Toronto FC v Seattle Sounders (Match Preview)

Toronto FC v Seattle Sounders: April 4th Kick off 1pm

Referee: Mark Geiger. Assistants: Greg Barkey and Joe Fletcher

Battle of the Unbeaten Sides is Match of the Weekend

In the most eagerly anticipated fixture of the weekend, Sounders take to the road for the first time ever in their MLS history. They will face a Toronto FC side which has started confidently with a win at Kansas City and a draw with MLS Champions Columbus Crew.

Whereas Sounders FC have started with two home games, the Canadians have started with two away, and this occasion represents an opportunity for the highly regarded Toronto FC home fans to show their passion and support after all the good headlines the atmosphere at Qwest Field has been getting. Toronto’s fans, perhaps along with Columbus, have been appreciated as providing the liveliest and the most noisy support for their side, and they are sure to be prepared for the attention they will receive for his match.

Dwayne de Rosario – International Class and Dangerous

Dangerman Dwayne De Rosario
Photo: Toronto FC

Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario is probably the best known name on the side. Previously at Houston, he wanted to return to his native Ontario, and Toronto FC were only too happy to accommodate his wish. Houston, to be fair to them, didn’t stand in his way just as they didn’t with Sounders FC’s Nate Jaqua who really wanted to play in his native Pacific Northwest. This twin loss has perhaps left the Dynamo short of attacking firepower and Brian Ching fighting a lone battle, but that’s to the benefit to both clubs in this tie.

De Rosario has 51 goals and 43 assists in 188 MLS games. Certainly the folks in Toronto are looking forward to his arrival keenly. On his bio on the TFC website, it says, “Dwayne De Rosario’s signing just before the holiday season in 2008 was a welcome gift to TFC supporters. The Canadian International begins his 9th MLS season in Toronto, and the attacking midfielder will be looking to make an immediate impact with his new club. De Rosario brings a winning attitude to the team, having never missed a trip to the post season no matter which team he has played for.”

Toronto supplied two players to international sides this week. They welcome back Carl Robinson (Wales) and Amado Guevara (Honduras). Robinson played in two home losses in Cardiff to Finland and Germany. Amado Guevara may be in a far better frame of mind, having played in the Honduran side that defeated Mexico 3-1 on Wednesday and the 1-1 draw in Port of Spain against Trinidad and Tobago. According to the TFC website, Head Coach John Carver said he will assess the condition of Guevara and Robinson upon their return from international duty before deciding finally whether to return them to the starting XI.

Other star players are Swiss goalkeeper Stefan Frei, former QPR, Preston West Brom, Sampdoria and Lecce, forward Danny Dichio, and Jim Brennan. Brennan’s transfer fee from Bristol City to Nottingham Forest was the largest transfer fee paid for a Canadian player at $2.5 million. Chad Barrett was awarded the team’s Golden Boot Award in 2008 for the nine goals he scored for the side.

Like Sounders FC, Toronto also have a Gambian, Amadou Sanyang and like Sounders Sanna Nyassi, he played for the Gambian U-20 squad.

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Ljungberg May Get his First MLS Start

Both sides go into this match unbeaten. Sounders have won two matches at Qwest Field, beating New York 3-0 and Real Salt Lake 2-0. Designated Player, Freddie Ljungberg, played his first MLS minutes against Salt Lake but is slated to start for the first time in Toronto. Toronto FC kicked off their campaign with a 3-2 win in Kansas and then drew 1-1 in Columbus where they were supported by over 2,000 traveling supporters for the first “Trillium Cup” match.

The Crew took the lead in the 30th minute when Guillermo Barros Schelotto converted from the penalty spot after a handball but Toronto FC equalised six minutes from the end when Dwayne De Rosario launched a free kick into the area that Gino Padula headed back toward his own goal, only to see the ball tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper William Hesmer. Unfortunately for the Crew keeper, the ball then rebounded back off him into the goal.

Injury News

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
OUT: DF Taylor Graham (left sesamoid fracture); GK Chris Eylander (right knee PCL sprain); MF Peter Vagenas (knee surgery);

PROBABLE: MF Sanna Nyassi (L hamstring strain)

TORONTO FC
OUT: FW O’Brian White (knee);

QUESTIONABLE: DF Nana Attakora-Gyan (hip flexor); GK Stefan Frei (hip)

Prost Amerika will bring you its Award Winning match report and analysis after the game.

Stadium Facts – BMO Field

Toronto FC play at the 20,000 capacity BMO Stadium which opened last year. BMO Field is home of Canada’s National Soccer Team as well as Toronto FC, Canada’s first Major League Soccer team. BMO Field is located at Exhibition Place in Toronto and is Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium.

In the Summer of 2007, BMO Field was the main venue for the 3rd most watched sporting event in the world, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, in which it hosted over 260,000 people and 12 games. In its first year of operation, over 500,000 people entered BMO Field’s gates.

Toronto FC – The Fans

Toronto FC has some of the most highly regarded fan clubs with names like the Red Patch Boys, Tribal Rhythym Nation/Section 118, and U-Sector already being part of the North American supporters lexicon. With the advantage of close proximity to other MLS clubs, Toronto fans have rapidly gained a reputation not only for providing a vibrant and colourful atmosphere at BMO Field but taking it on the road to away games too.

Keith Hodo of the Emerald City Supporters Club paid tribute to the influence Toronto fans have had on building supporter culture in Seattle. “TFC have some great fans which are some of the best in Major League Soccer (MLS). The thing that really sticks out in my mind when I went to see them was how their fans embrace the true international spirit of Toronto. By that I mean that not only do you have your “Kop”-esque stand with Red Patch Boys but you have a continental spirit which proliferates through the North End Elite and a Jamaican presence emanating from Tribal Rhythm Nation.

While we were there we got to meet with one of the Red Patch Boys leadership who gave us the idea of doing the $30 paid membership for shirt, scarf and membership card. Also, seeing how many groups they had helped us to realize that we wanted to become the biggest and baddest group in Seattle and helped us to create the umbrella group concept.”

For another match preview, visit the excellent Sounder at Heart website.

Toronto FC Official Preview