For an eighth consecutive match, Toronto FC walked off the field Saturday night without a goal. FC Dallas got two goals from penalty kicks for a 2-0 victory at Pizza Hut Park, and TFC saw their losing streak reach four games,
But although TFC's MLS-record scoreless streak was extended to 732 minutes, head coach Mo Johnston wasn't preaching doom and gloom about his side.
"I thought the guys played very hard," Johnston said. "They worked hard for each other and created 11 chances. We should have scored. Our guys stuck together and battled hard."
The visitors controlled the run of play early on and in the 18th minute nearly took a 1-0 lead when Andrea Lombardo was denied by Hoops center back Aaron Pitchkolan who cleared his shot off the line.
In the 84th minute, Chris Pozniak's cross through the box was tipped by Sala. The carom fell to the feet of Collin Samuel, who then tried to slip the ball just inside the right post. But his effort was somehow denied by a diving Sala.
"The guys are gutted," Johnston said. "It's a shame because we should have had something from the game tonight, maybe a point. I don't think Dallas performed very well. We got behind them numerous times but we just couldn't score."
TFC defender Jim Brennan agreed. "We had 11 chances today," he said. "If we would have gotten one, that would have carried on and we would have gotten a few more. We had our share of chances and if we had put them away, we would have had the game."
The game was nearly a repeat performance from their last outing, a 1-0 loss at home to D.C. United two weeks ago. On that occasion, TFC owned the run of the play over the entire 90 minutes, but United made their one chance -- a sixth-minute goal from Fred -- stand up.
"If you look at our last three games, we have had the majority of play and chances," defender Tyrone Marshall said. "It happens where we get the majority of chances but can't score and that's how football is."
But for Brennan and his teammates, their current woes still don't give them cause to hang their heads.
"We worked hard together as a unit but it's just one of those things," Brennan said. "We're in a slump at the moment and things aren't going our way. We've got good character and spirit here and will come out of it. We'll bounce back from it and we'll be looking to get three points against Salt Lake at home next week."
FCD scored its first goal in the 36th minute after Marshall was charged with taking down Abe Thompson inside the box. Denilson stepped up to the spot and bounced the penalty off the left post and into the far side of the net.
From Marshall's standpoint, he didn't see his infraction as meriting a penalty kick.
"I thought the guy was behind us on the play but you have to play to the whistle and keep going," he said. "The ball got away from the forward at the last minute but I didn't touch him because I knew that in that situation, that could be a red card. That was the turning point in the game."
The Hoops were playing without captain Carlos Ruiz, who missed the match with a right knee injury and sat out as a precaution. His absence made a big difference.
"Carlos is a big piece for them and is someone they need for the playoffs," Johnston said. "He's a big-time player and is one the best strikers in the league. He's someone who can create something out of nothing and holds the ball up well. You need him in there because you saw tonight a lack of creativity and they didn't have too many shots."
Brennan echoed his coach's sentiments. "They didn't have hardly any chances," he said. "I didn't feel that they caused us many problems at all. You have to give them credit -- they got two goals, won the game, got three points and that's it."
TFC plays host Real Salt Lake next Saturday at BMO Field but Johnston feels both streaks are close to coming to an end.
"You always think you have a chance," Johnston said. "I felt we performed well, considering we are missing five or six starters from the team. It bodes well, but of course, we need to score goals. We were pushing hard but it was unfortunate that we just couldn't get them."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
