In 2017, Toronto FC was in a class of its own.
The first MLS side to win a domestic treble in the League’s 23 seasons, Toronto were runaway winners of the Supporters’ Shield with an MLS record 69 points, as well as winners of the Canadian Championship and ultimately MLS Cup at the end of 2017.
This season, however, has been a different story. And while Toronto is on the road to joining yet another exclusive group, it’s one they’ll wish they hadn’t.
Sitting below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference with seven matches left to play, Toronto FC is looking to avoid becoming the fourth team in MLS history to miss the playoffs in the year after winning MLS Cup. Members of that rare dishonor include D.C. United (2000), Galaxy (2006), and the Portland Timbers (2016).
To start 2018, Toronto FC made it all the way to the peak of Concacaf mountain with a penalty shootout loss to Chivas of Guadalajara in the final. So how do they find themselves so low now?
For starters, the run of matches simply caught up to them. Playing every three days will tax any side. Toronto were one of the rare MLS teams with extraordinary depth through 2017. With the ability to rotate players without forsaking points, head coach Greg Vanney was able to navigate the huge work load associated with challenging in multiple competitions. But rotate as much as you like, a team’s form is always going to suffer without a consistent starting 11.
To start the 2018 MLS season, Toronto FC played in six matches leading up to and immediately following its two-leg Concacaf Champions League final with Chivas – the second leg took place on April 25. In those six matches, Toronto managed just four points.
The team’s form didn’t get much better from there though, taking just 12 of a possible 39 points from their next 13 matches. Look no further than Toronto’s injury list for that explanation.
In 2018, Toronto FC has been without the following players for significant chunks of the season: Jozy Altidore, Drew Moor, Victor Vázquez, Gregory van der Wiel, Chris Mavinga, and Justin Morrow. That’s not including short-term injuries to Sebastian Giovnico here and there this season.
But even after all that, Toronto are just six points from the playoff line – despite a 2-0 loss in Portland on Wednesday - with a game in hand on sixth placed Montreal, who Toronto defeated 3-1 on August 25. And they are getting healthy once again.
Right now, the games in hand of those just above them aren’t Toronto’s friend. As a battle-hardened side though, winning out would put considerable pressure on those teams.
Either way, this Toronto side is desperate to avoid becoming the fourth member of the group of teams to fail to make the playoffs after lifting MLS Cup. As LAFC travels to face them on Saturday, they better not take the champs lightly.
