CAROLINA CHALLENGE CUP: HOUSTON DYNAMO 2 - TORONTO FC 0

In their very first competitive match with an MLS team, Toronto FC lost 2-0 to defending MLS Cup Champions Houston Dynamo tonight in Charleston, South Carolina. Former Toronto Blizzard keeper, and Canadian International Pat Onstad, recorded the shutout for Houston, before 3183 spectators.

The Dynamo, currently preparing for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Semi-Final series with Pachuca of Mexico, were missing several key players due to international commitments or injury, including Toronto's very own Dwayne De Rosario, as well as - Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Wade Barrett, and Brian Mullan. Toronto FC were similarly missing several key players, with Marco Reda, Maurice Edu, and Conor Casey out with injuries, while Carl Robinson, Adam Braz, Andrea Lombardo and AJ Gray on international duty. Brazilian midfielder Paulo Nagamura was also mysteriously missing from the TFC lineup - perhaps another injury concern.

Good to see that Ronnie O'Brien was fit for the match, returning from a nagging injury, and that newly acquired Englishman Andy Welsh (although his signing has not officially been announced), and American Richard Mulrooney, were in the lineup for Toronto. Also nice to see that a few GTA players - Joey Melo, Maycoll Canizalez, and Richard Asante received playing time. The Official game summary from http://www.torontofc.ca/ -

Scoring Summary:Houston: Cochrane (Davis) - 16'
Houston; Wondolowski (Goldthwaite) - 72'
Lineups:
Toronto FC: Greg Sutton, Jim Brennan, Andrew Boyens, Chris Pozniak, Richard Asante, Ronnie O'Brien, Andy Welsh (Maycoll Canizalez 63), Richard Mulrooney, Jose Cancela (Abbe Ibrahim 70), Alecko Eskandarian (Joey Melo 81), Edson Buddle
Houston Dynamo: Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Eddie Robinson, Ryan Cochrane, Kevin Goldthwaite, Chris Wondolowski, Kelly Gray, Brad Davis, Paul Dalglish (Corey Ashe 77), Alejandro Moreno, Stuart Holden

In the second leg of the doubleheader, the New York Red Bulls squeaked by the hometown Charleston Battery of the USL, 1-0 with an injury time goal. Toronto FC will play New York on Wednesday evening in the second fixture of the tournament.

MLS NOTES: Jamaican central defender Shaver Thomas, has been traded by the KC Wizards to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Thomas, played for current Toronto FC Assistant Coach Bob Gansler for several seasons in Kansas City.