Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union | 2017 MLS Match Preview

Steve Brisendine

Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union
2017 MLS Regular Season
BMO Field - Toronto
Wednesday, Aug. 23 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE in US | TSN1/3/4/5 in Canada

Is there anybody out there who can slow Toronto FC's roll to the Supporters' Shield and the Reds' first domestic double? The Philadelphia Union will give it a try on Wednesday, but they face a serious uphill fight.

The Reds are unbeaten in their last seven, after last weekend's huge 3-1 away victory over Chicago. They've won seven of their last 12, have lost only three times all year, and lead the Shield and Eastern Conference standings by five points over New York City FC. Also, they haven't lost at home yet in 2017.

The Union, meanwhile, are just trying to catch some kind of fire down the regular-season stretch.

Saturday's 2-2 draw against San Jose -- a match that saw them concede the equalizing penalty in the last minute of stoppage time -- left them in ninth place in the East, six points below the playoff line, and with just one victory in their last four outings.

Toronto FC

Suspended: None
Int'l duty: None
Injuries: OUT: M Benoit Cheyrou (calf tear 7/22, out 8 weeks), D Nick Hagglund (left MCL sprain 8/12, out 6-8 weeks)

Projected Starting XI (3-5-2, left to right): Alex Bono – Chris Mavinga, Drew Moor, Eriq Zavaleta – Justin Morrow, Victor Vazquez, Michael Bradley, Marky Delgado, Nicolas Hasler – Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco

Notes: Toronto are unbeaten in their last 13 regular season home games (10W-3D) and have scored four goals in each of their last two home games. They have never scored four goals in three consecutive home games in franchise MLS history. ... Sebastian Giovinco has taken 105 shots this year, second only to David Villa (109). The third highest player (Nemanja Nikolic) has taken 82 shots.

Philadelphia Union

Suspended: None
Int'l Duty: None
Injuries: OUT: F Fabian Herbers (sports hernia surgery recovery) QUESTIONABLE: M Maurice Edu (left ankle/left tibia surgery recovery), M Ilsinho (right adductor strain)

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Andre Blake – Raymon Gaddis, Joshua Yaro, Jack Elliott, Giliano Wijnaldum – Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin – Chris Pontius, Roland Alberg, Fafa Picault – CJ Sapong

Notes: The Union have only won once in MLS road play this year (7L-4D). They are won of five teams in MLS with less than two away wins this season. ... Philadelphia wins an average of 16.2 aerials per game this year, the most of any MLS team. The New York Red Bulls (15.4) and D.C. United (14.2) are the only other club winning more than 14 aerials won per game.

All-Time Series

They don't get much more even than this. Each team owns six wins in the series, and there have been six draws -- including a 2-2 stalemate in March in Chester, Pa.

Overall: Toronto FC 6 wins, 22 goals; Philadelphia 6 wins, 26 goals; 5 draws
At Toronto: Toronto FC 4 wins, 13 goals; Philadelphia 2 wins, 14 goals; 3 draws