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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer | Gameweek 11
Jun 20, 2021 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Orlando City

Toronto
2 - 3
Orlando City

Akinola (10'), Osorio (39')
Delgado (64'), Gonzalez (67')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Akindele (1'), Urso (84')
Urso (70'), Moutinho (75'), Nani (90+8')

Preview: Toronto vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Toronto and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

After a three-week international break, Toronto and Orlando City return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday, as they square off in Florida.

The two sides have had contrasting starts to the season, as Orlando sit in third spot in the Eastern Conference, while Toronto occupy 12th spot having only won one league game.


Match preview

Orlando City midfielder Mauricio Pereyra celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against D.C. United on May 16, 2021 © Reuters

Toronto return from the international break having had a disappointing start to the campaign, currently sitting in 12th spot with one win from their seven league outings.

They rounded off the opening spell of games with consecutive defeats at the end of May, most recently losing 2-1 to Columbus Crew as Ayo Akinola's goal was not enough to overturn a two-goal deficit after early goals from Luis Diaz and Gyasi Zardes for The Crew.

Before that, they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Saturday's opponents, as Tesho Akindele netted an early goal to fire Orlando to their third win of the season.

They will look to get revenge for that result on Saturday, as they aim to put the recent run behind them and record a second league win of the season to climb closer to the playoff spots.

The Reds take on an Orlando side who will look to return to action with a win after a disappointing defeat last time out.

Toronto FC head coach Chris Armas on May 15, 2021© Reuters

Orlando City fell to their first MLS defeat of the season prior to the international break, as they were beaten 2-1 by New York Red Bulls.

The hosts went two goals ahead through Caden Clark and Cristian Casseres, and Silvester van de Water's 84th-minute goal for the Lions was not enough to spark a comeback and salvage a result.

That saw them drop behind Philadelphia Union to third spot, having won three and drawn three of their opening six games before that defeat.

However, they do have a game in hand on both the second-placed side and Conference leaders New England Revolution, who sit five points ahead, meaning the landscape could quickly change at the top end of the table.

With the top two sides playing on Sunday, Orlando will be desperate to make a return to winning ways and put pressure on those sides while keeping their game in hand.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Toronto form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L



Team News

Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore celebrates his goal with teammates on May 12, 2021 © Reuters

Toronto come into this game without forward Yeferson Soteldo, who is away with Venezuela at the Copa America.

Meanwhile, they also remain without several players through injury, as defender Julian Dunn and winger Erickson Gallardo are expected to miss out.

Forwards Dom Dwyer and Ifunanyachi Achara should also continue spells on the sidelines, having missed the last game through injury.

Furthermore, experienced forward Jozy Altidore should play no part, as he is currently training on his own due to tense relations with the club.

That should leave Ayo Akinola to lead the line alongside Nick DeLeon.

The Orlando City squad has also taken a hit due to the Copa America, with key midfielder Sebastian Mendez away with Ecuador and first-choice goalkeeper Pedro Gallese playing for Peru.

That should see Tottenham Hotspur loanee Brandon Austin come into the side between the sticks, while Joey DeZart may partner Junior Urso in front of the back four.

Tesho Akindele is expected to lead the line once again, having hit two goals and two assists in the opening seven games of the MLS season.

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Laryea, Mavinga, Zavaleta, Lawrence; Delgado, Auro, Bradley, Shaffelburg; Akinola, DeLeon

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Austin; Smith, Carlos, Jansson, Schlegel; Urso, DeZart; Perea, Pereyra, Mueller; Akindele


SM words green background

We say: Toronto 1-2 Orlando City

Although both sides have been hit by absentees, we see a majorly depleted Toronto squad falling to another defeat on Saturday, given their disappointing start to the campaign.

While they will have the advantage of Orlando playing with a relatively inexperienced goalkeeper, the lack of attacking options means they could still struggle, and we see them being slightly outclassed.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Toronto win with a probability of 45.12%. A win for Orlando City had a probability of 29.59% and a draw had a probability of 25.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Toronto win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.08%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.18%) and 2-0 (7.71%). The likeliest Orlando City win was 0-1 (7.84%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.99%). The actual scoreline of 2-3 was predicted with a 2.2% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Orlando City

Toronto
28.0%
Draw
36.0%
Orlando City
36.0%
25
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami105322215718
2New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls9441139416
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati9432108215
4Columbus Crew9351129314
5Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia7340149513
6Toronto9414912-313
7Atlanta UnitedAtlanta8323139411
8New York City FCNY City932499011
9Charlotte FCCharlotte FC9324911-211
10CF MontrealMontreal83231216-411
11DC United92431214-210
12Orlando City82331015-59
13Chicago Fire92341118-79
14Nashville SCNashville8143916-77
15New England RevolutionNew England8116514-94

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy95312115618
2Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver8512179816
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake9432158715
4Colorado RapidsColorado94321513215
5Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd8422139414
6Houston DynamoHouston841398113
7Los Angeles FCLos Angeles93331514112
8St Louis City92611514112
9Austin FCAustin93331213-112
10Sporting Kansas CityKansas92521716111
11Portland TimbersPortland92431818010
12Seattle SoundersSeattle81349906
13Dallas8125712-55
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes91081324-113


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