Tough Visit in Matchday 25 of the MLS | Columbus Crew vs Toronto FC

In an intriguing match preview, we will see how one of the Eastern Conference favorites faces a Toronto FC wounded by a recent negative streak, complicating their playoff chances in the Eastern Conference.

A Challenging Preview for John Herdman

This match holds an interesting story, as in the past 5 years, Columbus Crew and Toronto FC have faced each other 32 times, with Columbus Crew winning 12 games, Toronto FC winning 13, and 7 matches ending in a draw. This history shows a fairly even matchup.

Last season, these two teams met twice, with Columbus Crew winning 2-0 at home and drawing 1-1 at BMO Field in what was a disastrous season for Toronto FC.

In the last 5 encounters between these teams, Toronto FC has suffered 4 defeats and managed just 1 draw, which occurred in the 2023 MLS season. Currently, both teams are in very different situations. Toronto FC is on a negative streak with 5 consecutive losses, while Columbus Crew is on a positive streak with 3 consecutive wins.

Columbus Crew's last match, on July 3, was a convincing 2-0 victory against Nashville, with standout performances from their star player, Colombian El Cucho Hernández.

READ MORE: John Herdman: "It's the story of TFC this season."

For Toronto FC, July 3 was a painful defeat. Playing at home against Orlando City, they lost 2-1 due to a significant lapse in concentration, allowing Orlando City to come back and win. Unfortunately, one of the goals was an own goal by Nicksoen Gomis.

A Possible Revival for TFC

This match left high expectations for how John Herdman’s team will recover. Columbus Crew, on the brink of securing a playoff spot, continues to advance confidently, while Toronto FC faces a difficult visit where they must seek a victory.

In previous statements, John Herdman emphasized that the team’s focus needs to be more on the club’s mentality than on tactical aspects on the field. Despite showing confidence when leading, the team’s morale seems to drop when facing adversity. This needs to change for Toronto FC to start showing positive results.