PREVIEW: Toronto FC take on LA Galaxy in pivotal game as Vanney makes first visit back to BMO Field

Greg Vanney will make his return to BMO Field, a place he spent six seasons managing the touch line (2014-2020), when his LA Galaxy travel north of the border to take on Toronto FC in Week 28 MLS action Wednesday evening.

“It’s something that’s been circled on my calendar for a long time,” Vanney said. “Excited to go back and see people I haven’t seen in a while, some of the players, some of the staff, people around the community. Excited to go back.”

Speaking to media prior to Wednesday’s match, Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, who was present for the entirety of Vanney’s tenure, had nothing but great things to say about the former TFC manager.

“Greg and I had an incredible relationship,” said Bradley. “The experiences that we shared, the things that we were able to accomplish together, moments along the way – some out there for everyone to see, some private – the relationship that our families have with each other. Greg gave his heart and soul to what we did here for a lot of years, and obviously, we had some unbelievable days all together. Whenever you have the opportunity to see him now, it’s always nice to check in…”

There’s an expectation that TFC will pay tribute to Vanney prior to kickoff (7:30 pm ET).

In addition to Vanney, former players Victor Vazquez, Raheem Edwards, and Eriq Zavaleta will also make their returns to BMO Field. All four guys (including Vanney) were part of TFC’s treble-winning 2017 season. Former Red Mark Delgado will miss out due to “non-Covid related Health & Safety Protocols.”

Beyond the sentimental returns, Wednesday’s game carries a lot of weight for both Toronto FC and the Galaxy.

Toronto (9W-13L-6D), who have played one more match than most teams in the Eastern Conference, are three points back of a playoff spot with six games remaining. With not much margin for error, the Reds will need all three points to essentially stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. With that said, expect a TFC team that will go for broke, especially at home where they’ve found success this season (7W-5L-2D).

The Galaxy, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three games and are equally as desperate to pick up points as they’re amid their own playoff battle in the Western Conference. Entering Wednesday, LA (11W-11L-4D) are narrowly hanging on to the seventh-and-final playoff spot – just one point up on the Portland Timbers. Like Toronto, they can’t afford to drop many points at this stage of the season, setting the stage for what should be an entertaining fixture.

“It’s a good team with a lot of good players to put it in the most simple way,” said Bradley. “We know Greg, and we know Greg well, and we know that he wants his team to play football and he wants his teams to have control and step onto the field with an idea of how they’re going to play, how they’re going to attack, how they’re going to defend. His teams are organized, and in all of those ways, play at a high level.”

Bradley continued: “They’ve made a few additions halfway through the season here as well. I think [Gastón] Brugman has come in and become an important player for them quickly. Obviously Riqui Puig is a young, really talented player … and then they still have guys like Victor Vazquez and Chicharito. … It's a good team with a lot of good players so I think it sets up to be a really good game.”

Toronto will continue to lean heavily on their new Italian stars: Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, and Domenico Criscito. The trio have combined to contribute to 13 of Toronto FC’s last 15 goals – including the last seven in a row.

Insigne and Bernardeschi scored the lone goals for the Reds on Saturday night in their 2-0 win over Charlotte FC, and it’s become clear that TFC’s playoff aspirations in 2022 will only go as far as their new stars will carry them.

“Yeah, they like it,” said head coach Bob Bradley, when asked how the three Italians have enjoyed playing for TFC so far. “You can tell they love football, they’re excited about what’s going on. They can see the way the team is moving in a good direction, they love the city, so all of those things are really positive.”

On the injury front for Toronto, the team may have to once again contend without a pair of key pieces in the midfield. Mark-Anthony Kaye – who appears poised to miss his seventh consecutive league match – and Jonathan Osorio, who did not travel with the team to Charlotte over the weekend. The duo trained on their own Tuesday and are listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.

“Both seem like things are coming around, but slow,” said Bob Bradley. “So, if you say to me right now, there’s still question marks.”

With both central midfielders absent, as well as Deandre Kerr – who left Saturday’s game with an apparent lower-body injury – look for Insigne to once again be utilized in more of a central role like he was deployed in the second half against Charlotte.

The Galaxy are looking for just their second win ever at BMO Field (1-3-4) and first since 2009.

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INJURY REPORTS

Toronto FC: Deandre Kerr (Out), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Questionable), Jonathan Osorio (Questionable)

LA Galaxy: Mark Delgado (Out), Jorge Villafaña (Season-Ending Injured List), Jonathan Pérez (OUT)

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PREDICTED TORONTO FC STARTING XI

‍(4-3-3) Bono; Laryea, MacNaughton, Mavinga, Criscito; Thompson, Bradley, Nelson; Insigne, Jiménez, Bernardeschi

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BETTING LINES

Toronto FC (+102) | LA Galaxy (+225) | Draw (+285)

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