D White: NYCFC in 'must-win' situation vs. Toronto FC (Jul 30, 2017)
Just 11 days after Toronto FC scored a last-second goal to sneak away from Yankee Stadium with a draw, New York City FC will vie for revenge on Sunday as it visits BMO Field in Toronto.
That will be no easy feat for the visitor. Toronto is one of two teams in the Eastern Conference that hasn't yet been beaten at home this season and has only dropped points in three of 10 games at BMO Field.
"It's a must-win. If we really want to be where we want to be at the end of the year, we've got to win games like this and it's going to be a fight," said defender Ethan White, who will have lots to deal with along with his fellow defenders with Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley back in the fold after winning the Gold Cup with the United States along with defender Justin Morrow.
"In that game (at Yankee Stadium), we gave up a goal late. This time we've got to stay focused on the entire game and hopefully come up with three points."
Toronto remains two points up on Chicago for first place in the Eastern Conference entering the weekend, but the Fire have a game in hand. New York is another point adrift but has played the same amount of games as Toronto.
The Bradley-Altidore-Morrow trio return to the club as Gold Cup champions. With the Supporters Shield becoming more of a possibility, the group is hoping to continue that winning feeling at the club level.
"To share moments like that with Jozy and Justin, it means a lot," Bradley said. "And I think it motivates us even more to come back here and continue to push and really make sure that when the trophies are getting passed out at the end of the season that we're right there."
New York does have a long injury list coming in, including forward Khiry Shelton (hamstring), midfielders Miguel Camargo (hip), James Sands (pelvis) and Rodney Wallace (adductor), and defenders Ronald Matarrita (foot), Maxime Chanot (osteitis pubis), and Ben Sweat (head).
Defender Steven Beitashour (abdominal) and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou (calf) are out for Toronto.
