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With injuries really starting to take their toll, an undermanned TFC squad arrived in the Lone Star State to take on an FC Dallas sitting atop the table and leading the league in goals scored.
Due to injuries, TFC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen went into this one with a bench consisting of two backup keepers. However, in one positive piece of news for TFC supporters, both Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio returned from injury layoffs to take places in the Reds starting eleven.
The Opening 45
The first half kicked off with Dallas looking dangerous and hungry, but with TFC defending ably while clogging the middle of the pitch. That approach prevented Dallas from getting off many dangerous scoring chances from open play but also saw the home time earn corner kick after corner kick.
While Dallas looked more dangerous it would be Toronto that would open the scoring in the 21 minute. Following a set piece TFC winger Issey Nakajima-Farran saw his first shot stopped by keeper Chris Seitz, but then took advantage of a second opportunity to knock the ball into the net off of a Dallas player.
With Dallas looking intent on getting even right away, midfielder Michel came close in the 24th minute but saw his free kick knocked over the crossbar by Reds keeper Julio Cesar.
Toronto continued to play with fire while conceding a large number of corner kicks and were punished in the 37th minute when Dallas defender Matt Hedges redirect a corner into the back of the Toronto net.
Dallas came close to engineering a lead on another corner kick just before the half-time break but Julio Cesar came up with a world class save to prevent a goal.
The Second Half
Toronto started off the second half well but Dallas ultimately ended up taking control of the match as this one played out.
In the 54th minute, Michael Bradley delivered an excellent chance to spring Jackson for a chance on goal, but the Brazilian did not get much on his shot as Hedges made an easy save.
Toronto looked set to take the lead when striker Gilberto appeared to be knocked down in the Dallas box by Kellyn Acosta, but the referee did not call a penalty on the play.
The momentum of the match shifted clearly to Dallas after that contentious play and Dallas striker Blas Perez knocked in a loose ball from in close in the 88th minute to give his side the lead.
Toronto had an excellent chance to even things during injury time when Bradley Orr delivered an excellent cross into the Dallas box that substitute forward Andrew Wiedeman ultimately headed over the crossbar.
On a night in which both Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio looked less influential than usual due to their injury layoffs, it was clear that the injury bug that has hit Toronto early in the season is playing a key role in what is now a two-game losing streak for Nelsen’s squad.
Man of the Match
Julio Cesar
On an evening in which Toronto struggled to get much going offensively, keeper Julio Cesar was Toronto’s Man of the Match in a losing effort. With Dallas blitzing the TFC end of the pitch all night, the sure-handed Brazilian International kept the match close with his calm approach and a number of excellent saves, including one truly world class one that prevented a sure goal when the two teams were still tied at one goal apiece.
Honourable mention
Winger Issey Nakajima-Farran looks like he is adjusting quite well to the North American top flight. The Canadian International scored his second MLS goal and put in an excellent and influential shift at both ends of the pitch. Against a pretty pugilistic Dallas side, Nakajima-Farran got stuck in with his tackles and brought a physical element to the match. With Dallas looking like it had another gear in attack for most of the match, central defender Bradley Orr delivered another solid performance. The Liverpool native was particularly effective while defending the large number of corner kicks that Dallas had in the game.
Toronto FC Line-up
30 Julio Cesar
28 Mark Bloom
13 Steven Caldwell
16 Bradley Orr
2 Justin Morrow
4 Michael Bradley
8 Kyle Bekker
11 Jackson
20 Issey Nakajima-Farran
9 Gilberto
21 Jonathan Osorio
Substitutions: (81) Wiedeman for Nakajima-Farran; (90+) Hagglund in for Bloom.
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