TORONTO — Toronto FC overcame a first half brace from Brad Davis to engineer a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo in front of 22,591 in attendance at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
After first half goals from Jonathan Osorio and Dominic Oduro, TFC Designated Player Jermain Defoe scored twice in the second half to lead the comeback.
The Dynamo opened the scoring in the 13th minute when a defensive breakdown by Toronto allowed an unmarked Davis to slot home past TFC keeper Joe Bendik. Then, as Toronto pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Houston caught the Reds on the break at the half hour mark. Davis scored his second of the match from essentially the same spot as his first after a cross from Giles Barnes found him alone at the backpost.
Just when it looked like Houston were poised to run away with the match, Toronto took advantage of a 39th minute Dynamo defensive miscue when keeper Tally Hall bobbled a Defoe cross and dropped the ball onto the head of Osorio on the doorstep.
TFC capped off a veritable 45 minute goal-fest during first half injury time when Defoe laid off a perfect pass to a hard charging Oduro. While the Ghanaian speedster’s initial shot was stopped by Hall, the MLS veteran slotted home his own rebound for his first TFC goal.
Toronto capped off their comeback by taking the lead in the 63rd minute when Defoe danced around the Houston backline and clinically finished past Hall. Defoe then sealed the result just before the finish when an errant pass from the Dynamo backline sent him in alone on Hall.
Houston have now lost six of their last seven, and haven’t won in the league since May 17. Toronto, meanwhile, earned a much-needed home victory following a disappointing 2-1 loss to D.C. United at BMO Field last weekend.
Toronto FC return to action midweek against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Field, while Houston won’t play again until next Saturday when they will host Toronto at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Toronto FC (7-5-3; 24 points) vs. Houston Dynamo (5-11-3; 18 points)
MLS regular season
July 12, 2014 – BMO Field, Toronto, ON
Attendance: 22,591 (sellout)
Scoring Summary:
Houston: Brad Davis 3 (Giles Barnes 3) 13
Houston: Brad Davis 4 (Giles Barnes 4) 30
Toronto: Jonathan Osorio 1 (unassisted) 39
Toronto: Dominic Oduro 1 (unassisted) 45+1
Toronto: Jermain Defoe 9 (Jonathan Osorio 3, Jackson 1) 63
Toronto: Jermain Defoe 10 (unassisted) 89
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie, David Horst, Jermaine Taylor, Warren Creavalle (Omar Cummings 79); Andrew Driver (Brian Ownby 67), Ricardo Clark (Servando Carrasco 86), Boniek García, Brad Davis ©; Giles Barnes, Will Bruin
Unused substitutes: Tyler Deric, Eric Brunner, AJ Cochran, Alexander Lopez
Toronto FC: Joe Bendik; Mark Bloom, Steve Caldwell © (Bradley Orr 69), Doneil Henry, Justin Morrow; Jackson, Jonathan Osorio, Collen Warner, Dominic Oduro (Daniel Lovitz 58); Jermain Defoe, Luke Moore (Gilberto 80)
Unused Substitutes: Chris Konopka, Kyle Bekker, Dwayne De Rosario, Ashtone Morgan
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Kofi Sarkodie 35 (caution)
HOU: Jermaine Taylor 37 (caution
TFC: Jermain Defoe 37(caution)
HOU: David Horst 40 (caution)
HOU: Ricardo Clark 56 (caution)
HOU: Warren Creavalle 59 (caution)
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Phil Briere, Scott Kachmarik
Fourth Official: Mathieu Bourdeau
