Tag: Toronto FC

This MLS playoff race is an absolute mess

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess

The race for the MLS playoffs is promising that Decision Day will be as bonkers as it ever has been.

The final day of the regular season is less than a month away, with 28 of the league’s 29 teams set for two breathless rounds of simultaneous kickoffs, one for each conference (sorry D.C. United, you’re just going to have to follow along at home).

There’s an old MLS truism that a team just needs to stay in touch until late August or so, and that if said team can start to heat up around Labor Day, you’re looking at a major threat coming from what on paper is a low playoff seed. Plenty of teams with multiple MLS Cups in their trophy case have at least one season where they followed this plan to a tee.

However, in 2023 it’s not so much about getting hot at the right time as simply ending up next to an empty seat during a poorly-played game of musical chairs. Seven teams have clinched their playoff berths already, and two more are simply abysmal.

That leaves 20 teams vying for 11 postseason spots in what is an extraordinarily forgiving set-up. The problem is that almost none of this group seems able to get a solid hold on their invite to the big dance.

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess:

Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC: How to watch as Messi could make return

Will Messi return to action for Inter Miami’s match against Toronto FC on Wednesday?

Can’t win ’em all — at least, not when Lionel Messi is missing from the lineup.

Atlanta United handed Inter Miami its first defeat in all competitions since Messi’s arrival over the weekend via a 5-2 result.

Miami will look to get back to winning ways against Toronto FC in a midweek clash on Wednesday. Since the arrival of Messi in July (in addition to Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba shortly after), Inter had gone unbeaten in 12 matches.

However, Messi and Alba ended up not playing in Atlanta, with head coach Tata Martino saying both missed the match due to “muscular fatigue.”

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With the loss, the Herons dropped to nine points behind ninth-place D.C. United in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto is a fantastic opportunity at a rebound, though, as the only team below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings. Going into the game, the status of Messi and Alba is still in doubt.

Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action:

Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC (Major League Soccer)

  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 20
  • Where: DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale)
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

MLS Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Aviles, Miller, Allen; Arroyo, Busquets, Cremaschi; Taylor, Campana, Farias

Toronto FC possible lineup:
Romero; Franklin, Rosted, Bradley, Petretta; Ibarra, Coello, Osorio; Insigne, Kerr, Bernardeschi

MLS Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Tuesday at 9:04 a.m. 

Inter Miami (-310) vs. Toronto FC (+650)

Draw: (+440)

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Martino provides Messi update ahead of Toronto FC match

The Argentine superstar could be set to miss a second straight game

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has said that Lionel Messi will be evaluated after Tuesday’s training session to determine if he’s able to play on Wednesday against Toronto FC.

Messi missed out on Saturday as Miami fell 5-2 at Atlanta United, snapping a run of 12 unbeaten games since the 36-year-old arrived in July.

Martino said that Messi and Jordi Alba both missed the match due to “muscular fatigue,” after Messi had also missed Argentina’s game against Bolivia over the international window. The head coach had previously insisted that Messi was not injured.

The defeat in Atlanta was damaging to Miami’s already shaky playoff hopes, with victory at home against TFC — the only team below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings — a must for the club to maintain a shot at the postseason.

But in a statement shared with the media, Martino couldn’t provide any assurances that Messi and Alba would be ready to face TFC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday.

“Every player on our roster wants to play every match. That is the mentality of our group,” Martino said. “We have a lot of important matches in a short window of time, and one of my responsibilities as the coach is to care for my players and help them make the hard decisions that will give us the best chance of keeping everyone healthy during this busy run.

“Beginning on Wednesday, we have six matches in 18 days, which is one match every three days, including the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. Regarding Messi and Alba, both players will train in the full session today with the team and after that we’ll see if they’re available to play and to what extent.”

Martino has previously hinted that his club will prioritize the Open Cup final on September 27 against Houston, as Inter Miami looks to win a second trophy since Messi’s arrival after its Leagues Cup triumph last month.

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2017 MLS draft pick Brandon Aubrey makes Dallas Cowboys debut

The 28-year-old is one of the most improbable rookies in the NFL this season

Brandon Aubrey may have never played in MLS after he was selected in the 2017 draft, but six years later, he completed an improbable journey to the NFL by debuting as a kicker with the Dallas Cowboys.

