stepping in when injuries hit the defense. Fraser trusts him in big moments, reported Sportsnet.
The projected lineups show how seriously both sides take this game. Atlanta may hand 22-year-old Jayden Hibbert a start in goal, while Toronto are without the injured Walker Zimmerman in defense.
For more on reading soccer lineups, see our Racing Santander vs Real Madrid preview.
What happens next
A Toronto win keeps the dream alive for one more week. But they would still need help, with Orlando City, the New York Red Bulls, and New York City FC all needing to drop points.
Two games remain in the season, both on the road. Sportsnet reported that Toronto must win both to have a real shot, so there is no margin for error left.
The game kicked off at 4:30 PM ET on Sunday, live on Apple TV and TSN. Radio coverage runs on Star 94.1 and La Mejor, with referee Filip Dujic in charge at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
European soccer has big games this weekend too. Read our Juventus vs Napoli preview for the Serie A title race.
Toronto's season now comes down to 90 minutes in Atlanta and one more road game after that. Win both, and the playoff dream lives on. Drop any points, and the wait for a return to the postseason goes on.
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