Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - Two bottom-feeders will meet at FC Dallas
Stadium on Wednesday as Toronto FC will look to climb out of the Eastern
Conference cellar with a victory over FC Dallas, which sits last in the
Western Conference.
Toronto is in the midst of a four-game unbeaten run, and three points on
Wednesday would see the club climb out of last place in the East at the
expense of the Philadelphia Union.
The Canadian club is coming off of a 1-1 draw with Red Bull New York at BMO
Field at the weekend. Toronto conceded an early goal to Jan Gunnar Solli, but
the home side responded immediately as Danny Koevermans netted the equalizer
to earn a point for TFC and garner MLS Player of the Week honors.
While Koevermans stole the headlines with a timely goal, head coach Paul
Mariner believes that defender Logan Emory was one of the stars of the show.
Emory made a game-saving tackle in the 76th minute to preserve the draw,
making a sliding challenge to block Joel Lindpere's shot after the Estonian
got through on goal.
"Logan Emory, for me, is a bit of an unsung hero," said Mariner. "He's one of
those guys who go underneath the radar. He sort of very, very quietly goes
about his business extremely well."
Toronto heads into FC Dallas Stadium with a less-than-stellar record against
Western Conference opponents this season, going 0-4-0 and conceding 10 goals.
But Dallas may not provide a stern test to the Reds as the Frisco club is
riding an 11-game winless run. FC Dallas has not won a league match since
April 14.
"For whatever reason, we haven't found ways to win," said midfielder Daniel
Hernandez. "Hopefully, with some of the guys starting to come back in the next
week or two starting off with Toronto, it will be a good test for us."
Despite the lengthy barren spell, Hernandez revealed that the collective
attitude within the team remains positive.
"Nothing's really changed with us," Hernandez told MLSsoccer.com. "I think one
of the things we've been able [to do is] stay positive throughout the season
even as tough as it's been. We've stayed positive and continued to train hard.
Guys haven't taken off or backed off at training."
That type of resolve will be paramount if Dallas hopes to pick up three points
on Wednesday.
The Sports Network