Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco is congratulated by teammates after scoring a penalty kick goal against the New York Red Bulls during the second half of an MLS soccer game Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Harrison, N.J.Adam Hunger/The Associated Press
After a so-so homestand, Toronto FC hits the road again with a stiff challenge awaiting Saturday night in New York.
The 5-7-1 Red Bulls, who stumbled to a 1-6-0 start to the season that includes a 2-0 loss to visiting Toronto, have been rampant of late. They are coming off a 7-0 humiliation of New York City FC and have gone 4-1-1 in their last six games with three shutouts.
The seven-goal differential against NYCFC tied for the largest margin of victory in MLS history. The Red Bulls also became the fourth team in league history to score seven or more goals in a league game.
At the other end of the field, goalkeeper Luis Robles has gone 227 minutes without conceding a goal. He was last beaten May 13 in the 43rd minute against D.C. United.
Toronto (4-4-4) is coming off a 1-1-2 homestand. The low was a 4-3 loss to Vancouver and the high a 1-0 win over FC Dallas. Most recently there were 1-1 and 0-0 ties with New York City FC and Columbus, respectively.
"I know there's better for us," said Toronto coach Greg Vanney, whose team opened the season with a 3-3-2 road trip.
That will have to come without captain Michael Bradley, who is away with the U.S. team for Copa America. On the plus side, Toronto still has star sniper Sebastian Giovinco, who was not summoned by Italy for the European Championship.
Midfielder Benoit Cheyrou is also back from a quad injury although he may not be ready to start. Fellow Frenchman Damien Perquis appears ready to reclaim his starting place in central defence.
Injuries to Jozy Altidore, Marky Delgado, Jonathan Osorio and Tsubasa Endoh have not helped the TFC offence recently.
"I thought we were lacking a little bit of bite on the attacking side," Vanney said. "Having said that, we created enough chances in both of those other two games to still take three points out of it. We needed to get one of those chances to fall."
While Endoh missed some practice this week with a leg issue, all but Altidore (hamstring) should be available.
Giovinco, who has been directly involved in 13 of Toronto's 14 goals, has been held off the scoresheet despite 12 shots (five on target) in the two games.
Vanney attributes it to the ebb and flow of a forward's fortunes. He also believes Giovinco may have been pressing a bit given he is carrying almost all of the team's offensive load on his shoulders.
"He's done so much for us in the attack," Vanney said. "Especially when we are low on our attacking numbers, it becomes pretty evident for him that him coming up with one is important for us."
Thanks to their outburst last weekend, the Red Bulls are tied for fourth in the league in scoring at 1.62 goals a game. They face a Toronto defence that is second in the league conceding 1.00 goals a game.
Jesse Marsch's team likes to pressure opponents and create turnovers in dangerous areas, according to Vanney.
"They push the tempo of the game. You have to be sharp and be ready, especially when you go into their stadium. And that makes for an exciting game because there are no moments where you can take a mental break. You have to be always engaged, you have to expect the pressure that's coming."
"And they're a feisty bunch," he added.
Saturday night's game is Military Appreciation Night at Red Bulls Arena.