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Dallas gets set to face new-look TFC

Jul 19, 2011 - 6:25 PM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The last time we saw Toronto FC in action in an MLS match the club was on its way to a fourth loss in five games in Houston, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Dynamo.

But when TFC takes the field on Wednesday against FC Dallas, Aron Winter's team will have a much different look.

Winter has been a busy man in recent weeks, making a number of trades and signings which he feels is "part of the rebuilding process."

The club added two Designated Players in German midfielder Torsten Frings and Dutch striker Danny Koevermans, and both will be eligible to play for the first time on Wednesday.

But Winter continued his overhaul of the team this past Friday as Toronto acquired defender Andy Iro and midfielder Leandre Griffit from the Columbus Crew for midfielder Tony Tchani.

One day earlier, the San Jose Earthquakes shipped forward Ryan Johnson, allocation money and an international roster spot to the Reds in exchange for Alan Gordon, midfielder Jacob Peterson and defender Nana Attakora, with midfielder Terry Dunfield also arriving the same day from Vancouver Whitecaps FC for allocation money and future considerations.

How quickly the abundance of new arrivals is able to settle in Toronto will be something to watch over the next few weeks, but obviously Winter needed to try something with Toronto in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and the team appearing to be headed toward another season without a playoff appearance.

FC Dallas will be the first to test this new-look Toronto side, and the Hoops will be trying to return to the win column for the first time in three games after they were held to a 0-0 draw by D.C. United on Saturday.

Dallas has gone two games without scoring a goal, but coach Schellas Hyndman felt his team did all they could against United.

"As I said to the players, I couldn't ask any more out of them," Hyndman said following the match. "They gave everything they had. Sometimes we measure people on wins and losses and today was a game I thought we got everything we could."

Despite the positivity after the match, Dallas still has to feel unlucky not to have earned all three points with Marvin Chavez missing the net on a breakaway attempt, while Jackson hit the crossbar in the final minutes of the game.

Dallas earned a 1-0 win over Toronto in Texas in the first meeting between the two sides. But they will find out on Wednesday that this Toronto team is much different from the one they faced in May.