3 Keys to Toronto vs. Houston Dynamo

HOU Three Keys

The high-scoring Houston Dynamo come to town on Friday night. Here are the Benjamin Moore three keys to the match.


Attack with Speed

Whereas the Reds failed to capitalize on some good spells of possession in their first few matches, it was a different story against the Chicago Fire last Friday night.


TFC moved the ball with purpose, quickly pinging the ball around the pitch to keep the defence scrambling. It was in those moments that Toronto was at its most dangerous, putting the opposition on their heels and not allowing them to set up.


By pushing the tempo and not allowing the Dynamo to get numbers behind the ball, TFC should be able to find similar success on Friday night.


Get Giovinco the Ball

What more needs to be said?


Sebastian Giovinco is coming off his best performance of the year, earning Player of the Week honours in the process. Notching 26 shots over his last three matches, the Atmoic Ant has been chomping at the bit to get on the scoreboard and was rewarded with two great goals against the Fire.


Playing as a second striker, Seba has found success by collecting the ball a bit deeper in the midfield which allows him to put his superb dribbling skills on display. The Reds would do well to continue to find him in those areas and let the Italian do what he does best.


Beware the Fox in the Box

Houston has plenty of attacking firepower of their own led by the league’s top goal scorer, Erick Torres.


El Cubo has proved to be a handful thus far in somewhat of a revival campaign for the Mexican striker. Unlike his counterpart, he’s not typically a player that gets involved in the buildup play, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.


Torres has shown a propensity to pop up in the right spots at the right times, pouncing on half chances in the box and turning them into goals. The back three will have to be careful not to switch off when he’s lurking in the area.


Cutting off service from wide areas will be key, as will a physical approach with the crafty finisher.