Toronto FC selected Aubrey 21st overall in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Aubrey had a standout college career as a defender at Notre Dame, but was unable to break through with TFC — at the time a MLS powerhouse.

Aubrey played for Toronto FC’s reserve team for a season before he was released. After one season with Bethlehem Steel FC of the USL, Aubrey left the sport in 2018.

It appeared Aubrey’s journey in pro sports had ended, as he went to work as a software engineer.

But Aubrey decided to give American football a go, hiring a kicking coach and working out through the pandemic to see if his kicking ability could translate from a round ball to an egg-shaped one.

As it turns out, it could — and then some.

Aubrey was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL, where he put together a standout season in 2022. A preseason shot with the Cowboys followed, and Aubrey, now 28, ended up beating out his competition to become one of the most unlikely NFL rookies in recent memory.

“This is my third time being a rookie technically,” Aubrey told reporters ahead of his NFL debut. “An MLS rookie, a USFL rookie, and a rookie here. So I’ve been through it. I know what it feels like to be a rookie, but I wouldn’t say I feel like a rookie here. I’ve been treated well and with a very veteran unit and bringing me along at a lot quicker pace than I have in most places.

“The only time I had a different approach was in MLS, and that didn’t work out too well too well for me. For me, I was a little bit scared or nervous there. I didn’t really feel like I belonged. So that’s something I learned from and didn’t want to repeat.”

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Herdman leaves Canada men’s national team to take over Toronto FC

The coach has left Canada Soccer after more than a decade to take over MLS’s worst team

John Herdman has departed his role as Canada men’s national team head coach to take the same position at Toronto FC.

Herdman spent more than a decade with Canada Soccer, first as women’s national team head coach and then coaching the men, leading both teams to major achievements along the way.

“John Herdman is the most successful head coach in the history of Canada Soccer,” said Canada Soccer president Charmaine Crooks in a federation release.

“From leading the women’s national team to back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, paving the way for their gold medal in 2020, and to leading the men’s national team back to the FIFA World Cup, John’s contribution to the game in Canada is unmatched.”

Herdman will stay in Canada and transition to the club game, where he’ll take over a TFC side that has the worst record in MLS. The club fired Bob Bradley as head coach in June and has been coached by Terry Dunfield on an interim basis since then.

Herdman will stay with Canada Soccer to help with the transition to a new coach before taking over Toronto FC on October 1.

“I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC,” Herdman said in a TFC release. “Personally, it’s the right time for me to step into a new challenge in my career, and the structure of a club environment is a context I’ve aspired to operate in. Having access to connect and collaborate with the staff and players daily allows for a different depth of development and connection, both on and off the pitch.”

Herdman clashes with Canada Soccer

Herdman had been with Canada Soccer since 2011 and took the men’s national team to its first World Cup since 1986 last year, so moving to a new opportunity makes sense at this stage of his career.

Still, his departure at this stage is notable — and it’s not a good sign for Canada Soccer.

Herdman has opted to skip the opportunity to coach Canada in a World Cup on home soil in 2026, and his words following June’s Nations League final defeat to the United States are likely a big reason he’s chosen to leave.

The 48-year-old did not hold back on criticizing his own federation amid a funding crisis, saying: “We brought a World Cup to our country and we’re not serious about winning it.”

Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams have been in open conflict with their federation, with the women moving to strike during February’s SheBelieves Cup over cuts to funding.

In June, Canada Soccer’s interim general secretary Jason deVos admitted the federation was nearing bankruptcy, and may not have the financial ability to schedule fall friendlies for either of its senior national teams.

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Toronto FC fires head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley

The former USMNT boss lasted just a season and a half in Canada

Toronto FC has announced that head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties.

Assistant coach and technical director Mike Sorber has also been fired, with the club’s U-17 head coach Terry Dunfield appointed as interim head coach.

Despite the league’s highest payroll, TFC sits in 14th place out of 15 Eastern Conference teams with a record of 3W-10D-7L.

“Bob has been a consummate professional with Toronto FC and we thank him for his passion and tireless work during his time here. We are all disappointed that we were not able to achieve the results we expected,” Toronto FC President Bill Manning said in a club release.

Bradley was appointed to his position ahead of the 2022 season following several years in charge of Los Angeles FC. The former USMNT head coach’s first season fell short of expectations, with the midseason additions of Italian stars Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne failing to spark a run to the postseason.

