Toronto FC chasing history, Atlanta vying for seeding (Oct 22, 2017)
Toronto FC can cap the most prolific regular season in MLS history on Sunday, but it won't be easy. Atlanta United is getting its offensive spark plug back from injury and also has a lot to play for on Decision Day.
The two Eastern Conference contenders collide Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Toronto (20-5-8, 68 points) has already secured the Supporters' Shield and the No. 1 overall seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs. It is tied with the 1998 Los Angeles Galaxy squad for the most points earned in a single-season. A win or draw on Sunday would make history.
"The record is the by-product of our performance on Sunday," Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney said this week. "If we play well and execute, we'll get it. If we don't, then we won't."
United (15-9-9, 54 points), in its inaugural season, has a chance to climb all the way up the table into second place in the Eastern Conference with a win over Toronto and losses or draws by Chicago and New York City FC. The No. 2 seed avoids the Knockout Round of the playoffs. Atlanta clinches at least one home game in the playoffs with a win.
United will have more than 70,000 fans -- and midfielder Miguel Almiron -- to lead them Sunday. Almiron missed the past four games with a hamstring injury. He has nine goals, 13 assists and the ability to create opportunities at any moment.
"It will be a big push," midfielder Julian Gressel told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "(Almiron) brings a lot of stuff to the table that we miss without him."
Vanney insists that Sunday's game is more about building momentum for the playoffs than the points record.
"We want to be sharp as we go into the playoffs," Vanney said. "We won't be risky or any of that kind of stuff, but at the same time we got to have continuity as we're moving into the playoffs. A lot of it is about momentum and rhythm and timing of all these things coming together. That's usually the team that has a good shot at winning it all."
United is 11-3-2 at home this season.
