Toronto FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
Toronto FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
BMO Field – Toronto
August 18 – 8:00 PM ET

TV: TSN

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN App in Canada

Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps will resume their 2020 regular season in the first of back-to-back meetings at BMO Field on August 18. It's been 15 months since the teams last played, a 1-1 draw at BC Place, but it will be two showdowns in a span of four days with Toronto FC, Vancouver and the Montreal Impact playing a Canadian-only schedule in Phase One of the restart of the 2020 season.

Ayo Akinola became a household name at the MLS is Back Tournament, where Toronto FC went unbeaten in the group stage before being upset by NYCFC in the Round of 16. The Whitecaps were without many of their familiar faces in Orlando, but still found a way into the knockout round. They'll bring confidence with them into Toronto for their week-long stay.

Before labeling Toronto FC the clear favorite, consider the history between the sides at BMO Field. It's even a 2-2-1 in league play with both teams scoring nine goals. Heck its even 2-2-1 in Vancouver after last year's encounter ended in a draw with Nick DeLeon scoring a 90th-minute equalizer after Fredy Montero put the 'Caps in front six minutes earlier.

Toronto FC

Despite the eliminating defeat to NYCFC, in which it looked like Toronto FC ran out of gas, Greg Vanney's squad proved what many of us already knew — this team is a contender to return to MLS Cup. Akinola seemingly came out of nowhere to score five goals in his first two games, but his race for the Golden Boot presented by Audi was slowed by injury. His emergence gives Vanney an interesting tactical conundrum. Does he change formations and go with two strikers, starting Akinola with Jozy Altidore? Or does one become a supersub?

Toronto resume their season unbeaten in five regular season contests, second in the East with nine points.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Achara (M) - ACL surgery
- QUESTIONABLE: Ayo Akinola (F) - hamstring injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Vancouver Whitecaps

One of the best stories of the MLS is Back Tournament, Vancouver managed to get through the group stage and almost spring a Round of 16 upset despite missing over a third of their team — including multiple starters. The goal when they returned home from Orlando was to be in a playoff position, as they were when they left. Mission (almost) accomplished as the 'Caps are one point behind the playoff line.

Like Akinola for Toronto FC, Thomas Hasal was opportunistic when given his chance and the Canadian youth international was arguably the revelation of the tournament, earning a clean sheet in a must-win game against Chicago Fire FC and then made eight saves in a Man of the Match performance in a penalty-kick shootout ouster by Sporting Kansas City.

The 'Caps resume their season without one of their key cogs as South Korean international Inbeom Hwang was sold to Russian club Rubin Kazan Friday.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Janio Bikel (M) - left adductor strain
- OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
- QUESTIONABLE: Érik Godoy (D) - right quadricep strain
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None