MLS Soccer Predictions – THURSDAY MAY 13, 2010 – Houston Dynamo (4-3-1) vs Real Salt Lake (3-3-1)
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ESPN, ESPND – 7:00 pm EST – MLS Betting Odds – Houston Dynamo (5-7-2) at Toronto FC (5-4-3):
Toronto -115
Houston +275
Draw: +240
The Houston Dynamo will try to improve their abysmal one-win road record when they kick off against Toronto FC, who is unbeaten in their last six, on Thursday night at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.
The Dynamo lost their first trip to Toronto in 2007, but is 2-0-3 in the series since, drawing 1-1 the last time the two sides met on July 18, 2009, when Houston defender Bobby Boswell scored the tying goal in the 75th minute.
The three-week World Cup break proved to be a stroke of luck for the Dynamo who were on a three-game slide as Joseph Ngwenya scored his first goal of the year to give the Houston a 2-2 tie with the Colorado Rapids in the side’s first game back on Saturday night.
Although Houston has been one of the most consistent teams –third highest scoring in the league. It hasn’t won since May 22 when it beat D.C. United 2-0. The current slide is due in large part to a defense that has been the league’s third worst over the past month — allowing 11 goals in their last four league matches — a trend Toronto hopes to exploit as it looks to extend its unbeaten streak to a team-record seven matches. 
The Reds, currently third on the Eastern Conference, also responded well to the three-week hiatus drawing with league-leading Los Angeles in a scoreless draw at BMO. Toronto is 4-0-2 at home and has outscored opponents 9-2, extending its unbeaten stretch there to 13 games (9-0-4) dating to June 6, 2009.
Both sides could stand a boost from its top scoring threat.
In parallel with being left out of the USA side for this year’s World Cup, Dynamo striker Brian Ching has scored just twice in seven games during a trying season in which he’s suffered two injuries.
The 32-year old has remained positive the whole way after being snubbed by US coach Bob Bradley, and will look to disprove the decision by picking up the pace and leading his squad back to the top of the Western Conference where they currently sit in sixth spot, seven points out of second and 16 behind the red-hot Galaxy.
But first the Dynamo D will have to contend with former teammate Dwayne De Rosario. “DeRo” is second in the league in scoring and leads Toronto with eight goals, but none have come in his last four starts.
The veteran forward will hope to continue to be an offensive threat under head coach Preki’s new system as he adds to his 62 goal total in MLS with a little help from Houston’s porous back line.
Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC Free Pick:
TFC has proven to be a very solid team at home and should get the three points. I expect a 2-1 win for the Reds in this one.
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Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. “ Football (soccer) is a game in which a handful of fit men run around for one and a half hours watched by millions of people who could really use the exercise.”
