Toronto FC (11-17-3, 36 points) visit 1998 MLS expansion club Chicago Fire FC (7-16-8, 29 pts) at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. The Matchday 35 encounter in Bridgeview, Illinois kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed globally on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
The Reds will be eager to return to winning ways in their final regular season match on the road, before concluding their playoff push with a pair of home matches in October to round out the 2024 MLS regular season. Historically TFC hold a 14W-12L-12T record through their first 38 regular season meetings with the Fire and the Reds will be looking for their first road victory in Chicago since July 2021.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Toronto FC’s 2024 campaign continues with the seventeenth and final away game of the MLS regular season against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday evening. Heading into Matchday 35, the Reds hold a 54W-165L-71T all-time record (233 points) in MLS regular season matches played on the road.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
Toronto FC visit 1998 MLS expansion club Chicago Fire FC for the 39th encounter in the all-time series between the two clubs. Historically, TFC hold a 14W-12L-12T record through their first 38 regular season meetings with the Fire. The two Eastern Conference clubs have previously faced off at SeatGeek Stadium (formerly Toyota Park) on 14 separate occasions, with the Reds holding a combined 3W-5L-6T record at the soccer-specific stadium. TFC will be looking for their first road victory against the Fire since running out as 2-1 winners, courtesy of a goal in each half from Yeferson Soteldo and Nick DeLeon, on July 24, 2021, at Soldier Field.
BATTLE OF THE NORTH
Toronto FC took on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Final at BC Place on Wednesday evening. Despite dominating proceedings in British Columbia, the Reds were unable to convert any of their goalscoring opportunities in regulation and ultimately fell to a 4-2 penalty shootout after the two sides remained goalless through 90 minutes. On the night, TFC midfielder and captain Jonathan Osorio made his 32nd Canadian Championship appearance, tying Russell Teibert (formerly of Vancouver Whitecaps FC) with the most appearances in tournament history. TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson also recorded his ninth clean sheet of the 2024 season across all competitions (MLS regular season, Leagues Cup and Canadian Championship) and the fifteenth clean sheet of his career with the Reds. Deandre Kerr, meanwhile, earned the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Golden Boot award after scoring a tournament-high five goals.
FIFTY NOT OUT
A pair of Reds made their 50th appearances for Toronto FC (across all competitions) in Vancouver on Wednesday evening. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson and midfielder Alonso Coello became the eleventh and twelfth active TFC players to reach the milestone, following in the footsteps of teammates Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Deandre Kerr, Federico Bernardeschi, Shane O’Neill, Kosi Thompson, Kobe Franklin, Lorenzo Insigne, Raoul Petretta and Sigurd Rosted in reaching the half-century milestone. American Sean Johnson originally signed with the club on January 27, 2023, and made his club debut against D.C. United on February 25, 2023. Spaniard Alonso Coello, meanwhile, signed with TFC on March 31, 2023, after spending one season with Toronto FC II in MLS NEXT Pro, and made his club debut against the San Jose Earthquakes on March 24, 2023.
THE CLIMB CONTINUES
Toronto FC resume MLS action in the Windy City after recording a win and a pair of losses in their last three regular season matchups following the September international break. The Reds began the month with a 2-1 home victory over Austin FC on September 14, courtesy of first-half goals from Canadian pair Jonathan Osorio and Deandre Kerr, at BMO Field, marking the club’s first-ever victory against Los Verdes. TFC then dropped a pair of 2-0 results to the Columbus Crew on September 18 at BMO Field and Colorado Rapids on September 21 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Following a long-term injury layoff, Brandon Servania made his return to MLS action as a second-half substitute against the Crew on September 18 before starting his first MLS match three nights later against the Rapids, marking the American midfielder’s first start since September 20, 2023 (368 days).
FAMILIAR FACE
Toronto FC shot-stopper Sean Johnson previously spent seven seasons (2010 – 2016) between the sticks for, TFC’s weekend opponent, Chicago Fire. The Lilburn, Georgia native was originally selected by the Fire in the fourth round (51st overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and made his club debut in a 3-2 win against LA Galaxy on August 1, 2010. Johnson made a combined 194 appearances for the Fire across all competitions and was named Chicago Fire's Defender of the Year for the 2013 MLS season.
