• Recap
• Bleachers

Toronto FC keeps winless, scoreless droughts going

Sep 15, 2007 - 10:33 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Toronto FC managed to extend two streaks on Saturday, and even did so with a man advantage for most of the contest.

Mired in the worst slump in MLS history, the Canadian expansion team ran its winless streak to 10 matches and its scoreless drought to 822 minutes after its 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Toronto FC (5-13-6, 21 points) has not won since July 4, when the team earned the first road victory in franchise history with a 2-1 triumph over Real Salt Lake.

Toronto FC, which eclipsed the previous mark for scoring ineptitude of 557 minutes nearly three full matches ago, has not scored in its last nine games. The last time the team tallied was July 7, when Maurice Edu's goal in the 78th minute enabled Toronto to salvage a 1-1 tie with Chicago.

As expected, Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston was far from thrilled when he was asked how he felt after the game.

"Speechless. I felt like we dominated last game and this one," he said. "The team put in a great effort, lots of chances, but once again no one there to put it in."

Real Salt Lake (4-13-7, 19 points) does not have much to sing about, either, owning the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

Soccer futility perhaps played a role when tempers flared in the 33rd minute. Salt Lake midfielder Fabian Espindola received a red card following his forearm to the throat of Toronto defender Marvell Wynne.

Toronto played with the man advantage for the remainder of the contest.

"We need to make improvements up front," Johnston said. "We'll be looking to bring in a striker next year who can get me 20 goals a season."

Salt Lake had the best chance to break the scoreless draw when forward Chris Brown's blast sailed over the crossbar in the third minute.

"There are not a whole lot of positive comments about today's game for our players," Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said. "The one thing I was happy with was the way our guys fought to get a point. If anything, I feel sorry for Toronto because they were obviously the better team today."

Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos made one save, while Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando had 12 saves.

"I had to do my part defensively, like the other 10 guys," Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "I had to do my best to keep the ball out of the net. We knew coming into this game that they'd be firing in front of their home crowd and given their situation we knew they would have to pull together and be taking a lot of shots.

"For us on the road here, with a man down, we consider this a victory."