Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo: Game Thread

FT — A disappointing night for The Reds. Three unanswered goals gave Houston a lead too big for TFC to overcome.

90’ — Five minutes of stoppage time left.

83’ — Toronto FC thought they scored a second, but Laurent Ciman was called offside.

75’ — Toronto FC 1-3 Houston Dynamo — Jozy Altidore heads the ball home for his third goal in three games! 15 minutes left for TFC to try and steal a point.

73’ — Maynor Figueroa clears a shot off the line to keep TFC off the scoresheet.

57’ — Michael Bradley comes on for Nick DeLeon. It’s the first time he’s come on as a sub since joining Toronto FC.

57’ — Toronto FC 0-3 Houston Dynamo — Manotas scores, killing TFC’s momentum.

54’ — Shaffelburg shoots just wide. He looks due for a goal or assist.

49’ — Jacob Shaffelburg cut left and right to get around a defender before crossing the ball to Jozy Altidore, whose shot was saved by Tyler Deric.

46’ — The second half is underway. Jozy Altidore and Jacob Shaffelburg replace Patrick Mullins and Jay Chapman.

HT — Poor half from Toronto FC. They are lucky to have only conceded twice, as Quentin Westberg has bailed them out on multiple occasions. This is the highlight of the game thus far:

32’ — Quentin Westberg makes an excellent save! He denied a sure goal to keep TFC in this game.

23’ — Toronto FC 0-2 Houston Dynamo — After a pretty uneventful fifteen minutes, Houston double their lead on an excellent team goal. Tomas Martinez finished it off.

7’ — Chris Mullins heads the ball just over the bar on his TFC debut.

4’ — Toronto FC 0-1 Houston Dynamo — Tommy McNamara opens the scoring early.

1’ — TFC get this game underway!

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Lineups:

Toronto FC:

A ton of rotation for The Reds, as Greg Vanney makes 7 changes from Wednesday night. Patrick Mullins makes his TFC debut, and none of the designated players start this one.

Houston Dynamo:

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Tonight, for the first time since the start of the season, Toronto FC will go for a third straight win as the Houston Dynamo come to BMO Field.

The Reds have two on the bounce, having beaten the Montreal Impact last weekend and the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday. They’re now sixth in the Eastern Conference, and only three behind Atlanta United in third place. Things ain’t as glum as they were a few weeks ago.

Houston, meanwhile, sits two points outside of the playoff picture in eighth. They’ve scored just 29 goals this year with 33 conceded. Their most recent game was a fun one — on the same night TFC handily beat NYRB, the Dynamo fell 5-0 to Atlanta United for their third straight loss (and seventh of their last eight games).

So, tonight’s opponent is in quite a tough run of form; that makes this a game that TFC are expected to win, although the motivation that comes from a 5-0 drubbing is nothing to scoff at.

Houston’s scoring has been by committee this year, with Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas both sitting on seven goals, and Memo Rodriguez at five. The latter is listed as questionable for tonight, though, with a hamstring issue, and Elis was sent off on Wednesday against Atlanta so he’ll be suspended.

We all remember the last time TFC played Houston — that would be the ugly 5-1 loss at BBVA Compass Stadium last season, when the Reds played a completely rotated squad (with a lot of TFC II players) while the first team prepared for leg 2 of the CONCACAF Champions League final.

This one will be played on very different terms. The Reds are finally getting into form (although they had their share of false starts in 2018, too), with regulars returning and new faces joining the squad.

It’s time to go on a run.

Team news: injuries & suspensions

Toronto FC: Drew Moor might be on the verge of returning, but he’s still listed as questionable. Nick DeLeon left last weekend’s game at halftime with an injury, so he may be out again too. Jonathan Osorio remained absent from the starting XI on Wednesday but did enter as a sub; meanwhile, Alejandro Pozuelo left the game a little early with a knock, so he may not start either.

Houston Dynamo: Midfielders Eric Bird and Memo Rodriguez are listed as questionable by MLSsoccer.com. Alberth Elis is suspended.

How to watch

Match date/time: Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: TSN 4
Live stream: TSN GO, ESPN+
Radio: TSN 1050