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Toronto FC-Earthquakes Preview

May 28, 2010 - 5:36 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Toronto FC (4-4-1) at San Jose (5-2-1), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Toronto FC is getting its leading goal scorer back after a one-game absence, but even that may not be enough Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium against Joe Cannon and the surging San Jose Earthquakes, who are trying to set a mark for the best start in franchise history.

Dwayne De Rosario is expected to return from international duty, but he and Toronto will have a tough task ahead as they try to snap Cannon's four-game shutout streak.

De Rosario enters the weekend with eight goals in six games - one behind Los Angeles' Edson Buddle for the league lead. He missed a 1-0 win over New England last Saturday after being called up for international duty by Canada.

TFC (4-4-1) is certainly happy to have him back as it prepares to take on one of the league's hottest goalkeepers. The Earthquakes (5-2-1) are 3-0-1 in May while recording four straight shutouts. Cannon stopped three shots in a 1-0 win over Seattle last Saturday, helping the team match its best start in franchise history, set in 2001 and 2002.

"Starting from Day 1 in preseason, we said we're not going to be a pushover, we won't get scored on easily, and there won't be silly goals against us," said coach Frank Yallop, whose team finished last in the Western Conference last year at 7-14-9. "If you cut out most of those silly goals in a season, you have a chance to win games."

Cannon has not allowed a goal since the 87th minute of a 3-2 road loss to Chivas USA on April 24, holding opponents the last 363 minutes without a score - the third-longest streak in club history.

"It's just the blue-collar collective out there of the team," said Cannon, who is second in league history with 73 shutouts. "I can't single out one guy because the entire group has been incredible."

Cannon's play has been especially important since in the last four games, San Jose has managed to score more than one goal once.

The Earthquakes will try to extend their unbeaten streak against a Toronto team that hasn't lost in its last three games.

TFC is looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time this season. After a scoreless draw against Los Angeles on May 15, the club found the back of the net last Saturday after Chad Barrett scored on a header in the 53rd minute. Stefan Frei recorded his second consecutive shutout with four saves.

Besides De Rosario, Toronto was also without Maksim Usanov (suspension), Julian de Guzman (hamstring) and Nana Attakora (hip). All three are expected to return this weekend.

"It was not the prettiest game you will ever see in your life," coach Preki said. "We're confident in our system, we're confident in the way we want to play. Sometimes it's not really pretty, but I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty."

Toronto won 3-1 in San Jose last July.