Mihailovic says Toronto needs MLS playoff race

Djorje Mihailovic scored an important goal against his former club CF Montreal, leading his team to victory. The performance was also important for him personally, as he was playing against his old club and the win kept Toronto FC's playoff hopes alive.

Why it matters

This statement from Djordje Mihailovic is important for Toronto FC as they are making every possible effort to stay in the race for the MLS playoffs. Taking advantage of the home support will strengthen the team's mentality, especially as they try to build momentum after a thrilling win against CF Montreal. The win moved them up to 11th in the Eastern Conference, but remain four points shy of a playoff spot.

Key Points

• Mihailovic says Toronto needs MLS playoff race.
• Djorje Mihailovic stressed the importance of home support for Toronto FC as they bid for a playoff spot after a thrilling win against CF Montreal..
• Mihailovic says Toronto must harness home support in MLS play-off chase.

Djordje Mihailovic says Toronto FC must make the most of their enthusiastic home support as they look to build more momentum after Saturday's impressive win against CF Montreal. Playing against his former club, Mihailović completed the team's amazing comeback after being 1–0 down in the 93rd minute. Lewis Morgan scored the equalizer and Mihailovic then scored the winner in the 95th minute, sparking celebrations among the home fans. The win moved Toronto up to 11th in the Eastern Conference, although they are still four points out of the playoff picture with just six regular season games remaining. The first match will be at home to Orlando City on Wednesday, and Mihailovic believes they must make no mistakes on their own ground.

"We know how much the fans support us when we play here. You can see, throughout the season, we never give up until the final whistle," Mihailovic said. "They give us a lot of energy and we need them in this final stage. We're trying to slowly move toward that final playoff spot. We have two more home games, and we need them."

Orlando is seventh in the Eastern Conference, and five points ahead of Toronto, after defeating Columbus Crew 3–2 in their previous match. Ivan Angulo scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute, and goalkeeper Maxime Kripou said it was important that Martin Perelman's side snap a three-match losing streak after the international break. "We know how important points are between now and the end of the year," the Canadian international said. "It will be very important to deliver a strong performance. It was very important to come back from the break, start strong and get the response at the end, so we are very happy with that."

Players to watch
Toronto FC – Josh Sargent
Sargent has scored seven goals in MLS this season, tied with Daniel Saloui for the most of any Toronto player. This is despite the United States international playing just 1,618 minutes, while Saloui played 2,353 minutes. Sergeant also leads all of his teammates in expected goals, which matches his 7.14 xG.

Orlando City – Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann is considered the favorite for the 2026 MLS Newcomer of the Year award, as he scored another goal and provided an assist against Columbus in the previous match. The former World Cup winner has scored nine goals in MLS, and Orlando has not lost in the eight matches in which he has scored in all competitions (W7 D1).

Match Prediction – Draw
Toronto has suffered only two home defeats in its 15 MLS matches this year, while securing five wins and eight draws at home. However, the Reds have lost three of their last six league matches (W2 D1), while Orlando have won four of their last six (L2). Orlando won 3–0 in the most recent MLS meeting between the teams in September, with Griezmann scoring along with Angulo and Harvey Saragian. Orlando have only won three of their 14 away matches in MLS this year (D2 L9), so it would be no surprise to see the points shared.

Opta Win Chances
Toronto FC – 38.8%
Orlando City – 34.6%
Draw – 26.6%

What will happen next

Toronto FC next plays on Wednesday against Orlando City, who are seventh in the Eastern Conference. Mihailovic believes that they should not make any mistakes on their home ground, as this match is very important for their playoff hopes. If Toronto wins this match, they can be more strongly involved in the race for the playoffs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score of the match between Toronto FC and CF Montreal?

Toronto FC beats CF Montreal 2-1.

What is Toronto FC's position in the standings after this win?

Toronto FC has moved up to 11th in the Eastern Conference.

How many points do Toronto FC need to reach the playoffs?

Toronto FC is four points out of the playoff picture.

When is Toronto FC's next match and against whom?

Toronto FC's next match is on Wednesday against Orlando City.

What is the current status of Orlando City?

Orlando City is seventh in the Eastern Conference, five points ahead of Toronto.

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