Atlanta United can close in on a playoff spot when they host Toronto FC on Saturday.
Atlanta (12-9-10, 46 points) sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of seventh-place D.C. United and three up on the New York Red Bulls (eighth) and CF Montreal (ninth).
Atlanta United had yet to win this season when trailing at halftime before rallying with a pair of second-half goals in a 2-1 win against Inter Miami CF on Wednesday. They are unbeaten in their past three matches and 2-1-1 in their past four.
“I feel like it says a lot. It shows our grit and determination,” defender George Bello said of the comeback win. “Normally teams now are breaking down. I feel like we showed that we’re still here and we want to finish out the season well and make the playoffs and do well in the playoffs as well. …
“I think it really showed where we’re at as a team and that we trust each other and even though we were down in the moment in the game, we know that we can get back into it. It was good to see.”
It’ll be Atlanta United’s final home game of the regular season before closing out the campaign with two on the road.
Toronto (6-17-9, 27 points) hits the road for its final away match of the season looking to snap a four-game winless run (0-2-2) that began with a 2-0 loss to Atlanta on Oct. 16.
The Reds have lost each of their past two games against Atlanta, both by shutout.
“I think we have to change the approach,” said Toronto FC coach Javier Perez. “I think we have to find more bite up front. I think we are going to try to find more players inside the box. I’m happy with the way we are playing, I’m happy with the way we are moving the ball, but we need to find more players inside the box. That’s something we are going to try to implement in the next game.”
Attacking midfielder Yeferson Soteldo remains out with an injury and could be done for the season, Perez said. Soteldo has missed Toronto’s past two games.
–Field Level Media
