"Toronto FC Struggling to Find Consistency Amid MLS Playoff Push"
Winless Streak Extends to 11 Games
Toronto FC's disappointing season continued on Wednesday night as they fell 2-0 to LAFC, extending their winless streak to 11 games. The Reds have not collected three points since a surprising 1-0 win over San Diego FC on July 16, a span that includes a franchise-record eight consecutive draws.
"It's been a really frustrating stretch for this team," said veteran midfielder Maxime Dominguez. "We're creating chances but just can't seem to find the back of the net consistently. We have to find a way to get over this hump before it's too late."
LAFC Pulls Away Without Star Duo
LAFC, on the other hand, continued their strong play, picking up their sixth straight win despite missing star forwards Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, who were away on international duty. Midfielder Jeremy Ebobisse and defender David Martinez stepped up to score the goals for the visitors.
"We've built a lot of depth and quality throughout the roster, so we're able to withstand absences like this," said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. "It was a complete team effort tonight to go on the road and get three important points."
Dominguez Struggling to Adapt
One area of concern for Toronto FC has been the play of offseason acquisition Maxime Dominguez. The 28-year-old midfielder has yet to make a significant impact, registering just one goal and two assists in 20 appearances.
"The transition has been tougher than I expected," admitted Dominguez. "The pace and physicality of MLS is a big adjustment. But I'm working hard every day to get up to speed and contribute more to the team."
Playoff Hopes Fading
With just nine games remaining, Toronto FC sits 11 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Time is running out for the club to turn things around and extend their postseason streak to six consecutive years.
"We have to find a way to string together some wins here in the final stretch," said head coach Bob Bradley. "The margin for error is slim, but I still believe this group has what it takes to make a late push. We just need to start executing better on both sides of the ball."
TL;DR
- Toronto FC's winless streak extended to 11 games following a 2-0 loss to LAFC
- LAFC won their sixth straight match despite missing star forwards Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga
- Offseason acquisition Maxime Dominguez has struggled to adapt to the pace of MLS
- With nine games left, Toronto FC sits 11 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference