FRISCO – After two home games, FC Dallas will head up north and face FC Toronto on Friday night. FC Dallas (4-1-5, 17 points) has played a league-low three road games this season, and will play four of the next six matches away from home. They are coming off a 2-2 draw after giving up two late goals vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Toronto FC (3-6-1, 10 points) defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 last week, with the game-winning goal coming in the 87th minute.
Opposing Strengths
The backline will get back Reto Ziegler, who will return to the starting lineup after serving his suspension last week. They will have a tall task this week going up against Toronto FC's Giovinco. Giovinco was suspended last week after a red card against New England. He only has two goals this season, but he is still incredibly dangerous. He won the Golden Ball in April in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Toronto FC is third in the league in shots per game, averaging over 16, and eighth in the league in shots on goal per game. Defensively, Toronto has struggled, allowing nineteen goals in 10 games. They have only one clean sheet this season, tied for the second lowest in the league.
Key Match-Ups
Matt Hedges vs. Giovinco – The chemistry in the backline should be a little smoother with Reto Ziegler’s return to the lineup, but they will have their hands full. Giovinco is one of the top playmakers in the MLS and the center backs will have to prevent him from getting space and finding holes in the defense.
Roland Lamah vs. Gregory van der Wiel – Lamah has been red-hot recently, recording two goals and an assist in the team’s two-game homestand. He will have a tough matchup going against van der Wiel, who has been one of the few bright spots in Toronto's defense this season.
Projected XI
(4-4-2) Alexander Bono; Auro, Chris Mavinga, Eriq Zavaleta, Gregory van der Wiel; Jay Chapman, Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley, Ryan Telfer; Víctor Vázquez, Sebastian Giovinco
Keys to Three Points
Dallas must play a strong second half. They have been strong in the first half recently, but struggling in the second. They have had chances to put games away, but have not been able to close out.
Toronto has not been playing their best soccer of late, and FC Dallas has a chance to take advantage of that. FC Dallas must contain Giovinco and make other players beat them on the defensive end. Offensively, Maxi Urruti will be a key to help get behind Toronto’s center backs, which have been a weakness this season.
