Toronto FC (11-17-4, 37 points) host 1996 MLS founding club New York Red Bulls (10-7-14, 44 points) at BMO Field on Wednesday evening. The Matchday 36 encounter in Toronto, Ontario kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed globally on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and on TSN 1/4/5 in Canada.
After collecting a road point in Chicago on Saturday, the Reds continue their playoff push looking to return to winning ways in their penultimate home match of the 2024 MLS regular season. Historically, TFC hold a 9W-22L-10T record through their first 41 regular season meetings with the Red Bulls in regular season play and the Reds will be looking for their first home victory against their midweek opponents since July 2019.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Toronto FC host New York Red Bulls at BMO Field for the second and final MLS regular season meeting between the two clubs on Saturday evening. With seven home wins in 2024, TFC hold a 122W-90L-77T all-time record (443 points) in MLS regular season matches played on home soil to date.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
Toronto FC welcome the New York Red Bulls, one of Major League Soccer’s ten founding clubs in 1996, for the 42nd encounter in the all-time series between the two clubs. Historically, TFC hold a 9W-22L-10T record through their first 41 regular season meetings and hold the edge in the head-to-head series played in Toronto with a 7W-5L-7T record through 19 meetings at BMO Field. The Reds will be looking for their first home win against the Red Bulls since goals from Jozy Altidore, Alejandro Pozuelo and Ashtone Morgan lifted TFC to a 3-1 victory on July 17, 2019, at BMO Field.
THE CLIMB CONTINUES
Toronto FC return home to BMO Field after playing three games in three different North American cities across two different competitions within the span of eight days. Most recently, TFC earned a road point following a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire FC at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. The Reds took a late first-half lead when Prince Owusu scored from the penalty spot, marking the German striker’s team-leading 11th goal of the 2024 campaign. The Fire equalized via Jonathan Dean in the 84th minute, as the two sides settled for a point apiece in the Matchday 35 encounter. Three nights earlier, TFC faced the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Final. The Reds fell short in the cup final and lost to their Canadian rivals in a penalty shootout by a score a 4-2, after a goalless 90 minutes at BC Place. On the night, TFC’s Jonathan Osorio made his 32nd Canadian Championship appearance, tying Russell Teibert (formerly of Vancouver Whitecaps FC) with the most appearances in tournament history. American goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded the fifteenth clean sheet of his career with the Reds while Homegrown striker Deandre Kerr earned the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Golden Boot award after scoring a tournament-high five goals. The Reds previously began the road trip taking on the Colorado Rapids of the Western Conference and dropped a 2-0 result courtesy of second-half goals from Reggie Cannon and Djordje Mihailovic at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on September 21.
TORONTO’S VERY OWN
Saturday’s encounter in Chicago marked a historic milestone in the career of TFC captain Jonathan Osorio. Currently in his twelfth season with his hometown club, the Toronto native made his 300th Major League Soccer regular season appearance for Toronto FC against the Chicago Fire and became the first player in club history to reach the milestone while representing the Reds. Osorio also became only the fourth Canadian-born player to make at least 300 regular season appearances in Major League Soccer history.
KICK CHILDHOOD CANCER
This Wednesday, Toronto FC will be celebrating Major League Soccer’s 11th annual “Kick Childhood Cancer” campaign at BMO Field to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Highlighted by the internationally recognized gold color for childhood cancer, Saturday’s match will feature: a commemorative adidas 2024 MLS Kick Childhood Cancer official match ball, gold corner flags, gold goal nets, gold captain’s armbands along with gold ribbon jersey patches. Players from both clubs, Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls, will be sporting 2024 MLS Kick Childhood Cancer adidas pre-match tops during warm-ups as well as on the bench and sidelines at BMO Field. Fans can purchase Toronto FC’s 2024 MLS Kick Childhood Cancer adidas pre-match top at Real Sports Apparel kiosks in-stadium and online at Real Sports Apparel. Fans can also visit Auctions.RealSports.ca to bid on Kick Childhood Cancer match-worn jerseys. Proceeds from the auction will go to Campfire Circle – an organization that provides year-round community, in hospital and overnight camp programs that deliver a sense of community at any age of a childhood cancer journey.
ONCE A RED (BULL)
Currently playing in his ninth MLS season, TFC’s Derrick Etienne Jr. previously spent five seasons with the New York Red Bulls organization. A product of the New York Red Bulls Academy, the Haitian international signed a First Team contract as a Homegrown player with the Red Bulls on December 21, 2015, and made his MLS debut against D.C. United on September 11, 2016. With the Red Bulls, Etienne Jr. scored six goals and recorded four assists through 79 combined appearances (2016 – 2019) and helped the Red Bulls clinch the 2018 Supporters’ Shield. The winger also scored 15 goals in 57 appearances for New York Red Bulls II across five seasons and helped Dos Toros lift the 2016 USL regular season and championship titles. Since joining Toronto FC on April 24, 2024, Etienne Jr. has scored five goals and recorded three assists in 28 appearances across all competitions (MLS regular season, Canadian Championship and Leagues Cup).
