Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Toronto FC

Another Friday is upon us, which of course means that another Orlando City game is right around the corner. It’s a big one this week, as a win will guarantee that the Lions stay out of the play-in team, and it would even give them a chance to jump into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, while anything less will give the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew a chance to leapfrog OCSC in the standings.

In between Orlando and three points is Toronto FC. The Lions will hit the road and go north of the border to BMO Field on Decision Day for their last game of the season. A match against TFC means I spoke to Corey Brady of the always excellent Waking the Red and he was kind enough to help bring us up to speed on the Reds.

Djordje Mihailovic was Toronto’s big arrival over the summer, how has he looked since joining up with TFC?

Corey Brady: Djordje made an instant impact to Toronto’s attack with good vision and the ability to put the ball into dangerous positions. He can handle the ball in tight spaces, find solutions, and move the ball. He certainly has the quality to make a difference with the right players surrounding him.  Unfortunately, TFC’s attack has been anemic at best and Mihailovic has only scored two goals and added two assists since arriving in Toronto.

What are your thoughts on Robin Fraser’s first full season in charge? Do you think things are heading in the right direction?

CB: Fraser currently has a record of five wins, 14 draws, and 14 losses in 33 matches —  with an average of 0.88 points per game (PPG). It has not been fantastic, but Fraser has seemed to be able to solidify the team’s defense, with TFC only conceding 42 goals.  For reference, Toronto gave up 61 goals in 2024 and 59 goals in 2023. Fraser’s defense-first philosophy has not translated into any type of offense, as Toronto has only scored 33 goals so far this season.

TFC looks a lot different than it did at the start of the season, with Federicho Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne, out the door and Tyrese Spicer now in Orlando. What are some of the roster needs for this team heading into the off-season?

CB: The biggest need is a legitimate goal-scoring threat and an offensive-minded forward.  While Mihailovic’s addition was a pleasant surprise in the summer, the lack of any type of goal scorer has hindered Toronto’s chances at being competitive.  Theo Corbeanu leads the team with six goals and is on a loan until the end of the season. Perhaps a concerted effort to sign a forward that can score in MLS is the biggest need.  That being said, GM Jason Hernandez has been promising a new number 9 since 2023 — so we’re not holding our collective breath.

Will anyone be unavailable due to injuries, suspensions, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

CB: Alonso Coello was shown a straight red in injury time on Wednesday’s match against LAFC and is suspended for the Orlando game. TFC’s defensive line is decimated by injuries with Kevin Long, Zane Monlouis, Nicksoen Gomis, and Henry Wingo unavailable due to injuries.  

My projected starting XI is:

My final Score prediction is Toronto FC 1 – 3 Orlando City.

Thank you to Corey for the refresher on Toronto FC. Vamos Orlando!