Toronto FC (0-4-4, 4 points) travel to the Beehive State to take on Real Salt Lake (3-5-0, 9 points) at America First Field on Saturday evening. The Matchday 9 encounter in Sandy, Utah kicks off at 9:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) and can be viewed globally in English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
The Reds enter Saturday’s intra-conference matchup after earning results in their last three matches, courtesy of draws against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Inter Miami and Minnesota United FC. Historically, TFC hold a 6W-10L-4T record through their first 20 MLS regular season meetings with the Claret and Cobalt and the Reds will be looking for their first road victory against Real Salt Lake since July 2007.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Toronto FC continue their 2025 Major League Soccer campaign with their first and only regular season meeting against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. After their opening five away MLS games in 2025, the Reds hold a 54W-168L-74T all-time record (236 points) in MLS regular season matches played on the road.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
TFC visit the Western Conference’s Real Salt Lake for the 21st encounter in the all-time regular season series between the two clubs. Historically, Toronto FC hold a 6W-10L-4T record through their first 20 MLS regular season meetings with the Claret and Cobalt. The Reds will be looking for their first road victory against the 2005 MLS expansion club since goals from Jeff Cunningham and Collin Samuel lifted TFC to a 2-1 victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium on July 4, 2007. Toronto FC have recorded draws in two of their last three visits to America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium) during the 2017 and 2022 MLS regular seasons respectively. In their most recent visit to Sandy, Utah, the Reds battled to a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake, with Toronto FC Academy products Kosi Thompson and Jayden Nelson scoring their first club goals on the night.
STEP BY STEP
Toronto FC enter Saturday’s match in the Mountain West on the back of recording three points, courtesy of three consecutive draws in league play. First, TFC and Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC played out a goalless draw on a wet and windy afternoon at BMO Field in late March. A week later, the Reds and the reigning Supporters Shield’ winners Inter Miami CF battled to a pulsating 1-1 draw in a Sunday Night Soccer matchup in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 6. TFC opened the scoring through Federico Bernardeschi before Lionel Messi equalized for the hosts minutes later. New signing Maxime Dominguez made his debut on the night as a second-half substitute, becoming the fifth player to make his club debut during the 2025 Major League Soccer season. Last Saturday, Toronto FC were held to a goalless draw against Minnesota United FC of the Western Conference at BMO Field, extending the club’s unbeaten run to three games dating back to March 29.
SHOT-STOPPER SEAN
Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson followed his Man of the Match performance against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 29 with a second successive home shutout against Minnesota United FC last weekend. The feat marked Johnson’s 17th shutout for Toronto FC across all competitions and moved the Lilburn, Georgia native into third outright on the Reds’ all-time clean sheet charts. Alongside teammate Federico Bernardeschi, Johnson has featured in every minute of Toronto FC’s campaign so far and the ever-present MLS veteran has enjoyed a productive start to the season, recording 25 saves through the club’s first eight matches in 2025.
YOUNG REDS RETURN HOME
Toronto FC II, MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of Toronto FC, host Carolina Core FC in their Home Opener at York Lions Stadium on April 18. The Friday night kick-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be available to stream at MLSNEXTPro.com. The Young Reds return home with a pair of wins and losses each from their opening four road matches to begin the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. TFC II most recently defeated Inter Miami CF II by a 1-0 scoreline, courtesy of Michael Sullivan’s game-winner at Chase Stadium, and will be looking for a repeat of last season’s home victory over Carolina Core on May 23, 2024.
The Young Reds are led by Head Coach Gianni Cimini, who is currently in his fourth season at the helm. TFC II’s 2025 roster represents a blend of experienced returning players, NCAA-experienced athletes via the MLS SuperDraft, international and domestic signings, along with young talents emerging from the Toronto FC Academy — all eager to grow, develop and succeed in the competitive and professional environment of MLS NEXT Pro. Currently, a total of 11 players on Toronto FC’s First Team roster previously earned their stripes and gained a plethora of professional experience with TFC II in United Soccer League (USL) and MLS NEXT Pro action prior to 2025 – Markus Cimermancic, Alonso Coello, Adisa De Rosario, Nathaniel Edwards, Kobe Franklin, Luka Gavran, Hugo Mbongue, Adam Pearlman, Charlie Sharp, Lazar Stefanovic and Kosi Thompson.
