Dynamo-Toronto FC Preview
After visiting eight different cities over the first two months, Toronto FC is finally playing in front of its home crowd.
Getting its first look at renovated BMO Field, Toronto will try to match its longest MLS winning streak Sunday night against the struggling Houston Dynamo.
Toronto went 3-4 in league play during its season-opening trip before losing 1-0 at Montreal on Wednesday in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal.
The Reds now get an opportunity to take the field in front of some anxious fans, and an early strike could go a long way toward helping them get back to .500. Houston (2-4-4) has allowed the opening goal in eight of its last nine, winning the only time it didn't.
"We're so excited to be home after such a long road trip," defender Justin Morrow told the team's official website.
Following a four-game losing streak, the club ended the league portion of its road swing with a 2-0 win over Orlando City on April 26 and a 1-0 victory at Philadelphia last Saturday. The Reds, who went 7-7-3 at home last season, can equal the club's longest MLS win streak first set in April 2008 and matched in July 2012.
"It's been hard not having our supporters behind us, giving us that extra push," midfielder Marky Delgado said. "We've been grinding through it and I felt like we've done a good job on the road."
Toronto, which hasn't reached the playoffs in its first eight seasons, was holding on to slim hopes in 2014 before Houston delivered a big blow with a 1-0 win in its last visit to BMO Field on Oct. 8.
Giles Barnes provided the only goal in the 35th minute, and he's likely to be a focus for TFC in this meeting. Barnes, who has a team-high five goals, has scored two with two assists in his last three matches against the Reds. However, his strike in a 4-1 loss to FC Dallas on May 1 is Houston's only goal during its first back-to-back defeats.
"When you get good catches, you have to be ruthless and convert them," coach Owen Coyle told the team's official website.
Morrow, Ashtone Morgan, Damien Perquis and Nick Hagglund hope to be up to the challenge after keying a backline that has helped Toronto record back-to-back clean sheets. Chris Konopka earned the shutout in net at Philadelphia and could get his second MLS start with Joe Bendik uncertain to play due to a foot injury.
Houston's Tyler Deric bounced back with a better showing in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to San Jose after letting in four goals in consecutive matches for the first time in club history. He had six saves while blanking the Reds last October.
The Dynamo will have to keep a close watch on Sebastian Giovinco, who scored his fourth goal in four games last Saturday.
Toronto has gone 1-3-5 in the past nine meetings with a 4-2 home win last July marking its only victory over Houston in that span.