Toronto FC rookie Luis Silva roared loud and clear on Thursday night, netting a first-half brace against FC Dallas to lead his side to a 3-0 victory, ensuring an all-Canadian final in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla.
TFC will play the Vancouver Whitecaps, who blazed through the group stage, in the championship match on Saturday at 8 pm ET. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
The defeat pushed FCD down to second in the group with four points, tied with BK Hacken but ahead on goal differential, which means FCD will go on to play the Houston Dynamo in the consolation match that will be broadcast on ESPN3.com on Saturday at 6 pm ET.
The match between Toronto and Dallas started off slow, but as the first half wore on, the Reds got red-hot.
They got their first chance of the match in the 20th minute, when diminutive attacker Joao Plata took a pass from Reggie Lambe inside the box but fired high with his weaker right foot. That set the tone, as the first 45 was all TFC.
In the 26th minute, it ws Lambe's turn to threaten FC Dallas 'keeper Chris Seitz. Lambe used his speed to fly by defender Matt Hedges, but Seitz came off his line perfectly to close the angle and thwart the chance.
Silva finally broke through in the 35th minute. The midfielder took the ball and blew by an FCD defender and poked his shot past Seitz, who got his hands on but was unable to keep out.
It didn't take long for the rookie to strike again. Five minutes after the first, Silva latched onto a loose ball inside the box and powered it home for his second goal of the match.
As the half came to an end, big TFC forward Danny Koevermans tried to make it 3-0, but his right-footed curler in the 43rd minute flew high and wide to FCD's relief.
FC Dallas struggled all match to create any dangerous chances, leaving the door open for Toronto to strike again. With eight minutes remaining, Ryan Johnson bundled home a cross after Seitz spilled a rebound inside the 18-yard-box for the final scoreline.
SCORING SUMMARY:
TOR -- Luis Silva, 35'
TOR -- Luis Silva, 40'
TOR -- Ryan Johnson, 82'
