Toronto hammers Hoops

Soccer Betting Lines

06/17/2007 - Toronto, Ontario (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC scored a franchise-high four goals en route to a 4-0 win over FC Dallas at BMO Field on Sunday.

Maurice Edu, Danny Dichio, Carl Robinson and Jeff Cunningham each found the back of the net for Toronto, which will play its next six games away from home.

"We beat a very good team, we're getting better every game," Toronto head coach Mo Johnston said. "It was our last home game before six on the road so it was important to get the win. I'm confident we can get a win on the road since we've signed Dichio, Robinson and Cunningham."

The loss, meanwhile, snaps the Hoops two-game win streak as the team struggled offensively throughout the game without leading scorer Kenny Cooper, who is likely to miss the next couple of months due to injury.

Dallas started the match as the stronger of the two sides in the opening 15 minutes. Arturo Alvarez nearly set up the first goal in the fifth minute as he bent a free kick from the right wing into the box. Drew Moor ran onto the ball and got his head to it but his shot went wide of the right post.

Seven minutes later the Hoops threatened again. Dominic Oduro worked his way down the right flank and attempted a low cross into the box. The ball was deflected by a Toronto defender but it fell for Alvarez at the top of the box. He had a good look at goal but his left-footed effort whistled just past the right post.

The home side then made the most of its first good scoring chance in the 22nd minute. Richard Mulrooney crossed from the left and found Dichio inside the box. The big striker directed his volley on net but was turned away by keeper Dario Sala. The rebound fell for Dichio but he was once again denied at close range. However Edu was on hand to slam the ball home from a few yards out and put Toronto in front.

Three minutes later the hosts were up two goals as they made the most of a free kick opportunity. Robinson floated the ball into the box and Dichio was able to hold off his defender and head past Sala from close range.

Dallas grew increasingly frustrated over the remainder of the first half as they were unable to test Srdjan Djekanovic in the Toronto goal.

Dichio was replaced at halftime by Andrea Lombardo because of an injury to his left ankle, but it did not slow down the home side and they picked up where they left off in the second half.

Toronto continued to press the action after the restart and Cunningham came within inches of giving his team a three-goal edge. After picking up the ball near midfield, Cunningham found space and dribbled towards goal. He got past one defender and carried the ball into the box. As Sala came off his line, Cunningham fired a shot past the keeper but the ball struck the cross bar and stayed out.

The lead was extended to three goals just nine minutes later, however, as Robinson bagged his first goal of the campaign. Andy Welsh had possession of the ball in the corner and dropped a pass to Kevin Goldthwaite, who swung a cross into the center of the box. Robinson was left free inside the area and he headed the ball past a helpless Sala to put a comfortable distance between the clubs.

Robinson finished the game with a goal and two assists and his performance came as no surprise to Johnston, whose only worry is that he might wear out his player.

"Carl is a leader in the locker room and players look up to him," Johnston said. "He has played in the Premiership and played in over 50 games so I need to be careful not to wear him out."

Dallas tried to get back into the game as second-half substitute Carlos Ruiz got free at the back post but his header sailed inches wide. A few minutes later, Bobby Rhine had room at the top of the box for a shot but his effort also missed the target, going well over the net.

Cunningham then capped the scoring in stoppage time as he headed home a Robinson cross for his fifth goal of the season. Just seconds later, the final whistle blew and Djekanovic had his first clean sheet in only his third MLS start.

With starting keeper Greg Sutton battling concussion problems with the Canadian National Team, Djekanovic may be called upon to continue his strong play, but it is not something that he is worried about.

"It's not up to me to see what happens," Djekanovic said. "It's up to me to do the work and be ready. I felt good today and it is nice to get some games behind me and to get comfortable."

No matter who is between the posts for Toronto next week, they are sure to be tested by New England in the first of six games straight away from BMO Field. This stretch will tell us a lot about Toronto and just how far they have come since their struggles in April.

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