THE MATCHUP: Burn on the Fourth of July

That Burns the eyes worse than a firecracker



DALLAS VS. TORONTO
　
FC DALLAS STADIUM - WEDNESDAY 9PM ET
TV: TSN
　
THE KICKABOUT:
Nothing bad can happen in Texas right? Pow! Pow! Kaboom! That will either be the noise of post-match Independence Day fireworks at FC Dallas Stadium or the Texas Rangers (law enforcement version not baseball version) catching up to Miguel Aceval. Yes, TFC makes its first return to The Lone Star State since "The TFC Three" made a mess of Houston's Club Escobar. While no further illegal activity is expected - team officials may be on the lookout for a 5 Foot 3 illegal emigrant.
　
Things on the pitch seem to have improved somewhat since The Reds blew that big lead against Houston a couple of weeks back and manager Paul Mariner claims that his side are "hard to beat". Recent results back up his statement and improved play by many in the squad, including MLS Player of the Week Danny Koevermans, gives supporters hope against fellow strugglers FC "Don't Call Us Burn" Dallas. However, with the transfer window open and a host of rumours imagining players coming and going - The MarinEra is still very much a work in progress.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "El Fireworko"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FC DALLAS: Jair Benitez, David Ferreira, Brek Shea
TORONTO FC: Logan Emory, Danny Koevermans, Ashtone Morgan
　
THE ODDS:
- Night ending with Luis Silva running from cops: 5-1
- Joao Plata making a run for the border: 10-1
- In true "Dallas" fashion - Toronto FC's last four matches turn out to be a dream sequence: 25-1
　
WHO ARE YA?
This match may be regarded as one of the all-time MLS patriotic matches. The foreign TFC visiting (of all places) Dallas, Texas on the Fourth of July - America's holiest of holy days. And a pyrotechnic extravaganzo! The fixture of course has a long way to go to best FIFA'a All-Time Most Patriotic match though as that title still goes to the 1947 West Ham United vs. Hertha Berlin friendly at Upton Park. Down 2-0 to the visiting Germans at the half, The Hammers shocked the football world by subbing in 72 year-old former Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Despite his age and portly posture, the old bulldog bossed the midfield and ended the match with a hat trick which saw the London side see off the Berliners 3-2.
　
POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "REDS' ROCKETS DO GLARE; BREAK SHEA CLAIMS IT'S UNFAIR; 1-0 TFC - GOOD THING TEXANS DON'T CARE"

Churchill pops his second past the Hertha keeper