Houston Dynamo Frustrate Toronto FC at BMO Field
Wednesday night marked the much anticipated return of Jermain Defoe to the starting lineup for Toronto FC. The $6 million striker had been out for over a month, and although he made a brief appearance off the bench on Saturday night against the Galaxy, it was Wednesday at BMO Field that really mattered for both him and the club.
While Toronto did get one designated player back in the lineup, they lost their other star striker, Gilberto, who wasn’t even available off the bench against the Dynamo. Head Coach, Greg Vanney, told the media that the team didn’t want to risk him tonight, but that they plan on having him back Saturday in New York.
Although it was an announced crowd of 18, 269, there was nowhere near that number of people in the seats. It may have been the biggest match for Toronto FC since 2012, but it was also opening night for the Toronto Maple Leafs, which got the lion’s share of attention from both media and fans. The rainy and windy conditions didn’t help attract fans to BMO Field either.
Coming into the match, Houston sat four points behind Toronto FC and seven points out of a playoff spot, but it was them who were pressing the issue early on Wednesday night. They controlled the majority of play inside the opening twenty minutes, with Joe Bendik being called upon on several occasions. In the 35th minute, Giles Barnes broke the deadlock and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Barnes beat rookie, Nick Hagglund, down the flank and put it right between Bendik’s legs, for his ninth goal of the season.
The game went into the break with the visitors leading, and the home fans frustrated.
Brad David nearly gave Houston a 2-0 lead when he hit the post seconds after the second half kicked off. However, things took a positive turn for the home side soon after. They were awarded a penalty kick in the 53rd minute and A.J. Cochran was given his marching orders.
Fans at BMO Field were again disappointed though, as Defoe stepped up to the spot and had his shot saved by Houston backup goalkeeper, Tyler Deric. It was Defoe’s first penalty miss all season, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Toronto became increasingly frustrated as the match wore on, as they simply could not find the back of the net, despite the plethora of chances and being a man up. Luke Moore headed one past Deric, only to have it rattle off the post, and Justin Morrow sent a ball that look destined to tie the game, just wide of the net.
It actually became comical at one point how many chances Toronto FC squandered in the dying minutes of the match. The Reds and their fans have seen this from their club before though, and unfortunately for them, heartbreak is a feeling they know all to well. Wednesday night was one that they will want to forget as quickly as possible.
Toronto now head to New York to play the Red Bulls in a must-win game. They can’t afford to drop anymore points if they want a realistic shot at making the Eastern Conference playoffs. Vanney echoed the same sentiments to the press following the loss.
"“Today was margin of error for the season. We now have to go out and we have to win. That’s it.”"
Houston travel home to take on D.C. United and the New England Revolution, before finishing their season in Chicago. The Dynamo currently sit four points behind Columbus for the final playoff spot, and one point behind Toronto FC for sixth. While making the postseason may still be a long shot for Houston, the win over Toronto definitely helped keep hopes alive.
Starting Lineups
Toronto FC: Joe Bendik, Mark Bloom, Steven Caldwell, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow, Jackson, Michael Bradley, Kyle Bekker, Jonathon Osorio, Luke Moore, Jermain Defoe
Houston Dynamo: : Tyler Deric, David Horst, DaMarcus Beasley,Kofi Sarkodis, A.J. Cochran, Servando Carrasco, Ricardo Clark, Andrew Driver, Brad David, Omar Cummings, Giles Barnes