June 5, 2008 MLS Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC game guide (from MLSnet.com)
06/05/2008 8:26PM
Reds hope to stifle Dynamo again
Toronto FC looks to remain unbeaten all-time against Dynamo
MLSnet.com Staff
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. TORONTO FC
ROBERTSON STADIUM, Houston, Texas
June 8, 2008 | 7:30 p.m. CT (Ch. 55/43; TheScore)
WEEK # 11 | GAME # 74
Both coming off solid home victories in their last matches, the Houston Dynamo play host to Toronto FC on Sunday evening at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo defeated the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, while TFC knocked off the LA Galaxy. The Dynamo were supposed to have played D.C. United at midweek, only for that game to be postponed. TFC is a rare team that had success against Houston last year, defeating the Dynamo in Toronto and gaining a scoreless draw in their meeting in the Bayou City.
REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Bill Dittmar; JAR (opposite): Emiliano Monje; 4th: Colin Tait
MLS Career: 90 games; FC/gm: 30.2; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 29; pens: 28
INJURY REPORT: HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: FW James Georgeff (L ankle sprain); DOUBTFUL: DF Wade Barrett (L adductor strain) ... TORONTO FC -
QUESTIONABLE: FW Danny Dichio (adductor); DF Olivier Tebily (calf)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: TOR: Amado Guevara (Honduras; v. Haiti, June 7); Maurice Edu (USA; v Argentina, June 8)
SUSPENDED: HOU: Eddie Robinson (through June 8)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Bobby Boswell; Ricardo Clark
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Dwayne De Rosario ... TOR: Maurice Edu
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Dynamo 0 wins, 0 goals ... Toronto FC 1 win, 1 goal ... Ties 1
AT HOUSTON (1 meeting): Dynamo 0 wins, 0 goals ... Toronto FC 0 wins, 0 goals ... Ties 1
• This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season, the only one set for Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo will make their only league trip to BMO Field on Sept. 27.
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/16: TOR 1, HOU 0 (Welsh 25)
7/15: HOU 0, TOR 0
• A year ago, Toronto FC won the season series, playing to a scoreless draw in Houston before winning their lone match in Canada. It was one of two season series won by TFC in their inaugural season; they also went 1-0-1 against Real Salt Lake.
• Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. TOR: P1 W0 L1 D1 ... John Carver v HOU: first game
HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo won for the first time in five games after a six-game winless run to start the season, defeating the New York Red Bulls 1-0 last Saturday evening at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo entered the week in a three-way for second place in the Western Conference, along with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, just a point behind the Colorado Rapids.
LAST MATCH
• The Dynamo had followed their first two victories with a loss and a draw, though the draw saw a second stoppage-time equalizer against FC Dallas on the season. The Red Bulls came into the game off their second defeat in a row, this one an historic, 5-1 defeat by the Chicago Fire at home.
• Missing three key starters, including striker Juan Pablo Angel and playmaker Claudio Reyna, the Red Bulls held out for three-quarters of the match.
• But the Dynamo -- missing key starters of their own through international duty, injury and suspension -- finally broke through in the 68th minute. A ball was swung out wide to Geoff Cameron, and he curled a rolling, early cross into the goal area were Brian Ching came sliding in to poke home his third goal of the season, all in the last five games.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made four changes to the team that came back for a late 2-2 draw against FC Dallas at midweek. Tony Caig came in for Pat Onstad in goal and Corey Ashe replaced Dwayne De Rosario in the midfield as both were away on international duty. Patrick Ianni came in for the suspended Eddie Robinson in central defense and Ricardo Clark returned from international duty, taking the place of Kyle Brown.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-4-2): Tony Caig - Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Patrick Ianni, Craig Waibel - Geoff Cameron, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Corey Ashe (Brad Davis 46) - Brian Mullan (Kyle Brown 82), Brian Ching. Substitutes Not Used: Chris Wondolowski, Franco Caraccio, Mike Chabala, John Michael Hayden, Corbin Waller
• "A win is a win. We created some chances and I don't think they created much. It was a hard fought, physical game," Kinnear said. "I think we knew after the result that they got last week that they were going to come with a different mentality, and they did. We got a good effort from a lot of our guys, and I think we should be happy with the three points that we got."
TEAM NEWS
• With all the changes in the team, Kinnear was pleased with how the group he had on the field against New York responded to the challenge.
• "I think our young guys really worked hard tonight and ... the average age of our midfield was something like 23. You had Corey (Ashe), Geoff (Cameron), Stuart (Holden) and then Rico (Ricardo Clark) was the elder statesmen of the group at 25. Just the effort we got from them tonight was great."
• Equally credited were the changes in the back, where Patrick Ianni made his first start in four games in place of the suspended Eddie Robinson and Tony Caig made his first start since April 19. Ianni will likely again figure in central defense with the suspension to Robinson extended by a match in a decision by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
• "After halftime, I think we needed a little bit more composure on the ball, and we did that in the second half. Pat Ianni was good tonight, Tony (Caig) was good and all of the guys that came in had a positive effect on the game," Kinnear said.
• On Wednesday night, D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo were supposed to play at RFK Stadium. Violent thunderstorms had rolled through the area and left the field waterlogged, and then a heavy downpour early on left it unplayable after 16 minutes of play. After a wait of nearly 90 minutes, the match was abandoned. It is believed to be the second time in MLS history a game was started, then stopped and rescheduled.
