TFC Republic Weekly: April 20-26
Unbeaten in six games, TFC face a challenging week with a pair of matches against Eastern Conference clubs across four days.
Welcome to the latest edition of TFC Republic Weekly, an email newsletter that will land in the inbox of both paid subscribers and free members of TFC Republic every Monday.
This newsletter will look at what's in store over the next seven days for Toronto FC, and also get a glimpse of what to expect at TFC Republic in the coming days.
So, without further ado...
Toronto FC now unbeaten in 6 games
Despite appearing to have recently turned a corner, Toronto FC very much remains a work in progress. That much was made abundantly clear in Saturday’s 3-3 draw vs. Austin FC at BMO Field, a result that extended the Reds’ unbeaten run to six games.
Dániel Sallói, Richie Laryea and Kobe Franklin scored second-half goals for an injury-riddled Toronto (3-2-3) who are now unbeaten in 12 home matches (four wins and eight draws) dating back to June 25, 2025.
For the second week in a row the Reds coughed up a lead in the second half, but this time they also had to come from behind late in the game to earn a share of the points on offer.
"I hope the fans enjoy all the goals; I certainly don't. I thought we started off really well … and defensively, we're making [it] very difficult for them. And then I thought maybe our intensity level just dropped a bit, which allowed them back into the game,” coach Robin Fraser told reporters after a game that produced five goals in the second half.
John Molinaro
Kobe Franklin's 1st MLS goal for TFC 'a proud moment'
Down 3-2 late in the game against Austin FC on Saturday afternoon, Toronto FC received an equalizer from the unlikeliest of sources in Kobe Franklin.
The young fullback scored from close range in the 88th minute to complete a comeback for TFC who earned a 3-3 draw in a wild game at BMO Field to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
It was a first career goal in 69 MLS appearances (39 starts) for Franklin, a 22-year-old Toronto native and a graduate of the TFC youth academy, since making his debut for his hometown club in 2022.
“Definitely a proud moment for me and my family; something I've been working towards for a long time, obviously. Very exciting to get it as an equalizer, but it would've been a bit sweeter if it was the winner. So, we just [have] to keep working from behind the scenes and hopefully more goals will come,” Franklin told reporters after the game.
John Molinaro
Injuries piling up for the Reds
Robin Fraser made two lineup changes vs. Austin from the previous match against FC Cincinnati, drafting in Kobe Franklin and fellow fullback Raheem Edwards, with centre back Benjamin Kuscevic and fullback Matheus Pereira both making way due to groin injuries.
Also unavailable due to injury were winger Theo Corbeanu (knee); defenders Walker Zimmerman (calf), Nicksoen Gomis (Achilles), and Henry Wingo (hamstring); and DP midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (pelvis).
With so many injuries, TFC 2's Jackson Gilman and Reid Fisher were signed to short-term contracts for this match so that the Reds could fill out their bench.
The injury to Kuscevic was especially troubling for a TFC side that was already missing fellow centre back Zimmerman on Saturday for a second straight game due to a calf injury. As such, Fraser had to play midfielder Alonso Coello in the middle of defence next to Zane Monlouis.
"Ben is not going to be [out] very long, is my understanding. And Matheus, we're still trying to sort out some of the issues that he came in with. So, we're in the process of trying to figure that out. I can't really give you a timeline on that," Fraser said.
John Molinaro
TFC vs. Philadelphia Union on Wednesday
Toronto FC plays the sixth match of its nine-game homestand when it hosts the Philadelphia Union (7:30 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
Philadelphia (1-6-1) sits 13th in the Eastern Conference, seven spots and eight points adrift of Toronto in the table. After losing the first six games of the campaign, the reigning Supporters' Shield holders are unbeaten in their last two outings, including a 0-0 draw at home vs. D.C. United this past weekend.
“I thought we controlled the game,” Union manager Bradley Carnell said. “We kept the game in the opponents’ half. Tough when only one team comes to play. … I thought we created numerous opportunities. Unfortunate not to score and take three points.”
With just six goals to their credit, the Union have the second-worst attack in MLS – six different players have scored a single goal for the club. Goalkeeper Andre Blake has started all eight games, recording one clean sheet while conceding 12 goals.
John Molinaro
TFC vs. Atlanta United on Saturday
It'll be a short turnaround after the Philadelphia match as TFC will welcome Atlanta United to BMO Field on Saturday (1:00 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
Atlanta (1-6-1) is off to its worst start to the season in franchise history with just four out of a possible 24 points and having gone winless in its previous four outings. The Nine Stripes are coming off a 2-0 home loss to Nashville SC on the weekend.
Scoring has been a major issue for Gerardo Martino's side with just six goals through eight games while conceding 14. Russian midfielder Alexey Miranchuk has accounted for four of the goals scored by Atlanta who has been shut out five times this season.
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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
Toronto FC is a quarter of the way through its second MLS season under new coach Robin Fraser. What have been the positives and negatives of the campaign so far? And what will the second quarter of the season look like for the Reds? Look for my quarterly report story on TFC in the coming days.
- A piece on the four stories to watch for this week.
- A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. the Philadelphia Union.
- An audio interview piece with Joe Tansey of the Union Soccer Blog ahead of Wednesday's home game.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. Atlanta United.
- An audio interview piece with Doug Roberson of the Soccer With Doug website ahead of Wednesday's home game.
- The weekly Random Thoughts column.
- The weekly TFC 2 report.
- A Q&A with AFC Toronto's Kaylee Hunter, last year's NSL rookie of the year.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- And much more!
TFC Republic mailbag
TFC Republic will feature a regular reader mailbag column where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.
I'll answer the best questions submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.
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TFC Republic has a comments section! At the very bottom of every story, there is a feature where you can post your comments, so be sure to share your thoughts and views.
