MLS Preview: Houston heads to Toronto for Canada Day clash

Posted Jul 1, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 1, 2010 at 02:18 PM

Two teams on the fringes of the playoffs meet at BMO Field in this week’s MLS Game of the Week on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

HOUSTON (5-7-2) AT TORONTO (5-4-3): It’s Canada Day north of the border, and Toronto will try to maintain its undefeated home record against the Dynamo after both sides emerged with draws in their first games back after the World Cup break.

Toronto is third in the Eastern Conference, but sits just one point ahead of Houston, which is sixth in the West, in the overall playoff race. The Reds are 4-0-2 at home after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Los Angeles, and will be hoping for a strong performance by Dwayne de Rosario against his former team.

De Rosario scored against the Dynamo in their last meeting, a 1-1 tie at BMO Field in 2009, and also has the statistical oddity of having scored against his current team for his former team. His former side played well in their return from the break, but could only come away with a 2-2 tie against Colorado. Victory tonight, though, would jump the Dynamo into fourth place in the Western Conference ahead of this weekend’s games.