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Former Colombian international Milton Rodriquez's 77th minute equalizer for Dallas looked inevitable, as 15 minutes of complacency after a go-ahead-goal led to Toronto drawing 1-1at BMO Field on Saturday.
The Reds were well on their way to grabbing three invaluable points at home against one of the league's toughest sides. Maicon Santos had put the Reds ahead at the 61st minute, but shortly after that Toronto seemed content as Dallas bossed the game. Rodriguez missed a sitter two minutes earlier, but when Ferreira's corner kick came into the area the veteran was on the spot past Nana Attakora and Dan Gargan to level.
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Toronto's backline was stretched as injuries to Attakora and Ty Harden forced Nick Garcia to partner Adrian Cann at the centre of defence. This duo held up for the most part against the potent Dallas attack, but for a few occasions, including the play leading to the leveler.
Under pressure inside his own area, Garcia - now a left back since Attakora's introduction - sought Dwayne De Rosario as an outlet to clear the threat. The pass was behind the captain, who took a bad touch knocking the ball back into danger, where Cann conceded a corner. From that set-piece casual defending helped Rodriguez make it 1-1.
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Chivas USA will rue letting Maicon leave Carson if his current form holds. Three days after scoring a memorable header against Bolton in a friendly, the Brazilian notched his first MLS goal in a Toronto shirt.
He showed flashes of ability and strong work ethic in the first half, but a lack of service kept the 26-year old from getting into space. But shortly after the hour mark, a defence-splitting pass from Julian de Guzman put Maicon behind Zach Lloyd. The highly touted rookie closed in, but Maicon held him off with ease before slotting a left footer to the inside of Kevin Hartman's near post for yet another picturesque finish this week.
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Toronto (4-3-3): Stefan Frei, Raivis Hscanovics (Nana Attakora 67'), Adrian Cann, Dan Gargan, Nick Garcia, Julian de Guzman, Amadou Sanyang (Mista 55'), Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario (Jacob Peterson 81'), Chad Barrett, Maicon Santos.
Unused Subs: Jon Conway, Joseph Nane, O'Brian White, Max Usanov
Goals: Toronto: Maicon 61' Dallas: Rodriguez 77'
Discipline: Toronto: Caution - De Rosario 17' Sanyan 23' Cann 39' LaBrocca 96' Dallas: Caution - Hernandez 21' Benitez 96' Ejection - Sala 95'
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Thursday, July 27 v. Motagua
Champions League
Preliminary Round, Leg 1
8:00 PM (GOL TV Canada)
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GAME NOTES:.
Toronto's continental ambitions will be tested severely by last season's Honduran Liga Nacional runner-up CD Motagua in the Champions League.
The 'Blue Cyclone' are led by captain Amado Guevara - the former Toronto midfielder who sported the armband for his country at the World Cup in South Africa. This is the first leg of the preliminary round matches between these two sides. Motagua will host the second leg at Estadio Nacional.
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| 10-9 |
Toronto held a slight edge on shots in this match. |
| 18 |
Number of fouls (Toronto committing eight) in a card-heavy match officiated by Edvin Jurisevic. |
| 55 |
The minute at which Spanish striker Mista made his league debut. Still finding his fitness, he had some good touches but played quite deep at times. |
| 16 |
Number of corner kicks in the match. The Reds had nine of them, but only Dallas made one count. |
| 9 |
Toronto still undefeated at home over this many matches. However, they've dropped eight points in their last five BMO Field MLS dates. |
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"You get on top and score a good goal. Then once again we find a way to give away a soft goal. That a worrying thing. We are lacking in concentration in the box." - Preki commented on the Dallas equalizer that cost Toronto two more points at home - a worrying trend indeed.
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"Very frustrated. Obviously they were happy with (the draw). Us, definitely not. Specially by the fashion we conceded that goal in a set-piece. We have to win those individual battles ... it's gotta get better." - Stefan Frei on Toronto's seeming inability to close down attackers on set-pieces exposed two weeks running.
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"We got the goal we wanted. But after that I felt we got complacent. We allowed Dallas to get in the game and gain some confidence in our defensive area." - Julian de Guzman on the minutes leading up to the Dallas goal as Toronto seemed to let off after Maicon's goal.
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