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MLS: Toronto’s Playoff Chances Dim With Houston Draw
A Hunter Freeman own goal was redeemed by Marvell Wynne, whose first career MLS goal gave Toronto their first result in seven games.
Sep 27, 2008 7:48:33 PM
Toronto FC 1 – 1 Houston Dynamo
Toronto entered this match riding a six-game losing streak, not tasting a victory since June 14. And on this day, the winless run continued at BMO Field and they are still in the cellar of the Eastern Conference.
But the Reds stole a point in a sloppy match, meaning Houston’s bid to catch Columbus in the race for the Supporter Shield just got a little tougher from complacent play.
First Half
The game started quickly for Houston as Brad Davis curled in a left footed cross in the 3rd minute that met the foot of Brian Ching, whose shot barely sailed over the goal.
Amado Guevara nearly gave TFC the lead in the 11th minute off a free kick 20 yards out, but placed it just over the goal. The best buildup of the game for Toronto came in the 17th minute with good play from Marvell Wynne. The US Olympian placed a through ball to Danny Dicchio, who dropped it back for a one-time blast from Guevara that bent just over the goal.
The 22nd minute found poor defensive play from Toronto’s Hunter Freeman. The former New York Red Bull’s wild header caught his goalkeeper Greg Sutton by surprise. Coming off his line, the Canadian international could do nothing but watch the ball slowly drop into the back of the net for an own goal.
Appropriately, the fans at BMO Field, who have watched the side drop from 3rd place to last in the Eastern Conference, flung their jeers and boos at the home side. But despite the noise, the half ended with sloppy passing in the midfield from both clubs and no real chances to capitalize on.
Second Half
Toronto came out in with a sense of urgency and a flurry of early opportunities. In the 46th minute Freeman missed a chance at redemption, sending his header wide. Three minutes later, Rohan Ricketts fired wide, and Guevara quickly followed that up with an opportunity of his own that just missed.
TFC striker Chad Barrett was active all day. His left-footed drive that moved just wide of the net in the 58th minute.
Houston looked like they were just complacent to settle back until Marvell Wynne took over in the 74th minute. An unexpected display of footwork left Houston’s Dwayne DeRosario looking statuesque, and Wynne curled in a beautiful left-footed equalizer from outside the box.
The Dynamo, suddenly energized, tried to answer with some good buildup in midfield and DeRosario almost broke Ching through in the 83rd minute, but Sutton came up with a result-saving stop. Ching once again tried to steal the full points with a diving header in the 90th minute, but he missed the connection.
Houston remain at the top of the Western Conference, while the failure to get three points leaves Toronto’s playoff chances battered and bruised. The postseason seems impossible for the second straight year for the Reds.
--- Kevin Perry, Goal.com
Toronto entered this match riding a six-game losing streak, not tasting a victory since June 14. And on this day, the winless run continued at BMO Field and they are still in the cellar of the Eastern Conference.
But the Reds stole a point in a sloppy match, meaning Houston’s bid to catch Columbus in the race for the Supporter Shield just got a little tougher from complacent play.
First Half
The game started quickly for Houston as Brad Davis curled in a left footed cross in the 3rd minute that met the foot of Brian Ching, whose shot barely sailed over the goal.
Amado Guevara nearly gave TFC the lead in the 11th minute off a free kick 20 yards out, but placed it just over the goal. The best buildup of the game for Toronto came in the 17th minute with good play from Marvell Wynne. The US Olympian placed a through ball to Danny Dicchio, who dropped it back for a one-time blast from Guevara that bent just over the goal.
The 22nd minute found poor defensive play from Toronto’s Hunter Freeman. The former New York Red Bull’s wild header caught his goalkeeper Greg Sutton by surprise. Coming off his line, the Canadian international could do nothing but watch the ball slowly drop into the back of the net for an own goal.
Appropriately, the fans at BMO Field, who have watched the side drop from 3rd place to last in the Eastern Conference, flung their jeers and boos at the home side. But despite the noise, the half ended with sloppy passing in the midfield from both clubs and no real chances to capitalize on.
Second Half
Toronto came out in with a sense of urgency and a flurry of early opportunities. In the 46th minute Freeman missed a chance at redemption, sending his header wide. Three minutes later, Rohan Ricketts fired wide, and Guevara quickly followed that up with an opportunity of his own that just missed.
TFC striker Chad Barrett was active all day. His left-footed drive that moved just wide of the net in the 58th minute.
Houston looked like they were just complacent to settle back until Marvell Wynne took over in the 74th minute. An unexpected display of footwork left Houston’s Dwayne DeRosario looking statuesque, and Wynne curled in a beautiful left-footed equalizer from outside the box.
The Dynamo, suddenly energized, tried to answer with some good buildup in midfield and DeRosario almost broke Ching through in the 83rd minute, but Sutton came up with a result-saving stop. Ching once again tried to steal the full points with a diving header in the 90th minute, but he missed the connection.
Houston remain at the top of the Western Conference, while the failure to get three points leaves Toronto’s playoff chances battered and bruised. The postseason seems impossible for the second straight year for the Reds.
--- Kevin Perry, Goal.com
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