A new-look Toronto FC return to action after a long break, playing host to FC Dallas on Wednesday evening at BMO Field. TFC last played on July 9, the second of successive losses on the road in a 2-0 defeat by the Houston Dynamo. FC Dallas have gone two games without a win, coming off a scoreless draw at home with D.C. United.
RELATED: Toronto-Dallas Broadcast Info
LAST MEETING (MLS)
May 11: Toronto 0-1 Dallas (Hernandez 45 PK)
[inline_node:6926]Just after the stroke of haltime, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Toronto center back Adrian Cann came in contact with Dallas defender George John on a free kick service. Referee Yader Reyes saw enough to point to the penalty spot, and from the resulting spot kick, Daniel Hernandez sent goalkeeper Stefan Frei the other way.
FC DALLAS (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jackson Goncalves, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Zach Loyd - Eric Alexander (Bruno Guarda 78), Daniel Hernandez, Brek Shea - Andrew Jacobson - Marvin Chavez (Bobby Warshaw 93+), Fabian Castillo (Ruben Luna 65).
TORONTO FC (4-1-2-3): Stefan Frei - Richard Eckersley, Dicoy Williams, Adrian Cann, Danleigh Borman - Julian de Guzman - Jacob Peterson, Tony Tchani - Nick Soolsma (Maicon Santos 58), Alen Stevanovic (Mikael Yourassowsky 72), Joao Plata (Javier Martina 50).
RELATED: The Game Guide (PDF)
TORONTO FC
Toronto FC returns to action for the first time in nearly two weeks, their last match a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on July 9 at Robertson Stadium. TFC has 18 points from 21 games on the season, sitting in a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
LAST MATCH
* The game found some life in the second half, and the Dynamo took the lead on 50 minutes. Danny Cruz sent the ball forward to Brian Ching then raced onto a return pass in the TFC half, rushing in alone on goal and beating Stefan Frei with a side-footed shot that the TFC 'keeper could only nick as it went by.
* Houston then sealed the contest in the 81st minute when Geoff Cameron stepped forward to thump home a loose ball after a corner rattled around the TFC area. Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall was not called upon to face a single shot on the evening.
* TFC head coach Aron Winter made two changes to the team that lost 5-0 to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Jacob Peterson came into the midfield for Nathan Sturgis and Alan Gordon replaced Nick Soolsma in attack.
TORONTO FC (4-1-2-3): Stefan Frei - Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Richard Eckersley, Danleigh Borman (Gianluca Zavarise 59) - Tony Tchani - Jacob Peterson (Nick Soolsma 69), Mikael Yourassowsky - Javier Martina, Alan Gordon, Joao Plata.
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas were held scoreless for a second consecutive game, this time in a goalless draw with D.C. United on Saturday evening at Pizza Hut Park. FCD has 35 points from 20 games on the season, in third place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
* The teams combined for just three shots on goal in drifting to the scoreless draw. Jackson nearly gave FC Dallas a late winner, but his diving header rattled off the crossbar in the 87th minute.
* FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman made two changes to the team that fell 2-0 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Daniel Hernandez and Ricardo Villar came into the midfield for Bobby Warshaw and Andrew Jacobson.
FC DALLAS (4-1-4-1): Kevin Hartman - Zach Loyd, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez - Daniel Hernandez - Jackson, Eric Alexander (Eric Avila 72), Ricardo Villar (Bruno Guarda 61), Brek Shea - Marvin Chavez (Milton Rodriguez 81).
REFEREE: Hilario Grajeda. SAR (bench): Paul Scott; JAR (opposite): Corey Parker; 4th: Daniel Fitzgerald
Grajeda career: 47 games; Fouls called/game: 25.1; Yellow cards/game: 3.7; Red cards: 9; Penalties: 8
INJURY REPORT: TORONTO FC — OUT: MF Elbekay Bouchiba (R knee surgery recovery); DF Adrian Cann (R knee sprain); DF Dicoy Williams (R knee surgery recovery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Julian de Guzman (L knee swelling); FW Maicon Santos (R hamstring strain) ... FC DALLAS — OUT: DF Edson Edward (R knee ACL tear); MF David Ferreira (R ankle); FW Maykel Galindo (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Andrew Jacobson (R hamstring); PROBABLE: MF Daniel Hernandez (R knee)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: DAL - Fabian Castillo (Colombia U-20)
[inline_node:7265]SUSPENDED: TOR - Richard Eckersley (caution accumulation; through July 20)
WARNINGS
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: TOR - Terry Dunfield, Mikael Yourassowsky ... DAL - Jackson Goncalves, Brek Shea
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: TOR - Danleigh Borman, Dan Gargan, Ryan Johnson, Javier Martina ... DAL - Daniel Hernandez, Ugo Ihemelu, George John, Andrew Jacobson, Zach Loyd
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (9 meetings): Toronto FC 1 win, 10 goals ... FC Dallas 5 wins, 13 goals ... Ties 3
AT TORONTO (4 meetings): Toronto FC 1 win, 6 goals ... FC Dallas 1 win, 4 goals ... Ties 2
A Daniel Hernandez penalty just before halftime gave FC Dallas a 1-0 victory against Toronto FC on May 11 at Pizza Hut Park in the first meeting between the clubs this season.
Since a 4-0 victory June 17, 2007 in the first meeting ever between the clubs, Toronto FC haven't defeated FC Dallas. FCD has won five of the eight encounters since, with three draws.
Toronto FC have never won at Pizza Hut Park. FC Dallas have won four of the five all-time meetings in Frisco (with one draw).
Coaches record: Aron Winter vs. DAL: P1 W0 L1 D0 ... Schellas Hyndman v TOR: P7 W4 L0 D3
