SoccerNews
John Herdman hopes a short break from action allowed Toronto FC an “emotional reset” and the chance to build chemistry ahead of Saturday’s return to MLS play at the Houston Dynamo.
Toronto reached the first knockout stage of the Leagues Cup but were beaten 4-3 by Inter Miami in a thrilling tie on August 9, giving them over two weeks to prepare for their next game.
With Toronto currently occupying a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, Herdman hopes they can use that match as a learning experience ahead of the run-in.
“We’ve had a good crack at it. Miami will always be some way around the finals,” Herdman said, reflecting on the Reds’ Leagues Cup run.
“It’s a good lesson for us because if you want to make the playoffs, these are the teams you have to learn to beat.
“Now it’s about work. We’ve had a chance to really bring this team together. It’s a chance to build chemistry, to have an emotional reset ahead of the MLS playoff push, with some big games coming up.”
Working towards Saturday pic.twitter.com/LTphqzlrAG
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) August 21, 2024
Houston went out at the same stage, losing on penalties following a 2-2 draw with Toluca.
They also harbour postseason dreams, sitting sixth in the Western Conference but just one point clear of the play-in spots, and coach Ben Olsen is keen for them to kick on.
“We’ll try to get better and continue to push the group,” Olsen said.
“Now we just have one tournament left, and hopefully it’s all about doing what we can to put ourselves in a good spot towards the latter stages of the league.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Ibrahim Aliyu
Aliyu has six goals and four assists for Houston in MLS this season, with his overall tally of 10 goal contributions two more than any of his team-mates have managed (Amine Bassi and Sebastian Ferreira have eight apiece).
Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi
Excluding own goals, 22 of the last 23 regular-season goals Toronto have scored dating back to late April have featured a goal contribution by at least one of the Italian trio of Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne or Raoul Petretta.
Bernardeschi has recorded more goal involvements (12, eight goals and four assists) and created more chances (54) than any other Toronto player this term.
MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
This will be the first meeting between Toronto and the Dynamo in Houston since April 2018, with Saturday’s hosts unbeaten in their last seven home matches against the Reds (two wins, five draws) dating back to 2011.
Houston have only lost four regular-season home matches since the start of the 2023 MLS season, the second-fewest in the league in that time (behind the Columbus Crew, two).
They are also unbeaten in their last six regular-season matches at Shell Energy Stadium (two wins, four draws), making them favourites to beat a Toronto team who have not won consecutive regular-season road games since July 2021.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 64.8%
Toronto FC – 16.3%
Draw – 18.9%