Robin Fraser insisted that his winless Toronto FC side are relishing their trip to the TQL Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati in the MLS this weekend.
Fraser, who returned to the MLS in January after a successful four-year stint with the Colorado Rapids, is yet to get his first win on the board with his new team.
Toronto were beaten 4-2 by Orlando City last time out, which followed their 2-2 with D.C. United in their season-opener, with their first game on home soil coming next weekend.
Fraser has taken charge of two games against Cincinnati, winning one and losing the other, and he was quick to acknowledge the task ahead of his players.
“I was thinking about that the other night and the players they have. I have no idea about how much money they have spent over the last couple of years,” Fraser said.
“I know they have spent some money on some forwards and midfielders, and it seems like a team that is very well-stacked and equipped. What do I expect? A good team.
“They have athleticism all over the place. Power, size, they are a good team. There is a reason why they have done so well over the last couple of years.
“I know it is wedged between a couple of Champions League games, but they are not only good, but they are also very deep. I certainly expect it to be a very good team with a lot of players that can hurt you in a lot of different places.”
Cincy bound this weekend
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— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) March 6, 2025
And despite failing to register a win so far this season, Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan is expecting a tough test against Toronto this weekend.
Cincinnati recovered from their 4-1 thrashing by Philadelphia Union in their last MLS game with a 1-1 draw in their CONCACAF round of 16 clash against Tigres in midweek.
Noonan also had words of praise for his opposite number, who has won six major honours across his managerial career in the MLS.
“They have a new manager, and with that always comes new ideas. It’s early, so we’re looking at the two regular-season games and the structure with some of the things we have seen,” Noonan said.
“But Robin has had great success in this league, so that is a matter of time, even though the results have not been in their favour of late. Having to play your first three games on the road is never easy.
“We try to focus on our group as much as we can and the recovery. We have prepared them, and we will be able to see some of the differences. There will be no comparison to last year. It is just the personnel that is available.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Cincinnati – Sergio Santos
After missing the first two games of the regular-season with a leg injury, Santos returned to action for Cincinnati against Tigres in midweek, and could be fit to start this weekend.
And he has enjoyed fixtures against Toronto in recent years. The Brazilian has scored seven of his 26 career MLS goals in nine matches against them, his most against any opponent.
Toronto FC – Sigurd Rosted
Rosted scored his first career goal for Toronto last time out, becoming just the second defender to score a goal for the club since May 2023, along with Raoul Petretta, who did so in May 2024.
He also ended the contest against Orlando with 56 accurate passes while also creating one chance, a total only bettered for Toronto by Theo Corbeanu (two).
MATCH PREDICTION: CINCINNATI WIN
The Orange and Blue are unbeaten in six straight matches against Toronto, winning five of the six meetings in that time. The only time they have avoided defeat in that span was in their last visit to Cincinnati, a scoreless draw in February 2024.
They opened their season with a 1-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls, with Cincinnati last winning consecutive regular-season home matches only once since the start of last campaign, emerging victorious in three in a row between April and May.
Toronto, meanwhile, have won only six of their last 61 regular-season away matches dating back to August 2021 (D15 L40). The Reds have managed to avoid defeat in four of their last six on the road in league play (W2 D2 L2), though.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY:
Cincinnati – 64.4%
Draw – 19%
Toronto – 16.6%
