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TFC searching for another road win at Dallas

Fri 10th, October 2008

Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - Toronto FC will try to keep its postseason hopes alive Saturday at FC Dallas in a battle of bubble teams and, surprisingly, the Canadian team's last two wins have been on the road.

TFC was one of the toughest teams at home early in the season but since June 14 its only wins in its last 15 matches are at Colorado on Aug. 9 and at New York last weekend.

The Reds (8-12-7) are still stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just three games left in the regular season, but a playoff berth is just three points away.

Despite Toronto's recent success on the road, it's just 4-20-4 in two years on the road in Major League Soccer.

A win at Pizza Hut Park would put Toronto in position to back into the playoffs with more results in its final two games against Chicago and San Jose.

The task won't be easy, though, for numerous reasons. Dallas is still battling for a playoff berth and is just two points shy of third place and a guaranteed spot in the Western Conference.

The Hoops (8-9-10) are unbeaten in their last four, are also 5-4-5 at home and have the second-leading scorer in MLS in Kenny Cooper (16 goals).

Not to mention TFC will be without at least five players on international duty. Amado Guevara (Honduras), Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica), Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala), Kevin Harmse (Canada) and Carl Robinson (Wales) were all called up to national teams for World Cup qualifiers.

Marvell Wynne (United States) and Julius James (Trinidad & Tobago) are both on standby duty and could be forced to leave the club before this weekend's game.

Toronto's defense, which has been strong recently by allowing just one goal in three of its last four, could suffer because of those losses.

"I've been critical of the way we've defended of late but I thought [last week] we did ever so well defensively," TFC coach John Carver said. "It's about the players believing in themselves. I thought they showed great character, played some good football at times and defended very well."

At least Toronto FC didn't lose nine players to international call ups, like it did earlier this season. And remember, although Toronto has just two victories in its last 15, it has tied Eastern leader Columbus and Western leader Houston in its last four matches.

FC Dallas has been on a bit of a hot streak, going 2-0-2 in its last four. Just one of those wins was at home, although three of the four were in Frisco. FCD's clash with Toronto is its last home match of the year with trips to Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles wrapping up the schedule.

"Obviously, we're still on a good run, [with eight] points in the last [four] games," FCD defender Drew Moor said after last weekend's 1-1 draw against San Jose. "We're still on a good run of form and I don't think there's a lot we need to change."

"We got to pick our heads up and head onto the final three games with Toronto next and see if we can go on the road and get some points there."

Dallas had defender Duilio Davino back in the starting lineup for the first time since July 27 last week, which helped solidify the defense. Cooper had the lone goal on a penalty kick and is just two goals shy of the club record set by Jason Kreis in 1999.

Cooper trails Los Angeles' Landon Donovan by three goals in the chase for the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer, but he's not focused on the team record or the league scoring title.

"First of all, the important thing in the next three things is to win and get as many points as we can," said Cooper, who had both goals in Dallas' 2-0 win over TFC on Aug. 3. "[The] playoffs are the goal right now and if I'm able to score some goals to help the team or get some assists, that would be great."

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