Toronto FC has a chance to do what no MLS team has done and that’s knock off a Liga MX team in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League.
But the Reds will have to do it at AztecaStadium, which should be at near capacity as Club America has adopted a number of promotions to ensure a big crowd is on hand.
TFC carries a 3-1 lead into the second leg but it is hardlysecure. Two unanswered goals would put America in the driver’s seat, ahead on aggregate thanks to the away goal Andres Ibarguen scored in the first half of last Tuesday’s game at BMO Field.
Here’s what TFC will need to do to get past Club America on Tuesdaynight …
1. Support from Michael Bradley in midfield. Except for on Ibarguen’s goal, Bradley had an an excellent game onToronto. But he’ll have a lot more area to cover at Azteca and can’t do it alone in front of the TFC back five. The two other central midfielders, Marky Delgado and Jonathan Osorio, willhave to join Bradley in keeping order in midfield and allow TFC to have the possession it needs if it wants to attack.
2. At least onegoal from the frontline. Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore both scored in the first leg, and at least one of them will probably need to score if TFC is to hold offAmerica on aggregate. One TFC goal forces America to score three to stay even, two goals force it to score five. In the quarterfinals with smaller advantage — 2-1 — two goals in Monterrey — an owngoal and a free kick from Giovinco — were enough for TFC to advance over Tigres even though it lost the second leg, 3-2.
3. Big gamesfrom the wide players. When the 2018 season began, Auro Jr. and Ashtone Morgan weren’t penciled in as the starting outside backs, but circumstances have forced them instarting roles. Auro Jr. has kept the right-back job after Dutchman Gregory van der Wiel slid into the middle in place of the injured Chris Mavinga while Morgan got the nod overJustin Morrow (recovering from a calf injury). Auro Jr. and Morgan made big contributions in attack against America in Toronto. They’ll need to play the defensive games of their lives inAzteca, where America loves to use the width to its advantage.