Toronto FC vs. Club America | Concacaf Champions League Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Toronto FC vs. Club America
2018 Concacaf Champions League – Semifinals, Leg 1
BMO Field - Toronto
8 pm ET – April 3, 2018
WATCH: UDN, univisiondeportes.com, go90.com, TSN1 (in Canada)

Major League Soccer took two of three showdowns against Liga MX foes in the Concacaf Champions League and the final four of the competition means two more intriguing showdowns between the region’s top two leagues beginning with Toronto FC taking on Club America.

Two-time CCL champions Club America easily disposed of Panama’s Tauro, 7-1, on aggregate in the quarterfinals, while Toronto FC advanced on away goals after tying Tigres UANL 4-4 in a battle of defending league champions.

The teams haven’t met in an official match, but squared off in the preseason as part of TFC’s week-long training at altitude in Mexico City.

Toronto FC

Eight minutes after Eduardo Vargas gave Tigres an away goal, Jozy Altidore leveled and then Jonathan Osorio struck the dramatic 89th-minute winner in a 2-1 win in the opening leg, while Sebastian Giovinco’s 73rd-minute free kick — TFC’s second away goal following an own goal by Rafael Carioca — proved to be the series clincher in a 3-2 Tigres second-leg win at Estadio Universitario.

On Friday night, Toronto FC picked up their first league win of the 2018 campaign, a comfortable 3-1 victory over visiting Real Salt Lake. Altidore struck for a first-half brace, including a penalty kick after Giovinco had his attempt from the spot saved by Nick Rimando. Tosaint Ricketts added a second-half stoppage time insurance goal after Corey Baird pulled RSL within a goal in the 82nd minute.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore
Injury Report: OUT: D - Nick Hagglund (hamstring); PROBABLE: D - Justin Morrow (calf strain), D - Chris Mavinga (abdominal discomfort), M - Victor Vazquez (back spasms)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Drew Moor, Chris Mavinga, Justin Morrow — Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio — Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco

Club America

Club America flexed their muscles with a 4-0 win over Tauro in the first leg in Mexico City before scoring the first three goals in a 3-1 victory in Panama City. Henry Martin led Las Águilas with three goals, while US international Joe Corona added a goal in the first leg.

Agustin Marchesin was outstanding and Mateus Uribe and Cecilio Dominguez struck 12 minutes apart in the first half to lift America to an emotional 2-1 win over Cruz Azul in the Clasico Joven on Saturday night at Estadio Azteca. Oribe Peralta left the match in the 75th minute with a rib injury, but Miguel Herrera said after the match is ready to face TFC on Tuesday. America are fourth in the Clausura standings, just three points behind leaders Toluca after 13 rounds.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Emanuel Aguilera, Carlos Vargas, Cecilio Dominguez, Paul Aguilar, Alejandro Diaz
Injury Report: OUT: Jeremy Menez (leg), Oscar Jimenez (lower back); QUESTIONABLE: F - Oribe Peralta (rib)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Agustin Marchesin — Paul Aguilar, Bruno Valdez, Emanuel Aguilera, Carlos Vargas — Renato Ibarra, Mateus Uribe, Guido Rodriguez, Cecilio Dominguez — Henry Martin, Oribe Peralta

All-Time Series

This is the first-ever appearance between the teams.
CONCACAF Champions League history: Toronto - 4 appearances (2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13) 13 wins, 9 losses, 8 ties (41 goals) … America - 3 appearances (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16) 19 wins, 3 losses, 6 ties (71 goals)