Our prediction for this MLS match:
All eyes will be on Lower.com Field when Columbus Crew and Toronto face each other in the MLS round 3 on Saturday. Columbus kicked off the new Major League Soccer campaign with a 4-0 win over Vancouver, with the team sharing the spoils with San Jose in their second game of the season. Columbus are likely to stick to their attacking style of play, and we are positive that they will find the net against Toronto.
The Reds, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 4-1 loss to New York Red Bulls, and seeing that Columbus have been impressive in front of goal of late, we predict that the Canadian outfit will return home empty-handed. Kevin Molino should be the only absentee in the home team, while experienced attacker Gyasi Zardes is likely to return to the starting XI. As for the visitors, Ayo Akinola remains in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Alex Bono):
Alex Bono is an American footballer who plays for Toronto FC as a goalkeeper. Born in Syracuse, New York on April 25, 1994, Bono started his career at Reading United. After making 18 appearances for the club, the 24-year-old shot-stopper moved to Toronto FC in 2015 and he has been playing for the Reds ever since.
In 2017 Alex Bono won the MLS cup as Toronto defeated Seattle Sounders 2-0 in the title game. The 191-cm-tall goalkeeper won the Canadian Championship on three occasions (2016, 2017, 2018) and it has to be noted that he clinched fourth place in the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Speaking of his international career, Alex Bono was called into a training camp for the USA men’s national soccer team in January, 2015. He made his senior debut on May 28, 2018 against Bolivia, keeping a clean-sheet in the 3-0 victory over the South American side.
Highlighted Team (Toronto FC):
Toronto is a club based in Canada, but they have been competing in Major League Soccer since 2007. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment own both the soccer club and National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. BMO Field is the club’s home ground and the capacity of the stadium is 30.000.
The Canadian outfit impressed in the 2016 MLS Cup and they faced Seattle Sounders in the title game at BMO Field. However, the Canadians were more than unfortunate not to lift the silverware as they were beaten by the Sounders on penalties.
Speaking of the Canadian Championship, Toronto FC won their fifth domestic title in 2016, with the team beating Vancouver Whitecaps in the final of the tournament. Montreal Impact are considered the club’s biggest rivals and there have always been fireworks in meetings between the two Canadian sides. Toronto FC’s home kit is red and it is no surprise they are nicknamed the Reds. It has to be noted that the club was founded back in 2005.