The 2023 campaign has been another disappointment on the field, and has also been filled with several indications of dissent in the TFC locker room.

Last month, Bernardeschi was benched after openly questioning Bradley’s tactics following a loss to Austin FC.

“We need to [have] a little bit more tactics,” Bernardeschi charged, “We need an idea of how we play because this is the real problem for me. It’s impossible to play like this when we play without [an] idea.”

Amid the Bernardeschi situation, The Athletic released an exposé on the turmoil within TFC’s locker room that revealed, among many other things, that Bernardeschi and Insigne were openly trying to get Bradley fired.

Midway through the season with TFC seven points out of the ninth and final playoff spot in the East, the superstar duo have gotten their wish.

Bradley drops Bernardeschi as Toronto FC’s soap opera rolls on

Bradley wasn’t too pleased to see his star player publicly flame him last weekend

Bob Bradley has dropped star attacker Federico Bernardeschi for Toronto FC’s game against D.C. United, calling the move a “coach’s decision.”

That decision came after Bernardeschi openly questioned Bradley’s tactics and approach after TFC’s loss to Austin FC last weekend.

“We need to [have] a little bit more tactics. We need an idea of how we play because this is the real problem for me. It’s impossible to play like this when we play without [an] idea,” the Italian said after a result that left TFC at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Unsurprisingly, Bradley didn’t take too kindly to one of his best players publicly flaming him.

“Coach’s decision: Fede will not be in the squad for this game,” Bradley told reporters on Friday, though he added that the decision was not a “disciplinary move.”

“There has been a lot going on this week, a lot of internal discussions. So in terms of preparing for this match, the decision was made that way,” the coach added. “When you think about preparing the group for this game, I felt this was the best way to handle it.

“There’s been just different things that we have worked through this week and that’s where it left us as we were getting closer to this match, so that we felt we could be best prepared as possible.”

Bradley denied that Bernardeschi’s long-term future at the club was in doubt.

“I think that the plan is, for sure, that Fede is back in it [next week] and we put this week behind us and we all move forward,” he said.

Bradley’s decision came on the same day The Athletic released an exposé into the ongoing soap opera that is TFC’s season, which revealed, among other things, that Bernardeschi and fellow Italian star Lorenzo Insigne led a conference call with TFC players this week that discussed their desire to see Bradley fired.

The report also stated that Bernardeschi and Insigne don’t get along, that Bernardeschi asked for and was denied a raise, that the locker room distrusts captain Michael Bradley, and this chestnut:

Bernardeschi has been admonished for using a vape pen in the practice facility, including the training room and on the team plane, despite being told multiple times it was not allowed.

All the while, Insigne and Bernardeschi have underperformed on the field in 2023, with Insigne only playing half the team’s games due to injury and Bernardeschi tallying three goals and two assists in 14 matches.

This could get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

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Federico Bernardeschi doesn’t seem to be a big Bob Bradley fan

“We need an idea of how we play because this is the real problem for me”

Federico Bernardeschi has had enough.

The Toronto FC star vented his frustration with his club’s situation and coaching staff after a 1-0 loss to Austin FC on Saturday, which left TFC rooted to the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Despite the presence of the high-paid Italian duo of Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, TFC has gone scoreless in four straight MLS matches. Insigne has also struggled to stay fit, having played in just half of his team’s games so far.

Bernardeschi sounded off after the game at Q2 Stadium, revealing his frustration with his club’s lack of a clear direction.

“Sincerely, this team, this city, the fans, everybody don’t deserve this, and I think maybe we need to change something,” Bernardeschi told reporters. “We need to [have] a little bit more tactics. We need an idea of how we play because this is the real problem for me. It’s impossible to play like this when we play without [an] idea. This is the big problem for me.”

When asked to elaborate, Bernardeschi quite explicitly put the blame on head coach Bob Bradley and his staff.

“We don’t have a construction in the game. When the player has the ball, we don’t know how to pass the ball,” the 29-year-old said. “This is the real problem, because we don’t train about that.

“We lose every game. We tie, we lose, we tie, we lose. Sometimes we win. But I can’t believe this sincerely. This is no good for the young players. They need to get better, no? And grow up with an idea of football, and the players with personality, they need to help, help us to understand and follow the idea of football. But we need the idea of football. This is the real situation.”

