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Toronto FC-Fire Preview

Sep 7, 2010 - 7:18 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Toronto FC (7-9-6) at Chicago (6-7-7), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Neither the Chicago Fire nor Toronto FC are in position to make the playoffs now, and time is running short for both.

The Eastern Conference rivals meet Wednesday night at Toyota Park, with Chicago winless in three MLS matches and Toronto winless in four.

Toronto (7-9-6) has 27 points and Chicago (6-7-7) has 25 for fourth and fifth place, respectively, in the conference. Since only the top two teams in each conference automatically qualify for the postseason and six teams in the West have at least 32 points, these clubs are on the outside looking in.

"The games are much more important right now because each point is worth more right now," Toronto forward O'Brian White said. "Each team, you win or you lose so they go ahead. The more you win and they lost, the better for you. So we're kind of just pushing for that right now."

Chicago played a man down after Gonzalo Segares was ejected in the 21st minute Saturday, and blew a lead in a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles. Substitute Collins John put the Fire ahead in the 88th minute before they conceded the equalizer two minutes later, leaving Omar Gonzalez unmarked on a corner kick.

"Unfortunately, we are not learning from our mistakes," coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "And if we don't learn from our mistakes we won't improve. We are a team that usually plays very balanced against other teams, and these types of details, these mistakes, are what cost us the game."

John has scored twice in his last three matches. He's played sparingly this season after signing with Chicago in the offseason, having played with K.S.V. Roselare in Belgium in 2009.

"I'm going to keep my head down and do my best the rest of the season," John said. "Hopefully I can score more goals for the club and help get the team into the playoffs because that's what we need. With 10 games to go hopefully we will get results to make the playoffs."

Chicago will try to avenge its worst loss of the season, 4-1 at BMO Field on May 8. White scored Toronto's second goal shortly after the second half started.

Toronto has one goal during an 0-3-1 stretch. The club lost 1-0 on the road to FC Dallas on Saturday, as it played without Nana Attakora, Dwayne De Rosario and Julian de Guzman - all of whom were on national team duty with Canada. The trio will be back Wednesday.

"We're missing three top-level scorers so it's not easy," coach Preki Radosavljevic said.

Toronto is in its fourth season as it seeks its first playoff berth.

"This is what we play for, this is why we're here," defender Ty Harden said. "We want to make the playoffs. The big games are why people play sports."