It's Luka Gavran's Time to Step Up for Toronto FC

On June 15, Toronto FC faced Chicago Fire at BMO Field in the return of the MLS after the FIFA break, where they suffered a heavy home defeat.

What was expected to be a match leaning towards Toronto FC turned out to be the opposite, as the team failed to respond to the adversities posed by the opponent. The defense was particularly weak, leaving spaces that Chicago Fire capitalized on to win the match 1-4.

Unfortunately, Luka Gavran had the misfortune of playing all 90 minutes of this painful match for TFC. He will have to get used to being the starter for at least the next four games since Sean Johnson is away with the United States team for the Copa America.

A Very Forgettable Match for Luka Gavran

In this match, Luka Gavran returned to the starting lineup for an MLS game after being benched for four matches. The last match he played was against Nashville, where TFC lost 2-0. On June 19, he will have a chance for revenge against Nashville at BMO Field.

Despite conceding four goals in this match, it wasn't entirely the fault of the Canadian goalkeeper. It was more a reflection of a disastrous defensive performance by Toronto FC, which unfortunately had its worst game of the season.

Gavran conceded four goals but also made four important saves, preventing TFC from conceding even more. This left a bitter taste for all The Reds fans.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper has played nine matches this season out of the 21 that Toronto FC has played. In four of those matches, he managed to keep a clean sheet, showing a positive performance for the club. Additionally, he has conceded only 12 goals in those nine matches.

READ MORE: Absences Weighed Heavily, Rout at BMO Field | Toronto FC 1-4 Chicago Fire

Luka Gavran will need to build his confidence for the upcoming matches with TFC, as he will be the starting goalkeeper during a crucial part of the season. This period will be vital for his consolidation as both the present and future goalkeeper of Toronto FC.

However, this also depends on support from the defensive line to achieve the best possible results. Improvement must be shown on June 19, when Toronto FC faces Nashville at BMO Field for matchday 21 of the MLS.