Toronto FC vs FC Dallas: Oh Canada! Will TFC Get Their First Win Away To FC Dallas?
Toronto FC vs FC Dallas ~ Sat. July 1 ~ 7pm ET ~ Toyota Stadium ~ TSN4
Happy Canada Day! Hope you are all celebrating (or not) in whatever way makes you happy. Today all three Canadian teams are playing – no, there aren’t any all Canadian matchups, and only one team is playing at home (Impact) – but hey, Canada Day! Hey MLS scheduling gods, could you maybe consider giving the Canadian teams home games on Canada Day? Or at the least not schedule them all at the same time for the fans that like to watch all three teams? That’d be awesome, thanks.
Toronto FC have journeyed deep into the heart of Texas to take on Mark Hinkley’s FC Dallas in a contest between two of the league’s top teams; FCD won the Supporters’ Shield last year and are just off the top of the Western Conference while TFC are tops in the league. Always enjoyable to have two strong teams play one another, but Toronto do not have what you’d call an auspicious record against Dallas having only beat them twice and never in Frisky Frisco (six losses and two draws) – who’s excited?! Games like this are a good test for TFC and with both teams missing players to both international play (Justin Morrow, Raheem Edwards, Tosaint Ricketts, Jonathan Osorio, Kellyn Acosta, Matt Hedges) and injury (Steven Beitashour, Nick Hagglund, Walker Zimmerman) they’re still pretty even in terms of squad availability.
Things To Know:
- Mauro Diaz is back for FC Dallas – good for them, potentially disastrous for TFC
- Steven Beitashour is out – who will replace him? Expect to see Marky Delgado out there tonight (though either Cooper or Endoh are possibilities as well)
- Maxi Urruti is FCD’s top scorer (and an ex-Red), Toronto will need to mark him closely to avoid having to endure his hip shaking goal celebration
- With both Justin Morrow and Raheem Edwards away on international duty, is this Ashtone Morgan’s time to shine? I truly hope so, he won’t get many other first team opportunities this year and he needs minutes if he’s to not only stay sharp but potentially move on to another team (sigh)
- Both teams have similar records for GF and GA, both teams are missing key defensive players – though arguably Dallas is harder hit – goal fest anyone?
- Seba scored both goals in Tuesday night’s Voyageurs Cup win, and also scored in TFC’s win over the tea terrorists last week after a four game goal drought. Does he have his scoring boots back?
- Jozy Altidore (tied with Seba for most goals on TFC), has been feeling a bit hard done by referees of late in terms of fouls, oft controversial ref Ricardo Salazar is in charge tonight so the potential for cards and flare-ups is high.
- TFC are on a two game road trip and travel to Orlando for a mid-week game next Wednesday; with so many games of late Vanney may look to change things up a bit, perhaps Jozy doesn’t start (hi Jordan Hamilton, hi Ben Spencer), does Jay Chapman see some time? Benoit?
- It’s Canada Day – will the Texans roll out the red (and white) carpet for their northern pals?
It’ll be an interesting chess match today; FC Dallas are missing the heart of their defense so Toronto’s attack will be looking to exploit that, while TFC are without their best outside backs which will see Dallas’s counter attack going full tilt at those areas. I can’t remember what I predicted on the podcast (what, it’s been a busy week!), but I’m thinking TFC will stay winless in frisky Frisco – 2-2.
Happy Canada Day!
