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Dallas hands new-look Toronto third straight loss

Jul 21, 2011 - 2:19 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - A new-look Toronto FC could not get the job done, as it fell to FC Dallas 1-0 at BMO Field on Wednesday night.

Andy Iro, Eddy Viator, Torsten Frings, and Danny Koevermans all started the match Wednesday night to mark their Toronto FC debuts. With so many new faces, it is widely accepted that Toronto will take time to find some chemistry.

But with two new designated players in Koevermans and Frings, expectations were always going to be high from the start.

The Canadian side continues to struggle, losing its third straight match in regular season play.

After threatening to score throughout the first half, Brek Shea tallied the only goal of the match in the 48th minute.

Shea collected the ball in his own half and headed directly towards goal. He hit a laser from 30 yards out that beat Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei, struck the post, and went in to give FC Dallas an early second half lead.

What followed was a second half peppered with scoring chances for both sides.

Toronto thought it had equalized just four minutes later, but Joao Plato's goal was disallowed by the assistant referee after the striker was correctly ruled offside.

In the 64th minute, Dallas defender Jackson spotted Frei off his line. His chipped shot sailed over the Toronto keeper but came back off the crossbar, keeping Toronto in the game.

FC Dallas thought it had doubled its lead in the 81st minute when Marvin Chavez converted a Bruno Guarda through ball, but Chavez was flagged for offside.

With less than five minutes remaining, substitute Maicon Santos had a golden opportunity to bring Toronto level. Santos lost his mark and was free just six yards from goal, but could not find the target as he headed a cross just over the crossbar.

The final whistle sounded to give FC Dallas its first Major League Soccer win since July 2nd.

Both teams are back in MLS action on Saturday. FC Dallas will face a struggling Red Bull New York side at Red Bull Arena, while Toronto FC will aim to find some chemistry at Livestrong Sporting Park when it faces Sporting Kansas City.