After running up the score on the Portland Timbers at home, the confident Union (6-10-4) take on a completely different animal Saturday (4 p.m./CSN) when they visit red-hot Sebastian Giovinco and Toronto FC (7-7-3) at BMO Field.
1. Edu out, White in
Though the win against the Timbers was a high point in the Union’s season, it wasn’t perfect. The club still lost captain and center back Maurice Edu, who earned his eighth yellow card of the season, which suspends him against Toronto FC.
“Mo’s been our best player this year,” Union manager Jim Curtin said. “Any good center back is going to have a suspension or two during the year. If not, you’re kinda soft. He’s done a good job for us but I’m confident in guys who can step in.”
One of those guys stepping in is Ethan White, who will partner with rookie Richie Marquez. The two paired against Giovinco and Toronto FC on May 2, when Michael Lahoud went out injured, forcing Marquez into his first-ever MLS match. White has sat out of six of the Union’s last seven games.
“If you think back to the last time we played Toronto, Richie and Ethan did a very good job against them, limiting their chances,” Curtin said. “The only thing they scored was a free kick from 35-40 yards out. I’m confident with those guys.”
2. Defending Giovinco
Giovinco has 11 goals this season, a hat trick in his last game and was an MLS All-Star snub.
Now the potentially angry Italian is the Union’s problem.
“He’s the best attacking player in our league right now,” Curtin said. “A lot of their play goes through him, he’s a guy that can beat you a lot of ways. He’s not just good on the dribble, he can shoot from distance, so you have to be honest and respect the fact that he can hit a ball from 35, 40-yards out.”
The Union’s game plan for Saturday is based around stopping GIovinco, who scored three goals and had an assist in a 4-4 draw with New York City FC last Saturday.
“He’s a triple threat in a lot of ways, it’s not a one-man job to stop a guy like him,” Curtin said. “We worked on it today, we had someone replicate him and it’s having two or three guys around him and communicating well. We don’t want him to be the guy to beat us.”
Marquez perked up when asked about the task ahead of himself and the Union.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I’m ready for it. It’s a challenge and I’m ready to accept it.”
3. Unpredictable Toronto FC
Toronto FC might be a lot of things, but dull isn’t one of them. In their last six matches, the star-studded but rarely together Canadian side is an up-and-down 2-2-2 and have allowed four goals in back-to-back matches heading into Saturday.
Still, Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney isn’t panicking.
“I’m comfortable with where we’re at,” Vanney said. “I think we’ve gone through some challenges that every team needs to go through over the course of the season. We need to see ourselves as poised to go on a run and pick up some points in the second half the season.”
Along with Giovinco, the Union will also be contending with U.S. Men’s National Team attacker Jozy Altidore, who was recently sent home from the CONCACAF Gold Cup after not performing to USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s standards. However, midfield catalyst Michael Bradley has remained with the USMNT and will miss Saturday’s match.
“Jozy will be hungry and eager to impress,” Curtin said. “It’s unlucky on our side, but if you look on all things, not having Michael is an advantage for us.”
And with Altidore and Giovinco on the field, expect Toronto FC to not hold back.
“We’re playing for a result,” Vanney said. “For sure.”
4. Injuries
The Union are still without midfielder Lahoud (right quad strain) and forward Fernando Aristeguieta (left fibula contusion), but are otherwise healthy. Both are questionable after suffering setbacks in their original recovery, though Aristeguieta could make the bench.
“Fernando has looked good in training,” Curtin said. “He’ll be a guy who could be available off the bench for this one. It does look like he could possibly factor in this weekend, which is very good news for me.”
Toronto FC defender Nick Hagglund had his appendix removed on Wednesday. His status for Saturday is unknown.
5. This and that
• Former Union goalkeeper and current Toronto FC starter Chris Konopka has been suspended for Saturday’s match, leaving Joe Bendik as the expected starter.
• The Union are 6-4-3 all time against Toronto FC, but the two clubs are an evenly matched, 2-2-2, at BMO Field.
• While Edu is suspended for yellow-card accumulation, Vincent Nogueira and Sheanon Williams are both two yellow cards away from their own suspension.