Toronto FC vs Atlanta United

Toronto FC welcome Atlanta United to BMO Field for an Eastern Conference clash in MLS Matchday 5.

The hosts have looked a completely different side under first-year head coach John Herdman, as they sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference table with seven points from four games played. TFC managed to pull off wins against New England Revolution and Charlotte FC, but will now be tasked with picking up three points without the likes of Sean Johnson and Richie Laryea who are both on the treatment table.

Atlanta also face a similar problem that the Reds have encountered, as players like Giorgos Giakoumakis and Thiago Almada have linked up with their respective nations for this month’s internationals. The Five Stripes have rebounded after their opening day defeat to Columbus Crew, winning two straight games against the Revs and rivals Orlando City to find themselves in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with six points from three games played.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the clash between the Five Stripes and the Reds.

Herdman will be without standout goalkeeper Sean Johnson as the former NYCFC figure sustained a thigh injury earlier in the season and is expected to remain sidelined. Richie Laryea, who returned to Toronto for a third stint this offseason, underwent surgery to fix a hamstring problem and is expected to be out for roughly three months.

The likes of Nickseon Gomis and Raoul Petretta are both dealing with knocks and are also expected to miss the primetime matchup. Herdman will also be tasked with winning without Deybi Flores and Jonathan Osorio, who were both called up to represent their respective Honduras and Canada national teams this week.

Toronto FC predicted lineup vs Atlanta United (3-4-2-1): Gavran; O’Neill, Long, Rosted; Bernardeschi, Coello, Thompson, Marshall-Rutty; Longstaff, Insigne; Owusu.

Like Toronto, Atlanta also have a few players who were called up to represent their respective national teams this window. The likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis, Thiago Almada, Bartosz Slisz, Luis Abram, Jay Fortune and Caleb Wiley have all linked up with their national teams in preparations for the upcoming Copa America and Euro 2024 tournaments.

Pineda does have one confirmed player on the injury table, though, as new center-back Stian Gregersen sustained a knee injury during the team’s 2-0 triumph over Orlando City last weekend.

The Five Stripes also moved to bring in a backup striker to compete with Jamal Thiare, as Daniel Rios joins Atlanta for his second stint in MLS.

Atlanta United predicted lineup vs Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Lennon, Williams, Cobb, Hernandez; Muyumba, McCarty; Wolff, Lobjanidze, Silva; Thiare.

This matchup would be a lot more enticing if both sides were at full strenght and if the game wasn’t taking place right in the middle of an international break. That being said, both sides still have players that can produce magic here and there — Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi for Toronto, Saba Lobjandize and Xande Silva for Atlanta — meaning we could still have a decent watch on the horizon.

The hosts will go in front early as Insigne finds the back of the net with another screamer that Brad Guzan can’t keep out, but Jamal Thiare with score his first goal as a Five Stripe to secure a point away from home for the visitors.

Prediction: Toronto FC 1-1 Atlanta United