FRISCO - Saturday night brings a marquee matchup to Toyota Stadium as Toronto FC visits FC Dallas for the only regular season meeting between the teams in 2017. Dallas (6-3-7, 25 points) and Toronto (10-2-5, 35 points) will both be playing their second game in five days, after both clubs had domestic cup matches on Tuesday night. The sides have met one time each MLS season since 2012, with Dallas picking up at least a point in four of those five matches.
Contrasting Forms
No MLS team has a better goal differential than Toronto. With 30 goals scored and only 15 conceded, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Toronto leads MLS with 35 points. However, Toronto has encountered some difficulty on the road, collecting 12 of a possible 24 road points with a goal differential of zero. Meanwhile, Dallas has continued to have success in Frisco, dropping only one home match out of eight.
Key Match-Ups
Mauro Diaz vs. Victor Vazquez: The dueling midfielders could put on a show. Diaz looks like his old self after making a full return from injury, as the Argentine already has three assists in all competitions. Vazquez has been the creative force for a loaded Toronto side, recording three goals and nine assists.
Maxi Urruti vs. Jozy Altidore: The two front men mean business. Urruti's nine goals in 2017 equal his mark from all of last season, and Dallas still hasn't lost a match Urruti has scored or assisted in since he joined the team. Altidore will play the role of target man for Toronto, something he's done well this season with seven goals.
Last Time Out
(3-5-2): Clint Irwin; Chris Mavinga; Drew Moor; Eriq Zavaleta, Raheem Edwards, Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley, Victor Vazquez, Steven Beitashour, Tosaint Ricketts, Sebastian Giovinco.
Key to Three Points
Dallas will have to deal with a potent Toronto attack, but this match will be won in the midfield. Each side has more than enough quality to create chances through Diaz and Vazquez, but the role of the defensive midfielder will be vital. The absences of Matt Hedges and Kellyn Acosta for Dallas, while Toronto keeps its USMNT players in Altidore and Bradley, makes the task of the holding midfielder an even more important one. If Dallas can succeed there, three points might be on the table.
