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TFC hopes to continue unbeaten run vs. United

Apr 15, 2011 - 6:03 PM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - After opening the 2011 Major League Soccer season with an embarrassing loss to the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 19, Toronto FC has rattled off a four-game unbeaten run.

The Canadian club will aim to extend the unbeaten run when it hosts D.C. United at BMO Field on Saturday.

The latest result was a scoreless draw vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night.

"I think the guys did an excellent job," Toronto midfielder Julian de Guzman said after the game. "I can't say it was one of our best games, but you could see that the guys showed a lot of unity, character, and passion, and that's why we came out with a positive point."

The Reds (1-1-3) still have just one win this season, 2-0 over the expansion Portland Timbers, but have been more competitive than many thought heading into the campaign so far.

"I think the more we continue to play together and understand the system, the more confidence we will have," De Guzman added.

United has gone in the opposite direction since opening the season with a 3-1 win over Columbus. The team is winless in its last three, but is coming off a 1-1 draw with the Galaxy this past Saturday that ended a two-game losing streak.

"Overall, I just thought we weren't as sharp as we needed to be," United coach Ben Olsen said after the game. "I thought the energy was there, but we just weren't a good enough soccer team."

Striker Charlie Davies scored his league-leading fourth goal in the draw on a penalty kick, that resulted from a through-ball played to him in space. The majority of the game, however, United tried to go over-the-top of the Galaxy defense.

"I don't want to play that way, I want to knock the ball around, I want to play to feet and I think we have the players to do it," Olsen said. "We didn't do it enough [vs. L.A.], and I take complete fault for that."

It's safe to say that United will be trying to buildup on the ground against a TFC side that has given up just two goals in four games since giving up four in its season opener.