Toronto FC: 4 stories to watch this week

Toronto FC's regular season draws to a close when it hosts Orlando City on Saturday (6:00 p.m. ET/Apple TV).  

Toronto is coming off a 2-0 loss away to LAFC last week, a game that further highlighted the team's toothless attack, which has been the team's main problem all year.

"It’s disappointing because I thought we did well with the ball. We were able to make our way up the field. We had a lot of possession; we didn't turn enough of it into being threatening. ... Very happy to see the movement, the comfort level on the ball, the ability to play it through them, but once we get to the very end, we weren't effective enough," coach Robin Fraser said.

Will the final match of the campaign bring out the best in the Reds' meagre attacking unit?

Here are four stories to watch from Toronto FC this week:    

TFC Talk: Reds need a full 90 minutes to win season finale

Beat reporter James Grossi discusses how Toronto FC needs a better effort than the one in LA if it hopes to win its season finale.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

One last chance at a win for Toronto FC 

Last Wednesday's defeat in Los Angeles snapped TFC's streak of eight consecutive draws (which was an MLS record) and extended their winless run to 11 straight matches. Not since July 16 have the Reds tasted victory – a 1-0 road win over San Diego FC. 

This isn't the longest winless streak at the end of a TFC season. That "honour" goes to the 2012 campaign when Toronto failed to win in their final 14 matches and collected just four points. 

It has to be said that TFC have been competitive – they conceded just eight goals and recorded a clean sheet during their streak of consecutive draws. They also took points off four playoff-bound teams: Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami, Columbus Crew (twice) and the Chicago Fire. 

Still, there's no overlooking the complete lack of wins. For all of their hard work, fighting spirit and solid defensive play, TFC haven't been able to reward themselves with a victory. 

Robin Fraser is keen to see his side finally get over the hump and record its sixth win of the campaign before breaking up for the off-season. 

"Really the emphasis is to have this last game be us trying to put everything together and having as complete a performance as possible. I usually talk about doing things the right way, and you emphasize that rather than the results. But I kind of [told the players] we want to end the season in the right way at home, a complete performance and with a win," Fraser stated. 

Will Lazar Stefanovic get a start for the Reds?    

Robin Fraser previously stated that the last stretch of the regular season would be dedicated, to a certain degree, on evaluating players who might not be back next season and giving others on the fringes of the starting 11 some opportunities. 

Thus far, centre back Lazar Stefanovic has had to patiently wait for his chances. Stefanovic, 19, has made 13 MLS appearances (four starts) this season totalling 564 minutes, and has played in just three games (135 minutes) since the beginning of August. 

Stefanovic is considered one of the team's brightest prospects and you'd think that with the team out of the playoff picture and suffering through so many defensive injuries that he'd be playing more. Instead, Fraser has turned to Kosi Thompson and Richie Laryea to fill at the centre back spot. 

Fraser, a two-time MLS defender of the year during his playing days, was impressed in pre-season camp with how Stefanovic looked so confident on the ball despite his tender age and lack of first-team experience.    

“As a young player among older professionals, you generally want to be very safe and not take any chances. And really quite early on, Laz opened up and showed he can hit the ball across the field with confidence. I was like, ‘How old are you?’ He’s so far ahead of me when I was 18, I can't even tell you,” Fraser said back in January. 

It'll be interesting to see if Fraser uses this final game of the campaign to trot out Stefanovic against a strong Orlando side so that he can gain some valuable first-team experience.   

Alonso Coello's suspended for Saturday's match  

Alonso Coello has been a tireless workhorse this season for TFC, accumulating 2,167 minutes, (third-most among all outfield players) across 31 league appearances (24 starts).  

But the Spanish midfielder will be suspended for Saturday's affair after earning a red card in last week's loss to LAFC. That capped off a poor evening for Coello who committed an egregious error inside his half that led to the hosts scoring the opening goal in the 13th minute. 

Coello, 26, has started in each of the Reds' previous 12 games, so Robin Fraser has a big decision to make in terms of who'll fill that spot for the regular season finale against Orlando. 

One would have to think that Kosi Thompson (27 league appearances, 22 starts, 2,031 minutes) would be the leading candidate. Deploying him in a central midfield role could open up a spot in the centre of defence for Lazar Stefanovic.  

If Fraser wants to keep having Thompson partner with Sigurd Rosted, he could tab Maxime Dominguez to fill in for Coello, as it would give the club one last chance to evaluate the Swiss midfielder before deciding whether or not to sign him on a permanent basis once his loan deal expires at the end of the season. 

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4 players coming back from international duty  

If all goes well, Toronto FC won't be understrength for Saturday's home game like it was for last week's tilt in Los Angeles as four players will be back in the squad after being away on international duty. 

Captain Jonathan Osorio, fullback Richie Laryea and backup goalkeeper Luka Gavran have been away since the start of last week after being called up for Canada's pair of friendlies vs. Australia and Colombia during the October international window. 

Winger Derrick Etienne Jr was recalled for the first time since last year by Haiti for its games against Nicaragua and Honduras in Concacaf World Cup qualifying.  

Etienne had worked his way back into TFC's starting 11 prior to his departure, earning starts in three consecutive matches after being largely overlooked this summer.  

Osorio and Laryea have logged a lot of playing time for Toronto this season, establishing themselves as key figures for Fraser's side.  

Will Fraser put all three straight back into his starting 11 if they return from international duty without any fitness issues or niggling injuries? Or will he give them some rest after they were away on national team duty and rely on players who've remained in camp all this time?

And what about Gavran? He started in consecutive games last month but has backed up Sean Johnson ever since. Could this latest national team call-up give Fraser something to think about in terms of who'll be his starting goalkeeper against Orlando? 

(Top photo by Canada Soccer)

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