Two clubs in the Eastern Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew. The first-division clash scheduled for 5 p.m. ET will be held at BMO Field in and can be live streamed here.
Only three points separate both clubs in the Eastern Conference standings, with the Crew holding the minimal advantage. If the club has any hopes of extending its lead over its Trillium Cup rival, it'll have to do so without the services of Federico Higuain. The Argentine will be forced to sit with a suspension, putting head coach Gregg Berhalter in the precarious position of finding a replacement.
"You don't replace Federico, simple as that. We get someone on the field that can play their game and we're not going to ask someone to come in and play like Federico that would be foolish of us," said Berhalter (via MLS's official website). "We're going to ask someone to come in and play to the best of their ability. I'm confident that we are going to be able to get that out of someone."
That someone could be Ben Speas, who made it abundantly clear that he prefers to play a creative role.
"I like to play in the middle," Speas said. "I like to create and play balls through. I think I've got the hang of the position for sure, where I need to be, when I need to get the ball and things like that," he added.
"I feel like I've got a good understanding of it, and it's just a matter of doing it in the game."
Will Speas get the opportunity to do so at BMO Field? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Speas is yet to make a league start for the Columbus Crew this season. Last year, the 23-year-old scored one goal and added an assist in 19 league appearances.
Toronto FC's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Bendik; Morrow, Hagglund, Orr, Bloom; Rey, Osorio, Bekker, Jackson; Gilberto, Rosario
Columbus Crew's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Clark; Barson, Wahl, Parkhurst, Williams, Trapp, Tchani, Anor, Speas, Jimenez; Arrieta
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
New England Revolution |
12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
23 |
|||
|
2 |
Sporting Kansas City |
13 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
19 |
|||
|
3 |
DC United |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
17 |
14 |
3 |
18 |
|||
|
4 |
Houston Dynamo |
14 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
16 |
24 |
-8 |
17 |
|||
|
5 |
Columbus Crew |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
16 |
|||
|
6 |
New York Red Bulls |
14 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
20 |
22 |
-2 |
15 |
|||
|
7 |
Toronto FC |
9 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
13 |
|||
|
8 |
Chicago Fire |
11 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
19 |
21 |
-2 |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Philadelphia Union |
14 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
24 |
-8 |
11 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
11 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
22 |
-13 |
7 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
21 |
4 |
26 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
12 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
23 |
13 |
10 |
24 |
|||
|
3 |
FC Dallas |
14 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
22 |
22 |
0 |
18 |
|||
|
4 |
Colorado Rapids |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
18 |
|||
|
5 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
18 |
14 |
4 |
17 |
|||
|
6 |
Portland Timbers |
13 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
16 |
|||
|
7 |
LA Galaxy |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
9 |
5 |
15 |
|||
|
8 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|||
|
9 |
Chivas USA |
12 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
13 |
22 |
-9 |
10 |
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