June 8, 2008 MLS Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC (from MLSnet.com)
06/08/2008 11:24PM
Toronto FC's road woes continue
Jeff Cunningham's goal lone bright spot in loss
By Lucas Ogden-Davis / MLSnet.com Staff
HOUSTON -- Toronto FC continued to struggle on the road on Sunday, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium. The loss drops Toronto's record to 1-4-0 on the road, compared to 4-0-2 when playing at BMO Field.
Brian Ching scored two goals and set up another, netted by Dwayne De Rosario, as the Dynamo controlled much of the match. Jeff Cunningham pulled a goal back for TFC late, the 99th league goal of his MLS career.
With midfielders Amado Guevara and Maurice Edu missing to be with the Honduras and U.S. national teams, respectively, Toronto couldn't maintain pressure on the Houston defense and yielded a 19-5 shot differential for the evening.
Toronto appeared a half-step slow early in the first half, allowing Houston to control the ball in Toronto's defensive end for much of the first 15 minutes of the match. But Toronto's defense held, doing enough to prevent Dynamo from getting off any shots until the 24th minute.
Toronto had a chance to take the lead in the 26th minute, when Jim Brennan lobbed a beautiful crossing pass to an open Jeff Cunningham inside the six-yard box. Cunningham had no competition for the ball, but his header sailed just over the crossbar. It would prove to be Toronto's only shot of the half.
Goalkeeper Greg Sutton showed his mettle early and often in the first half, saving a low, hard near-post shot by De Rosario in the 24th minute and smothering a Corey Ashe attempt after the speedy Houston midfielder streaked past the Toronto back line in the 32nd. Sutton notched four saves in the first half and ended the match with a total of five.
Houston took the lead only seconds before the end of the first half, when Ching headed a cleared ball on to De Rosario. The Canadian international received the ball in stride, held off a defender and poked the ball just over a sprawling Sutton for the goal.
The Dynamo began the second half like they ended the first. Houston defender Patrick Ianni took the ball at midfield and played it forward to De Rosario, who worked around Toronto defender Julius James. De Rosario was alone in front of goal, forcing Sutton to commit to him, before crossing it to an open Ching at the back post. Sutton had no chance to get back in position, and Ching sent his shot high into the goal.
Toronto had a golden opportunity to pull within one in the 64th minute. Midfielder Laurent Robert, a halftime replacement for Todd Dunivant, got an open look from the top of the box. Robert's shot forced Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad to make a diving save to his right, punching the ball straight to Toronto forward Jarrod Smith.
Smith tried to put the ball in with one touch while Onstad was on the ground, but the shot was too close to the prone 'keeper and Onstad managed to make the save. The back-to-back blocks would prove to be Onstad's only saves of the night.
The Dynamo put the match out of reach in the 69th minute with Ching's second goal of the night. Houston midfielder Stuart Holden sent a cross in to the area from the right corner, and Ching was left alone in front of the goal for the easy header.
Cunningham saved some face for Toronto with a brilliant unassisted goal only two minutes after Ching's. Cunningham launched a shot from just outside the penalty area and put it just under the crossbar and inside the near post, giving Onstad no chance for the save.
Toronto FC will return to BMO Field to face the Colorado Rapids on Sat., June 14 (7 p.m. ET).
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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