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TFC welcomes DCU to BMO Field

Jul 4, 2014 - 11:51 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of Eastern Conference rivals will meet on Saturday as D.C. United travels north of the boarder to battle Toronto FC at BMO Field.

United will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday after suffering a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC last week on home turf.

Seattle struck for the only goal of the contest in the 39th minute through Chad Barrett. Gonzalo Pineda set the play in motion with a well-placed cross into the area and Barrett rose highest to nod home a powerful header.

The home side's best chance at a late equalizer was their last, when in the 90th minute, Sean Franklin found himself on the end of a well-placed through ball from defender Bobby Boswell, but his right-footed attempt from seven yards was dealt with expertly by Seattle goalkeeper Stefen Frei.

"You can contribute [the poor result] to anything you want, but that was the reality tonight. Individually, I thought that was Eddie's (Johnson) best game," D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen said. "I thought it was a good night and it's a tough game sometimes when a final product isn't good enough on the night and they sneak a goal. They had two shots, and one on frame but sometimes that's all you need."

Toronto, meanwhile, will hope to get back on the winning track at home following a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire on Wednesday at Toyota Park.

TFC was behind the eight-ball early as Luke Moore was shown a red card in the first half, but the visitors managed to grab the lead through a goal from Jackson.

But TFC was ultimately denied the three points when Rookie of the Year candidate Harrison Shipp found the leveler midway through the second half and the clubs were forced to share the spoils.

"Sometimes, when you're away from home, you're down to 10 men and you've got a lead, you want to protect it," head coach Ryan Nelsen told MLSSoccer.com after the match. "We probably fell back a bit too deep and allowed them to take a lot more of the play."

Toronto FC will get a lift against United as United States international Michael Bradley returns to TFC following World Cup duty. It will be difficult for Bradley to get back into the lineup so quickly, but Nelsen left the possibility open.

"We'll see," Nelsen said. "Michael's had an emotional and physical traumatic experience with an amazing World Cup. We have to see how Michael is when he comes back."