• In the 16 minutes that were played, United had the best chances, with Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad twice punching out long-range screamers from Marcelo Gallardo, one from a free kick. Here's Kinnear's team: Pat Onstad - Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Patrick Ianni, Craig Waibel - Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, , Corey Ashe - Dwayne DeRosario - Brian Mullan, Geoff Cameron
• While it was a bit of a respite, there was still a trip involved and playing 16 minutes in D.C. It would have been the second in a stretch of four games for the Dynamo in less than two weeks. After the Toronto match, the Dynamo will turn right around and face the New England Revolution on MLS Primetime Thursday next week.
• "The games are adding up, but I think we are doing a good job of rotating some guys and getting our rest off the field and making sure we are prepared for the games," said midfielder Stuart Holden. "We go out every game and give it 100 percent. At the end of the day, it all comes with the job."
• The return trip to D.C. United has not yet been rescheduled, but as the fixture list currently stands, eight of Houston's next 11 games will now be at home.
• "If you look at our first 10 games, we had seven on the road, and in this league that is very difficult to play in," Ching said. "The way we started off, I think we were a little disappointed in how we started the season. But since then, we just put our heads down and have gotten back to playing how we are capable. Now we are working as a team and battling for results. I think in the past few games, you have really seen that."
TORONTO FC
Toronto FC ran its home unbeaten streak to six games with a 2-0 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. The Reds enter the week with 17 points from 10 games, now sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire and five ahead of the New York Red Bulls.
LAST MATCH
• Toronto FC was returning home after seeing their six-game unbeaten run come to an end the weekend before in a loss at D.C. United. The Galaxy had won back-to-back games for the first time all season while still pouring in the goals, this time knocking off the Kansas City Wizards 3-1 at home.
• Both teams were hit by international absences, but it was the Reds who struck first, four minutes into the second half. Julius James, who was making his MLS debut after coming on as a substitute for Olivier Tebily just 15 minutes into the game, rose up to flick home a Rohan Ricketts free kick for the opener.
• TFC doubled the lead in the 65th minute. A neat passing sequence outside the Galaxy penalty area saw Jeff Cunningham play a quick one-two with Jarrod Smith, and while the return pass was briefly knocked away, Cunningham was able to regain possession and send a quick, low shot past Steve Cronin inside the right-hand post for his 98th career league goal.
• TFC head coach John Carver made six changes to the team that lost 3-2 to D.C. United at RFK Stadium the weekend before. Greg Sutton (Canada), Amado Guevara (Honduras) and Carl Robinson (Wales) were on international duty, Laurent Robert suspended, and Tyrone Marshall and Danny Dichio injured. Brian Edwards made his first start since the season opener in goal, Olivier Tebily made his first TFC start in central defense, and Kevin Harmse, Todd Dunivant, Jarrod Smith and Jeff Cunningham all came back into the team.
• Here's Carver's team (4-4-2): Brian Edwards - Marvell Wynne, Olivier Tebily (Julius James 15), Marco Velez, Jim Brennan - Rohan Ricketts, Maurice Edu, Kevin Harmse, Todd Dunivant - Jarrod Smith (Nana Attakora-Gyan 87), Jeff Cunningham. Substitutes Not Used: Gabe Gala, Andrea Lombardo, David Monsalve, Pat Phelan, Tyler Rosenlund
• "When you've got six players out of the team, Laurent's (Robert) suspended, a couple of slight injuries and guys who are on international duty then it's a little bit of a concern but I've got faith and confidence in the guys who have come in and I've said to them in the dressing room that you've been waiting for a chance you've been patient -- and they've taken it," said Carver.
TEAM NEWS
• One of those debutants, Tebily, was forced off injured in the opening quarter-hour, and Julius James came on for his professional debut. It took just more than a half-hour for him to score his first MLS goal.
• "I'm delighted for Julius because it's his first professional game and goal, which is great, great ratio. But he's come in, stepped in for Tebily and was fantastic," Carver said.
• James, TFC's first-round selection (No. 9 overall) in the 2008 draft, was sidelined for parts of the preseason and the first few regular season contests with injuries to his shoulder and knee. By the time he was fit, he found himself behind Tyrone Marshall, Marco Velez and Olivier Tebily at central defender.
• "The older guys keep talking to me and tell me [about] patience, you know?" James said. "They keep saying guys will get injured. My parents just keep supporting me, my friends and family. I was frustrated, but every soccer player has to sit on the bench at some point in time."
• A year ago, depth was a real concern with TFC - especially as international duty and injury stacked up late in the season. In their first real match with numerous absences, the result was a sign things have turned around.
• "I think the evidence is there -- for example, our reserves are doing OK in the league, they should have four out of four (wins)," Carver said. "We should have won the first game, but that shows we've got a little more strength and depth."
• Cunningham started for the first time since April 5, and came through with his second goal on the season and 98th league goal for his career. The success of Danny Dichio and Amado Guevara up front had limited Cunningham to just 100 minutes played over TFC's last seven games.
• "I was very relieved [to score the goal]," Cunningham said. "Two and a half months of not playing, you know that goal meant a lot. The win proves to the coach that he has depth and has confidence in others stepping in able to get the job done -- it's a good feeling for other guys to come in and make a difference.
• Despite a number of players away on international duty during the week, Carver expects nearly a full squad to be available for the Dynamo match. Maurice Edu (USA), Jim Brennan and Greg Sutton (Canada) and Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica) will all see their respective national teams play midweek matches, as will Amado Guevara (Honduras). Carl Robinson returned to training on Tuesday after missing the Galaxy game away playing for Wales.
• "I'm hoping that everyone apart from Amado will join up with the squad ahead of the Houston game," said Carver. " ... We've eased off a bit with the guys who've been playing most of the games. We just did a light training session today and the younger players who've not been in the games did a full session."
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