TFC visits Orlando, knowing its playoff hopes could end in the Florida heat

The door will likely slam this weekend on Toronto FC's faint post-season hopes. But the rebuilding continues at TFC.

Thirteenth-place Toronto (9-15-7, 34 points) visits fifth-place Orlando City (12-12-6, 42 points) on Saturday, with TFC sitting six places and seven points out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and only nine points left on the table from its three remaining regular-season games.

A win by seventh-place Columbus or a Toronto loss are high among the scenarios that would finish off TFC's slim hopes. A Toronto tie could also spell the end.

Toronto coach Bob Bradley sees the bigger picture.

"We understand the steps and the work to become a really good team," said Bradley, wrapping his knuckles on the desk in front of him to emphasize the point. "It doesn't start at the beginning of pre-season and then end at some point when it's either not going your way or you're out of contention or whatever. Even on the last whistle of the season. It's a continuation of work, of building a roster, of trying to make guys better.

"There's been a lot of work that's gone into it," he added. "It's been challenging but eventually it's going to get us somewhere. It's just that it doesn't always go as fast as anybody wants."

There was a procession out the door after Toronto went a dismal 6-18-10 last season in finishing 26th overall in the then-27-team league, with 21 players moving on or retiring. Key additions like Italians Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi and Domenico Criscito as well as Canadians Mark-Anthony Kaye, Richie Laryea and Doneil Henry arrived mid-season.

Toronto made another investment in the future this week, signing 18-year-old forward Hugo Mbongue to a homegrown contract. Mbongue, the younger brother