Toronto FC and New York City FC bring plenty of star power to Eastern semifinal

TORONTO — For the second time this week, Toronto FC faces the biggest game in franchise history. And the stars will be out in force for this one.

New York City FC’s trio of designated players — David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard — have a resume that may outshine that of Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. It will make for a marquee matchup Sunday in Game 1 of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal at BMO Field as Toronto enters uncharted playoff territory.

Game 2 goes Nov. 6 at Yankee Stadium.

“It sets up for a wonderful spectacle, if you will, for the league. And what the league’s about,” said Toronto coach Greg Vanney.

The stars have similar numbers this season.

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Villa, Pirlo and Lampard totalled 36 goals and 18 assists in a combined 83 games. Giovinco, Bradley and Altidore combined for 30 goals and 27 assists in 78 games, including Wednesday’s 3-1 first-round playoff win over Philadelphia.

Together the six are earning some US$39 million this season, according to the MLS Players Union. 

The New York DPs sport a bigger number when it comes to age. Their total is 109, compared to 84 for Toronto.

New York City FC (15-10-9) finished one point ahead of Toronto (14-9-11) in the standings.

Toronto has never beaten NYCFC, losing twice and tying three times. Both meetings this season ended in ties — 2-2 in New York on March 13 and 1-1 in Toronto on May 18 with some of the DPs missing from both games.

The New Yorkers score — and concede — goals in bunches. NYCFC ranked first in the league with 62 goals and 17th in goals conceded with 57. In contrast, Toronto was seventh in scoring with 51 goals and tied for second in goals conceded at 39.

“Certainly defensively we have our work cut out for us,” said veteran Toronto centre back Drew Moor.

“If you stay tuned in on them and communicate well, you might have a chance to keep them off the scoresheet,” Moore said of the NYCFC DPs. “But Villa is certainly an MVP candidate, (he) scored a lot of goals (23) this year and he’s getting some pretty good service from some very good players.”

While the designated players may hog the limelight, both teams have plenty of players that can make a difference.

Vanney pointed to defenders R.J. Allen and Ronald Matarrita and midfielders Tommy McNamara and Jack Harrison as players to watch.

“They’ve got a good solid team,” he said. “We can’t get too caught up in just the three so-called stars for them.” 

Veteran Spanish defensive midfielder Andoni Iraola also plays an important role for NYCFC, helping set up their attacks from the back.

“He’s their pivot guy … He’s vital because he’s the one guy who kind of manipulates the game a little bit in space, aside from the three (DPs) that we already know of,” said Vanney. “He’s an important factor and he also allows the Pirlos and the Lampards to do the things that they’re capable of doing because he’s very disciplined in sitting in front of that back group and protecting them and protecting the spaces when they have to go out.

“He’s experienced, he knows his role and he’s quite good at it.”

In what might be a good omen for Toronto, Saturday was National Cat Day. Iraola admits to a “small phobia of cats,” saying they always bring him bad luck.

Canadian Silviu Petrescu will referee Sunday’s game, which may well be a sellout of some 30,000.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press