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Toronto still scoreless as it loses in home debut

Apr 28, 2007 - 8:52 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The first MLS match in Canada still has Toronto FC looking for its first goal and first win.

In conditions colder than the expansion team's offense, Toronto FC again was kept off the scoreboard in a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards, who swept a home-and-home series this week.

The game's only goal came in the 81st minute, when Eddie Johnson scored his third of the season. Johnson ran down a long lead in the box, changed direction to clear a defender and drilled a left-footed kick inside the right goalpost that goalkeeper Greg Sutton could not get in front of.

"Something going into this game for me was being the first person to score in the stadium," Johnson said. "That was something I had in my head. We went into this game with the thoughts of first goal, first foul, first win, first everything."

"The goal was a slack goal," Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston said. "I'm not going to fault any of our players tonight. Our players gave us a great game today."

The first MLS contest at BMO Field drew a strong crowd of 20,148 that braved inclement conditions, with the game-time temperature in the 40s and winds gusting to 17 miles per hour. That put a further chill on FC Toronto's attack, which has been frigid this season.

In a late attempt to find the twine, Sutton was brought the length of the field to give Toronto FC an extra man in the box on a corner kick in injury time. The set piece was stymied, however.

FC Toronto (0-4-0) began its inaugural campaign with a three-game road swing in which it was outscored, 9-0. Saturday's contest was a rematch with the Wizards (3-1-0), who notched a 3-0 victory at home Wednesday.

In that match, TFC allowed Johnson's goal in the first five minutes and tallies in the second half by Kerry Zavagnin and Yura Movsisyan. In the rain, the offense sputtered, managing 10 shots while allowing 18.

Nine days ago, the Canadian club signed European veteran striker Danny Dichio, who had been playing with Preston North End of the British Coca-Cola Championship and also has played for Sampdoria and Lecce of Serie A in Italy.

"I think when you see that first goal in, it's going to relieve a lot of pressure, and you'll see that around the bench," Dichio said. "It might have a relieving effect on the team. It's my first game, so I'm not really feeling it, but maybe others are."

A chippy player, Dichio did not play Wednesday but was in the starting lineup for the return match, making his presence felt.

"Danny is something different," Johnston said. "They didn't like playing against him. Even the coach said that. He's someone that is very awkward and we need guys who can get in around him."

Dichio was extremely active in the offensive end, perhaps too active in one instance. Trying to track down a long airborne lead, he ran into goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who came out of the box to make a play on the ball. As he caught it, he was knocked to the ground by Dichio, who received a yellow card.

That did not sit well with the home crowd, which booed Hartman every time he touched the ball thereafter - which wasn't much. Later in the first half, Andy Welsh hit the crossbar before Hartman collected a rebound shot by Kevin Goldthwaite.

"We were kinda unlucky in terms of some of our chances," Dichio said. "Whether you say it is luck or not, it's just not going in for us at the moment."

Defender Nick Garcia played in his 200th career game for the Wizards, moving him into a tie for second on the all-time list. Midfielder Carlos Marnelli departed with a pulled left hamstring.