The Danger of the Draw: Why TFC's Unbeaten Streak is a Mirage
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Toronto FC has clawed back into the playoff race, but a pattern of falling behind suggests the Reds are relying on miracles rather than a winning formula.
On paper, Toronto FC looks like a team finding its rhythm. As Sportsnet first reported, the Reds have put together a six-game unbeaten streak, collecting 10 of a possible 18 points. This run has left them just one point and two spots shy of the Eastern Conference playoff line with 11 regular-season matches remaining.
But look closer at the mechanics of these results, and the picture becomes far less flattering. This isn't a streak built on dominance; it's a streak built on survival. Sportsnet reports that during this six-game stretch, TFC has had to come from behind four times just to secure a share of the points. The most recent example was a chaotic 4-4 draw against the Chicago Fire, where a first-career hat trick from Josh Sargent was nearly rendered meaningless until Derrick Etienne Jr. scored an equalizer in injury time.
This isn't a sudden dip in form—it is the defining theme of the season. Sportsnet notes that prior to this current streak, Toronto held a lead in only seven of 17 MLS games. Over the last six matches, the club has been out in front only twice and has managed to hold a lead for a total of just 78 minutes.
When a team spends the majority of its matches digging itself out of a hole, it isn't playing a winning formula; it's playing a dangerous game of catch-up. The inability to put opponents away is glaring. Sportsnet highlights that TFC's 2-1 victory over Inter Miami and Lionel Messi on Aug. 22 was the only time all season the club held a two-goal advantage.
Coach Robin Fraser is clearly exhausted by this cycle. Speaking to reporters after the Chicago match, Fraser praised the character and fight of his players but admitted the team has been too slow to show urgency. Fraser vented that the team is too good to be in a hole every week, noting, "We can't wait 'till we're down to show that sort of urgency." He made it clear that while he was proud to rescue a point against Chicago, the club's priority must shift: "We know at this point, we need three points, not one point."
Resilience is a virtue, but it is a poor substitute for control. If Toronto FC continues to gift the lead to its opponents, they are making their path to the postseason unnecessarily difficult. To truly compete in the home stretch, the Reds need to stop praying for late equalizers and start playing from a position of strength.