March 24, 2007 Toronto FC drop Carolina Cup opener to Houston Dynamo (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
03/24/2007 10:29PM
Toronto FC drop Carolina Cup opener to Houston Dynamo
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto FC opened their first ever preseason tournament with a 2-0 loss to defending MLS Champions Houston Dynamo. Houston came out ready to play and just 5 minutes in Kevin Goldthwaite beat starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton, but it was called back for offside.
It was a competitive and lively first half with chances at both ends, but it was the Dynamo that found the back of the net. A Brad Davis corner was redirected in off the foot of Ryan Cochrane in the 16th minute to put Houston up 1-0.
Edson Buddle had a great chance to level the score on a partial breakaway, but his curling shot missed the target and Houston took the lead into the dressing room.
Second half began with no substitutions for either side. Tournament rules state that teams are allowed to make unlimited changes to their lineup. Toronto made the first change in the 63rd, when Andy Welsh came off in favour of Maycoll Canizalez.
With 18 minutes to go in the game, Chris Wondolowski rounded Sutton to put the second goal in for Houston, and that would be all Houston needed to preserve the victory.
"There was good and bad to this game," said Head Coach Mo Johnston, "the first half we were even with chances, but we were tired near the end."
Toronto played disciplined, finishing the game without a single caution.
TFC will take Sunday off, before returning to practice on Monday. Their next game in Charleston is Wednesday March 28th against the New York Red Bulls.
The team also announced Saturday, that Goalkeeper Jon Busch has been waived by the club. Busch was acquired March 5th off waivers from the Columbus Crew.
Scoring Summary:
Houston: Cochrane (Davis) - 16'
Houston: Wondolowski (Goldthwaite) - 72'
Lineups:
Toronto FC: Greg Sutton, Jim Brennan, Andrew Boyens, Chris Pozniak, Richard Asante, Ronnie O'Brien, Andy Welsh (Maycoll Canizalez 63), Richard Mulrooney, Jose Cancela (Abbe Ibrahim 70), Alecko Eskandarian (Joey Melo 81), Edson Buddle
Houston Dynamo: Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Eddie Robinson, Ryan Cochrane, Kevin Goldthwaite, Chris Wondolowski, Kelly Gray, Brad Davis, Paul Dalglish (Corey Ashe 77), Ali Moreno, Stuart Holden
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