LA Galaxy vs. Toronto FC
2017 MLS Match Preview
StubHub Center – Carson, Calif.
Saturday, September 16 – 10:30 p.m. ET
WATCH: TSN1/3/4; MLS LIVE in US
Supporters' Shield favorites Toronto FC roll into StubHub Center on Saturday with a five-match winning streak, and 10 undefeated, on the line against the LA Galaxy. The Reds will need to overcome a historical aversion to success in the California confines – where they've won but once in eight attempts (1-5-2) – as well as absences of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, who will be rested for the trip.
The Galaxy will be dealing with notable absences of their own, as both winger Romain Alessandrini and midfielder Jermaine Jones – the latter of whom only recently returned from injury – will both miss the match due to yellow card accumulation. Late season though it may be, LA have pulled a pair of positive results from their last two matches, and led nearly all of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Seattle. Sigi Schmid will continue to guide the ship toward 2018 stabilization, and hopes that the Gyasi Zardes revival continues to tour.
LA Galaxy
- Suspended: Romain Alessandrini, Jermaine Jones (yellow card accumulation)
- Int’l Duty: NONE
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Robbie Rogers (ankle injury), M - Sebastian Lletget (foot surgery), M - Baggio Husidic (fractured fibula), D - Pele van Anholt (torn ACL/meniscus)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1; left-to-right)
GK: Jon Kempin – Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney, Bradley Diallo – Joao Pedro, Jonathan dos Santos – Bradford Jamieson, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng – Gyasi Zardes
Notes: The Galaxy’s 3-0 win over Colorado on September 2nd snapped a 10-game home winless run (6L-4D). It was the first time they had scored 3+ goals in a regular season home game since September 11, 2016 (4-2 win over Orlando City). … Alessandrini, who will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation, has played a role in 19 of the Galaxy’s 34 goals this season (nine goals, 10 assists). No teammate has more than seven goals and assists in 2017.
Toronto FC
- Suspended: NONE
- Int’l Duty: NONE
- Injury Report: OUT: M - Benoit Cheyrou (calf tear), D - Nick Hagglund (left MCL sprain); QUESTIONABLE: GK - Clint Irwin (dislocated fingers)
Projected Starting XI
(3-5-1-1; left-to-right)
GK: Alex Bono — Chris Mavinga, Drew Moor, Eriq Zavaleta — Justin Morrow, Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley, Marky Delgado, Steven Beitashour Victor Vazquez — Tosaint Ricketts
Notes: Toronto’s 4-0 win over San Jose last weekend was their fifth in a row. Another win over the Galaxy would match the franchise record (six straight wins), a mark they set from April 21 to May 13 of this year. … Toronto have scored 29 goals in league play since July 1, the most in the league. Only four other teams have scored more than 20, and no other team has scored more than 25.
All-Time Series
- Overall: LA 6 wins (23 goals) … Toronto 3 wins (14 goals) … Ties 6
- At LA: LA 5 wins (19 goals) … Toronto 1 win (8 goals) … Ties 2
Referees
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Hosking, Adam Ganer
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Henrik Karlsson
