Toronto FC conceded three goals inside the first 30 minutes against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium to lose their fourth straight 3-2 Saturday evening.
It was a case of déjà vu for both teams as rain delayed the continuation of play in the 42nd minute when power went out and lightning struck. On August 24th 2011 TFC and FC Dallas faced off in a Concacaf Champions League match at BMO Field. TFC trailed 1-0 but had their half time deficit erased due to lightning. The game was replayed the following morning only to see TFC lose by the same score-line.
However the damage had already been done in Saturday's contest as Fabian Castillo burned Toronto FC just 32 seconds in. Moises Hernandez sent a long ball from outside the attacking half on the left flank past Nick Hagglund which allowed Castillo to sneak in behind the defender. After a few quick touches Castillo hit a left footed shot to the top left corner of the net.
Less than 10 minutes later FC Dallas struck again. Blas Perez saw an opening as Castillo was in behind Hagglund again who was playing off his mark. Perez fed a pass inside the top of the 18 yard box to the Colombian who fired a shot past Joe Bendik to the far post for his second of the match and third of the season. Immediately following the goal Toronto head coach Greg Vanney had Hagglund swap positions with Justin Morrow, from right back to centre back in order to minimize the damage.
But the defensive woes continued for TFC in the 27th minute. A FC Dallas throw in made its way inside the box where defender Damien Perquis was able to initially fend off a pressing Ryan Hollingshead. However the Frenchman failed to clear the ball and lost it in the middle. Perez pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot to the bottom left corner of the box for his fourth tally of the season.
In the 42nd minute parts of Toyota Stadium lost power. Lightning and sheeting rain forced the officials to delay the match for three hours and 23 minutes.
Upon return TFC failed to muster much offense. However Sebastian Giovinco ignited a late game comeback attempt for the Reds in the 83rd minute when he received a long from Hagglund.
Giovinco tip toed across the end line to keep the ball in play and chipped the it over keeper Chris Seitz on the near post.
Minutes later Giovinco went on a run to draw a foul that earned TFC a free kick just outside of the area. The Italian delivered a set piece that sailed behind the Dallas wall and curled into the top left corner of the net in the 89th minute.
Toronto falls to 1-4 on the season while Dallas improves to 4-2. TFC finish off their seven game road swing with matches against Orlando City FC on the 26th and Philadelphia Union May 2nd before returning to BMO field May 10th to take on the Houston Dynamo.