Toronto FC looks to ease MLS playoff path by securing first-round bye

All 20 teams are in action Sunday, dubbed Decision Day by MLS, with 10 games kicking off at 4 p.m. ET.

Should Toronto not get the combination of results it seeks, it can still finish no lower than third. That would entail a one-off knockout game at BMO Field either Wednesday or Thursday against likely Philadelphia or Montreal.

The two-legged conference semifinals begin Sunday.

If it finishes second in the standings, Toronto will open the tie Oct. 30 on the road with the home finale on Nov. 6. If it ends up third and survives the knockout game, TFC will host the opening semifinal leg and play the second leg on the road.

Toronto, now in its 10th year of existence, has never hosted a home playoff game. It made its post-season debut last season, losing 3-0 in Montreal in the first round.

The New York Red Bulls, FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids have already secured first-round byes. D.C. United, the L.A. Galaxy, Montreal Impact and New York City FC have booked their playoff berths.

New England is still mathematically in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the East currently held down by Philadelphia. But it would need a combination of results and a scoring spree to make up a goal difference differential of a dozen.

Real Salt Lake, Seattle, Sporting Kansas City and Portland, in a logjam separated by two points, are contesting the final three playoff berths in the West.

Toronto could have made life easier on itself. While it has only lost twice in the last three months (a 7-2-5 run), it has dropped points — especially at home.

TFC has not won at BMO Field since Aug. 6, an 0-2-3 run that has seen it pick up just three of a possible 15 points. And Toronto is winless (0-1-4) home and away since beating the Fire 2-1 in Chicago on Sept. 10.

Opportunity lost, acknowledged Vanney.

“Yes, we’re in a position now (where) we don’t control our own fate in terms of the bye. That’s what we lost out of this situation,” he said. “But I think we’ve been able to address some things that we need to make sure we’re tighter with as we go into the playoffs because they’re going to be important in helping us get results.”

The to-do list includes maintaining focus after scoring and looking to avoid squandering chances in front of goal.

Vanney has essentially a full roster to choose from, with midfielder Will Johnson back training from a knee sprain.

Chicago (7-16-10) arrives in the league basement, with a dismal 1-13-2 road record. Still the Fire have played spoilers in recent weeks, drawing 2-2 with Columbus and beating New England 2-1.

“For us, we have to understand this game as our final, which it is,” head coach Veljko Paunovic was quoted on the club web site. “It’s a final. It’s an opportunity to get a little bit better … In the long term, I think forging that mentality, the soccer will give us the reward.”

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Toronto FC looks to ease MLS playoff path by securing first-round bye

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