Bernardeschi and Insigne were added at midseason last year with TFC in a dire league position. Though the club was unable to make the postseason in 2022, expectations were high heading into the pair’s first full MLS campaign.

Instead, it’s been more of the same. Bradley may not have much time left to prove to club management, and his players, that he’s the right man to turn things around.

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Xherdan Shaqiri is once again the highest-paid player in MLS

The Swiss star tops the list, with Lorenzo Insigne in second place

The MLS Players Association has unveiled its 2023 salary guide, releasing the salaries for every player in the league.

With a guaranteed compensation of $8.2 million, Chicago Fire winger Xherdan Shaqiri has regained his position atop the list of the league’s highest-paid players. The Swiss star is followed by Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne at $7.5 million.

Shaqiri topped the list last spring, before Insigne surpassed him with a $14 million salary after joining at midseason. But the Italy international has seen his salary reduced in his second MLS season, moving him back to second place.

Though he’s the league’s highest earner, Shaqiri has put up respectable but unspectacular statistics: seven goals and 12 assists in 36 matches over two seasons while playing for one of the league’s worst teams.

Shaqiri and Insigne are followed by LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández ($7.4 million), TFC forward Federico Bernardeschi ($6.3 million) and Austin FC playmaker Sebastián Driussi ($6 million) in the top five.

Among teams TFC and the Galaxy lead the way, with CF Montréal and St. Louis City at the bottom for collective spending on player salaries.

Top 10 highest-paid MLS players*

  1. Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire: $8.2 million
  2. Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC: $7.5 million
  3. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, LA Galaxy: $7.4 million
  4. Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC: $6.3 million
  5. Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC: $6 million
  6. Héctor Herrera, Houston Dynamo: $5.3 million
  7. Douglas Costa, LA Galaxy: $4.5 million
  8. Luiz Araújo, Atlanta United: $4.5 million
  9. Christian Benteke, DC United: $4.4 million
  10. Josef Martínez, Inter Miami: $4.4 million

*All salaries in guaranteed compensation.

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CF Montreal closes Toronto FC away section after brawl between fans

Ugly scenes at BMO Field mean no away fans at Stade Saputo

The latest meeting between Canada’s biggest rivals was marred by ugly scenes in the stands, and that has consequences.

CF Montréal’s Canadian Championship quarterfinal win over Toronto FC on Tuesday saw animosity in the stands boil over, with supporters from both teams brawling during the match.

With both teams set to meet again on Saturday — this time at Stade Saputo in an MLS league match — Montréal said that it would close the away section for the game.

“The incidents that occurred on Tuesday night in Toronto are unfortunate and unacceptable,” read a Montréal club statement. “CF Montréal condemns all acts of violence, and an investigation is underway. The safety of our fans and supporter groups is of paramount importance to the club. No violence of any kind is tolerated at Stade Saputo, nor at any other stadium to which our fans travel.”

“We have consequently made the decision to close the visiting supporters’ section at Stade Saputo for Saturday’s game against Toronto.”

TFC said that the club is “actively investigating” the violence during the match.

“Toronto FC and [Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment] have a zero-tolerance policy for violence, and we continue to prioritize the safety of our fans, players, and staff,” read their statement. “We are committed to ensuring BMO Field is a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

Canada Soccer has released a statement of its own, promising to investigate and saying that they expect to announce a decision on any disciplinary matters next week.

Montréal has acted on this front before, banning one of its own supporters groups in 2021 for what it said were acts of violence, intimidation, vandalism, and the use of unauthorized pyrotechnics.

Tensions have been high at both clubs, as Montréal struggled mightily to start the 2023 season before an uptick in form over the last month has resulted in five straight wins across all competitions.

Toronto, meanwhile, were expected to contend at the top of the Eastern Conference, but have won just twice in the league and sit in 13th place.

That may help explain why the unfortunate scenes weren’t entirely disputes between opposing sets of fans. After the match, video emerged showing a TFC fan — following an apparent verbal altercation with Mark-Anthony Kaye — hurling a megaphone from the stands at the Canada midfielder (note: video contains vulgar language).

Montréal’s win pushed them through to the semifinal of the Canadian Championship, where they’ll face Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League.

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