Between injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, Mariner will have few options to choose from in tonight’s clash with Portland.
Dicoy Williams, Doneil Henry, Terry Dunfield and Ryan Johnson are all answering the bell for their national teams, while Logan Emory (suspension) and Jeremy Hall (ankle) are also unavailable for the match. Newcomer Darren O’Dea is in Serbia for an international friendly, postponing his debut yet another week.
The absentees leave Mariner with few options at the back. Ashtone Morgan and Richard Eckersley, the only two regulars available, are expected to start alongside two former starters Adrian Cann and Ty Harden, or rookie Aaron Maund.
This is a far cry from their usual starting core, and looks eerily similar to the backline employed during their dubious losing streak to start the season. The replacements will have to step up in a big way if the team hopes to snap their recent two game skid.
The good news? Mariner’s boys face a Portland team who has lost five straight on the road by a combined score of 13-0. In addition to losing five straight on the road, they have managed just two points from ten games on their travels this year, while scoring just two goals.
Toronto has hosted Portland just once, in their inaugural season a year ago, winning the game 2-0 on the back of a Javier Martinez brace.
A win would vault the Reds out of the league cellar and just a point back of both New England and Philadelphia. While they would still remain a daunting 14 points out of a playoff spot, a climb to sixth or seventh in the standings would not be out of the question.
Projected Starting XI (4-4-2): Kocic; Maund, Eckersley, Cann, Morgan; Lambe, Avila, Frings, Silva; Wiedeman, Hassli
Final score: TFC 1-0 Portland
(image courtesy of torontofc.ca)
