Toronto FC coach John Carver knows it's a "huge week" for the club as they prepare to face San Jose Earthquakes in MLS on Saturday, followed by the Nutrilite Canadian Championship decider against Montreal Impact on Tuesday. The Reds must beat the Impact to lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualify as Canada's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League, but first they look to stay unbeaten at home in MLS this season when the Quakes come to town.
"This is a huge week," said Carver. "Everybody expects us to win our home games but we're in for a very tough game. First we have to get something from the San Jose game to pick up important points in the league, and then Tuesday is a huge game for the club. It's a cup final with a chance to play in a big competition. Once we get this month out of the way, the games settle down, but we've got to start picking up points and winning games. We've been working very hard on the training ground to prepare for the game."
San Jose Earthquakes (3-9-4) are bottom of the Western Standings in their first season back in MLS. The Quakes strengthened their team this week by signing forwards Darren Huckerby from the English Championship and Scott Sealy from Kansas City Wizards. "With Huckerby and Sealy added to their attack it gives them a different dimension," said Carver. "It will give them a lift, but we've got to make sure we disappoint them. They'll come here well organized and very difficult to break down."
Toronto held Huckerby's rights after filing a discovery on the forward earlier this year, but he opted to join the Earthquakes. "It was a disappointment for me that he decided he didn't want to come here," said Carver. "We did everything in our power to get him, but he decided to go to San Jose. I wish him all the best and I'll speak to him after the game when we've taken three points off him."
Kick off is at 3:00 p.m. live on CBC.
