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TFC, NYC aim to continue winning ways

Jun 19, 2015 - 4:57 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - New York City FC and Toronto FC will both try to keep their winning streaks going when the two sides tangle at BMO Field on Saturday.

Toronto has won its last three games to climb into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, while New York has managed to win back-to-back games after struggling badly in the first few months of its inaugural campaign.

TFC had to wait awhile to secure its first win at home this term after beginning the season with seven straight away matches, followed by a defeat to Houston in the home opener.

But Greg Vanney's side has won its last two games on home soil, and is in great form thanks in large part to the play of Sebastian Giovinco.

The Italian scored both goals in TFC's 2-1 win at D.C. United two weeks ago to help the team overcome an early 1-0 deficit, and he has been in sensational form over the past nine games, scoring seven goals with five assists.

Toronto also has the benefit of a bye week last weekend, allowing the club to rest a bit and get ready for three straight matches against Eastern Conference opposition.

Vanney certainly feels as though the bye week will help his side ahead of an important stretch of games that can move TFC further up the standings.

"I think the importance of the bye week is that we can recover a little bit and continue to get healthy," Vanney said. "It's also looking forward to the opportunity we have when we get back which is really important. We have three home games against three Eastern Conference opponents."

New York City is the first opponent in that stretch for Vanney's men, but NYC enters the match with plenty of confidence despite being tied for last place in the East.

A 3-1 win over Montreal last time out saw David Villa and Kwadwo Poku each record a goal and an assist, while head coach Jason Kreis felt his team finally played a little more relaxed and open against the Impact.

"We saw a group tonight that felt a little more liberated and a little bit more free to be the type of players and type of team they're capable of," Kreis said following the win.

That victory came on the heels of a 2-1 win at Philadelphia that marked the team's first road success of the season, and defender Chris Wingert was certainly pleased with how his side has played over the last two games.

"I really thought there's been moments when we've done things good, but tonight I thought was the best we've really executed what we're trying to do here," said Wingert after the Montreal result.

The key for NYC is to now build on that positive momentum with three more points against TFC on Saturday.