It’s a whole new ball game for fans
Toronto FC kicks off its home campaign on Sunday in a very different place than this time last year. There is no CONCACAF Champions League to keep an eye on, after the Reds were eliminated by Panama’s Club Atletico Independiente last month.
Gone are Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco and Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez, sold off in January. Newcomer Alejandro Pozuelo, a creative midfielder from Belgium’s KRC Genk, isn’t expected to arrive until Monday.
Following a dismal campaign that ended without a playoff berth, however, TFC opened this season with a thorough 3-1 road win over the Philadelphia Union and will host a New England Revolution side that is winless after two matches.
It’s a long season, and some games mean more than the rest. With Sunday’s home opener against the New England Revolution the hot ticket for March, here’s a look at some other monthly highlights on Toronto FC’s calendar — before the Major League Soccer playoffs begin on Oct. 19:
SAT. APRIL 27
vs. Portland Timbers, 3 p.m. It will be the eighth of 12 consecutive road matches to start the season for the Timbers, with Providence Park under renovation, and Toronto FC will look to take advantage against Diego Valeri, Diego Chara and the rest of last year’s MLS Cup runnersup.
WED. MAY 15 vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m.
Wayne Rooney knows how to make a statement — remember that stunning long-range free kick goal that sunk TFC in a 1-0 win for United last October? This will be Rooney’s first experience with the Reds’ home crowd, though, and they’re sure to give him a memorable — if not necessarily warm — welcome.
WED. JUNE 26 vs. Atlanta United, 8 p.m.
The reigning champions are in town. Enough said.
SAT. JULY 27 vs. FC Cincinnati, 8 p.m.
The expansion club pays its first visit and includes former Reds defender Nick Hagglund — a star in TFC’s run to the 2016 MLS Cup final, who should be well received upon his return. Cincinnati will rely on Fanendo Adi, Kendall Waston and Greg Garza in its first season, which started with a 4-1 blowout loss to the Seattle Sounders before rallying to tie Atlanta United on the road last weekend.
SAT. AUG. 24 vs. Montreal Impact, 7:30 p.m.
The 401 derby might be the last time Toronto fans see striker Ignacio Piatti in black and blue. Piatti, whose future with the Impact is uncertain, has scored 10 goals against the Reds in five seasons.
SUN. SEPT. 15 vs. Colorado Rapids, 5 p.m.
Colorado finished below Toronto in the standings last season after struggling to score and could be a welcome opponent down the stretch even with the additions of Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio up front. The Reds play five of their last seven games on the road, and this is their only September home date.
SUN. OCT. 6 vs. Columbus Crew, 4 p.m.
This rivalry was already intense. Now the Crew — with playoff expectations after avoiding relocation to Texas — are run by Tim Bezbatchenko, architect of the TFC club that reached consecutive MLS Cup finals and won the 2017 championship. This is decision day in MLS, with 12 matches all starting at 4 p.m. to wrap up the regular season. And don’t forget, the Trillium Cup — a Toronto-Columbus tradition — could also be on the line.