Toronto FC Vs Nashville SC
Toronto FC Vs Nashville SC Monday 2 August, 2021 – 00:30 (BST)
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Draw
Odds: 5/2
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 31 July 2021)
Preview: Sides enjoying decent runs of form can hopefully provide for a competitive contest inside BMO Field, where hosts Toronto are seeking their first home win in five and Nashville their first on the road of the 2021 MLS season.
US Major League Soccer Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Toronto – Revival under new manager gathering pace?
For a long time, Toronto propped up the Eastern standings. And for a long time it seemed this would never cease to be the case. But the landscape has changed quite dramatically in the short amount of time that Chris Armas has been replaced with Javier Perez in the managerial dugout. Since then the Reds are unbeaten in four, beaten the best side in the league at this present moment, and risen to eleventh.
Three points at Soldier Field last time around, consigning Chicago Fire to a third successive winless MLS outing after a 2-1 victory, had built on the positive outcomes garnered from outings against New England Revolution, Orlando City and New York Red Bulls. Their 3-2 triumph over the Revs particularly impressive given they raced into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes against the Supporters Shield frontrunners.
That is now eight points from twelve (W2 D2) under Perez, more than twice that of his predecessor who had the first 11 games to work with. Moreover, Perez inherited a team that brought up its sixth straight loss by losing 7-1 away to DC United. So the transformation has been stark, even if the league’s most porous defence continues to leak goals with it now eleven games in a row conceding at least once.
Nashville – Back on the open road usually spells trouble?
Gary Smith is another manager being lauded recently, and rightly so. His Nashville team are red hot and breathing down the neck’s of New England Revolution, the long-time leaders of the Eastern Conference. Last Sunday’s 3-0 scoreline at home to FC Cincinnati continued their rich glut of form, bringing up their fourth win during a seven-match unbeaten stretch that has them within six points of the summit.
With a game in hand to boot, this is a collective literally in a good place right now. Well, apart from the fact they aren’t in the very place they would like to be this weekend, which is back in Tennessee. Nashville boast the tidiest home record in MLS this term, remaining unbeaten through eleven fixtures. It has been a different story entirely on the road, though, where they are winless through four (D3 L1).
The Boys in Gold’s main issue when travelling has been locating the opposition goal. All but one away outing resulted in them firing a blank, with their scoring average plummeting from two a game when at Nissan Stadium to a paltry 0.5 when not. Their also a streaky sort, with none of their past twelve results (DWDWDLWDWDWD) repeated next time around. Possibly ruling out a second successive win here.
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Toronto Vs Nashville Betting Advice
Nashville have already overcame Toronto once this season, twice coming from behind to earn a 3-2 win in Tennessee in June. That was actually the start of this seven game stretch without defeat for Gary Smith’s men. All but one was played on home turf, though, where they’ve retained a very clear preference all season long having not won on the road thus far. Nevertheless, I am surprised they are as big as they are for this.
Toronto Vs Nashville – Key Facts:
- Both Toronto (W3 D4 L8 for the 2021 MLS season) and Nashville (W6 D8 L1) are protecting unbeaten runs: the former unbeaten in four (W2 D2), the latter seven (W4 D3).
- Toronto have now shipped at least one goal in eleven straight MLS matches, with each of the last five seeing both teams score. Their three home draws were all scoring ones.
- Nashville, however, are yet to register a win on their travels this term (D3 L1), failing to even score in trips to Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake.
The upturn in results from Toronto has been outstanding, but it isn’t as though this is a team playing football out of this world. Far from it, in fact. In last week’s 2-1 win away to Chicago Fire, Javier Perez’s side were out-shot 31-8, gave up 14 shots on target, and were battered on xG (3.33 – 0.6). It was a story repeated against New England, Orlando City and NYRB. With both teams confident yet flawed, back the draw.
Best Betting Odds – Toronto Vs Nashville
Toronto – 29/20 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 12/5 (PaddyPower)
Nashville – 19/10 (Betfair)
